Citation

Jaisoorya TS, Gowda GS, Nair BS, Menon PG, Rani A, Radhakrishnan KS, Revamma M, Jeevan CR, Kishore A, Thennarasu K, Benegal V. J. Psychoactive Drugs 2018; 50(1): 54-61.

Affiliation

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences , Bangalore , India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Haight-Ashbury Publications in association with the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic)

DOI

10.1080/02791072.2017.1370748

PMID

28949827

Abstract

This study describes the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among college students in Ernakulam, Kerala State, India. A total of 5784 students from 58 colleges selected by stratified random sampling completed a questionnaire incorporating standardized instruments. The prevalence of lifetime alcohol use was 21.4% with a male predominance. Among users, low-risk, hazardous, and dependent use were 80.2%, 18.3% and 0.9% respectively. Initiation was mostly with friends (45.3%). Both low-risk and high-risk alcohol users (hazardous and dependent users), in comparison to abstainers, had higher odds of being older, non-Muslim, having a part-time job, using other substances, and exposure to sexual abuse. Students who reported low-risk use also had an urban background, more severe psychological distress and suicidal thoughts, while high-risk users had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Students who reported high-risk use compared to low-risk users had higher odds of having a part-time job, tobacco use, and ADHD symptoms. Alcohol use among college students is common, with both low- and high-risk drinking associated with significant morbidity. This study highlights the need to promote public health policies to target and prevent all patterns of alcohol use among young people.

Language: en

Keywords

Alcohol use; India; college students; correlates; prevalence; psychosocial