Abstract
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to estimate consumption pattern of narcotics and prescription medicaments among nursing students, nursing students for the mentally disabled and teaching students from 9 colleges upon commencement of their basic education in 1997.
Methods:
A postal survey was carried out among the students(N= 4761). 2011 students responded the questionaire, giving a responserate of 42%.
Results:
Hash is most commonly used with 9.6% of the population reporting having experience with the drug. 1.4% had had experience with amphetamines. About 5% have used sleeping medicine, and 7.5% sedatives. Few (1.7%) report having used sleeping or sedative medication without it being prescribed by a physician. 36% have used pain relieving medication over the past two years.
Conclusion:
This is a prevalence study in which we have attempted to make a statement concerning the extent of drug consumption. The underlying reasons for this consumption lies clearly outside of the parameters for this study. Our study shows that students appear to use somewhat less narcotic drugs than other Norwegian and foreign students.