Prevalence of nonmedical use of Ritalin among medical students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. in addiction studies, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant professor of psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Medical student, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Professor of psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

5 Ph.D. student of social work, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nonmedical use of Ritalin among medical students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 607 students of 645 medical students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2018-2019, selected through random sampling. They fulfilled a researcher-made questionnaire about the attitude toward Ritalin consumption, the validity of which was confirmed by five psychiatrists. Data were analyzed through the descriptive tests, Chi-square test, and SPSS-16 software.
Results: In the present study 607 students (292 men and 315 women) were participated. Sixty-eight (11.2%) of them had a history of nonmedical use of Ritalin. Other commonly used drugs among students were alcohol (7%), cigarettes (11%), and benzodiazepines (5.2%). Also, there was no significant relationship between gender, educational stage, and marital status with nonmedical use of Ritalin among students (P> 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, the nonmedical use of Ritalin is more common among students than alcohol and cigarettes. Also, some students have a positive view of using Ritalin to increase concentration and improve performance in exams. Due to the possibility of severe dependence on this substance, more awareness and preventive measures are needed among students.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 25, Issue 1
January and February 2023
Pages 29-34

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