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Cited by 68Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesYouth, Drugs, and ViolenceHIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk

Predictors of Illicit Drug Use Among University Students in Northern Ireland, Wales and England

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El Ansari, Walid, Vallentin-Holbech, Lotte, Stock, Christiane·2014·Global Journal of Health Science
DOI 10.5539/gjhs.v7n4p18PMC PMC4802112
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The use of illicit drug/s among university students is a public health concern. Nevertheless, many UK studies investigated a narrow spectrum of variables to explore their association/s with illicit drug/s use. METHODS: We assessed the associations between a wide range of socio-demographic, health and wellbeing variables (independent variables) and having used illicit drug/s regularly, occasionally or never in life (dependent variables). Data (3706 students) were collected from seven universities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: About 5% of the sample had regularly used illicit drug/s, 25% occasionally, and 70% never. Regular drug use (RDU) was significantly more likely among males aged 21-29 years, daily smokers, those with heavy episodic drinking or possible alcohol dependency (CAGE test), and those who perceived their academic performance better than their peers. RDU was less likely among students with high health awareness and those living with parents. The predictors of occasional drug use (ODU) were similar to those of RDU. However, in addition, students with higher perceived stress were less likely, and students who felt financial burden/s were more likely to report ODU, while no association with academic performance was found. Never use of illicit drug/s was inversely associated with most of the variables listed above, and was positively associated with religiosity. Illicit drug/s use goes along with other substance use (alcohol and smoking). The finding that illicit drug/s use was higher among students reporting good academic performance was surprising and raises the question of whether illicit drug/s may be used as performance enhancing drugs. CONCLUSION: The factors identified with illicit drug/s use in this study could be utilized to develop appropriate public health policies and preventive measures for the health of students. Multilevel, value based, comprehensive, and strategic long-term intervention plans are required. This could include social interventions aimed at generating recreations alternatives and opportunities for youth, and a critical review for current authorities' interventions and services. Suggestions for coping with problems of campus illicit drug use/abuse also need to be offered.

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  • There is overwhelming consensus that religiosity, particularly attendance and often spirituality, are negatively related to alcohol, tobacco, and illicit substance use across the U.S. and other countries.

    “There is overwhelming consensus that religiosity, particularly attendance and often spirituality, are negatively related to alcohol, tobacco, and illicit substance use across the U.S. and other countries (El Ansari et al., 2014; Hatta, 2010; Hayatbakhsh et al., 2014; Kovaks et al., 2011; Rasic et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2015).”

    From Advancing our understanding of religion and spirituality in the context of behavioral medicine (2017) · cites this paper as El Ansari et al., 2014

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Authors
El Ansari, W., Vallentin-Holbech, L., & Stock, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Gloucestershire (GB)
  • University of Southern Denmark (DK)
ORCID
Venue
Global Journal of Health Science
Publisher
Canadian Center of Science and Education
Published
2014-12-16
Volume
7
Issue
4
Pages
18-29
ISSN
  • 1916-9736 (ISSN-L)
  • 1916-9744
DOI
10.5539/gjhs.v7n4p18
PMC
PMC4802112
OpenAlex
W2139897279
Cited by
68
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2
FWCI
2.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Global Journal of Health Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Repository (University of Gloucestershire) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Repository (University of Gloucestershire) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
Keywords
illicit drug use, university students, predictors of drug use, academic performance, perceived stress, financial burden, religiosity, health awareness, alcohol consumption, smoking, performance-enhancing drugs, substance use prevention, UK higher education
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholism, Educational Status, England, Female, Humans, Male, Northern Ireland, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Smoking, Socioeconomic Factors, Illicit Drugs, Stress, Psychological, Students, Universities, Wales, Health Behavior, Sex Distribution, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult

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