Citation

Gignon M, Havet E, Ammirati C, Traullé S, Manaouil C, Balcaen T, Loas G, Dubois G, Ganry O. Workplace Health Saf. 2015; 63(2): 54-63.

Affiliation

Jules Verne University of Picardy Amiens University Hospital.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

10.1177/2165079915570917

PMID

25881656

Abstract

This study investigated addictive substance use by French medical students. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 255 participants randomly selected from 1,021 second- to sixth-year medical students. Questionnaires were self-administered and included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, and alcohol (The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT test]), tobacco (Fagerstrom test), and illegal substance consumption (Cannabis Abuse Screening Test [CAST test]). The AUDIT scores indicated that 11% of the study participants were at risk for addiction and 21% were high-risk users. Tobacco dependence was strong or very strong for 12% of the participants. The CAST score showed that 5% of cannabis users needed health care services. Cannabis users were also more likely than non-users to fail their medical school examinations (89% vs. 39%, p <.01). One quarter of medical student participants (n = 41) had used other illegal drugs, and 10% of study participants had considered committing suicide during the previous 12 months. Psychoactive substance consumption by French medical students requires preventive measures, screening, and health care services.

Language: en