Exams-related stress and the pattern of substance use and misuse among Palestinian medical and health sciences students

Abstract

Substance use among school students is a public health concern. Exam-related anxiety is one of the main motives for drug use. This research aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of psychostimulant and antidepressants use and misuse among medical and health sciences students at two large representative medical schools in West Bank Palestine. The results of a cross-sectional study, that surveyed 984 Palestinian medical and health sciences students revealed how educational experiences and newfound independence affect substance use behaviors among Palestinian medical and health sciences students. In total, 7.7% of the students reported using illicit drugs. Hallucinogens were the most commonly used drugs (2.9%), followed by central nervous system (CNS) stimulants (2.4%) and CNS depressants (1.4%), while 4.4% were using nonprescribed antidepressants, with Fluoxetine being the most used. Most drug users (72.4%) started using before they enrolled in university, and 39.5% did not realize the potential harm of these drugs. Medical students tend to use these substances less frequently than their non-medical peers. The study indicated that exam-related stress was a crucial factor in the prevalence of drug use and misuse. Peer pressure, academic, psychological, and family pressures were other primary reasons behind drug use. The study’s results indicated that the misuse of antidepressant medications and other licit and illicit substances is highly prevalent among Palestinian medical and non-medical students. The results also underscore the importance of raising awareness about drug use and providing students with accurate information about the safe use of these substances.