Cigarette, alcohol and substance use among Trakya University students

Aim: To determine the cigarette, alcohol and substance use rates of Trakya University students.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which included a representative sample of all students of Trakya University. The sample of 1620 students enrolled at the Trakya University was stratified according to sex and actual student number of faculties and colleges and selected by systematically sampling. The selected students answered a questionnaire on cigarette, alcohol and substance use, in a classroom, under observation.
Results:  Nearly fifty percent (756) of the students reported they have experienced smoking and 35.0% of them reported they have been current smokers. 65.1% of them told they have had at least one drink of alcohol during their lives and 22.7% of them told they have had at least one drink of alcohol daily, more than 100 days during their lives.
9.3% of the students reported they have used a substance (marijuana, cocaine, heroin and etc.), 3.2% of them have used ecstasy and 4.7 % of them have sniffed glue, inhaled any paints or spray to get high, at least one time during their lives. 7.7% of the students said they have taken steroid pills and shots without a doctor’s prescription.
While smoking, alcohol use and substance use rates were higher in male students, the rates of sniffing glue, inhaling any paints or spray to get high and taking steroid pills and shots without a doctor’s prescription rates were higher in female students.
Conclusion: The results indicate the need for addressing some health risk behaviours in the student population of this university. Programs that promote individual behaviour change as well as changes environmental conditions in the university environment are necessary.