Multi-Substance Use Behaviors: Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Use among University Students in Finland

Abstract

Virtually no studies appraised the co-use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) among Finn undergraduates. We assessed the associations between sociodemographic, health, academic, policy, and lifestyle characteristics (independent variables); and individual, multiple and increasing ATOD use (dependent variables) using regression analyses. Data were collected by online questionnaire at the University of Turku, Finland (1177 students). Roughly 22% of the sample smoked, 21% ever used illicit drug/s, 41% were high frequency drinkers, and 31.4%, 16.3%, and 6.7% reported 1, 2, or 3 ATOD behaviors respectively. Individual ATOD use was significantly positively associated with the use of the other two substances [adjusted odds ratio (Adj OR range 1.893–3.311)]. Multiple ATOD use was negatively associated with being single (p = 0.021) or agreeing with total smoking or alcohol ban policy on campus (p < 0.0001 for each); but positively associated with not living with parents (p = 0.004). Increasing ATOD behaviors were significantly less likely among those agreeing with total smoking or alcohol ban policy on campus (p range 0.024 to <0.0001). Demographics significant to either individual, multiple, or increasing ATOD use included males, being single, not living with their parents during semesters, and to some extent, religiosity. Age, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, self-rated health, health awareness, income sufficiency, and academic variables were not associated with individual, multiple, or increasing ATOD use. Education and prevention efforts need to reinforce abstinence from ATOD, highlight their harmful outcomes, and target risk groups highlighted above. University strategies should be part of the wider country-wide successful ATOD control policies.

Alcohol Use Disorders among Slovak and Czech University Students: A Closer Look at Tobacco Use, Cannabis Use and Socio-Demographic Characteristics

“…Many factors may have contributed to this discrepancy, and further research is needed to better understand the results. The fact is that living in dormitories offers more opportunities for risky behaviours, including drinking alcohol and using other addictive substances, than living at home with parents [ 1 , 17 ]. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic was an unknown situation and various measures were taken across the countries, which also affected the process of education at universities.…”

“…All these aspects form the university environment in which students find themselves. Living situation seems to play an important role in the problem [ 1 , 64 ], and the dormitories offer many elements that can affect drinking patterns among students, regardless of direction. All these findings provide an answer to the research question 3.…”

“…Young people, especially university students, are a population group at risk of unhealthy and harmful behaviours in terms of the use of addictive substances such as alcohol, tobacco or cannabis [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. The vulnerability of this population group is evidenced by a considerable prevalence of dependence to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs [ 4 ].…”

“…This justifies respecting gender differences in research. In addition to gender characteristics, there are many other possible determinants of problematic alcohol use such as living away from parents’ home during semesters [ 1 , 17 ], parent attachment [ 18 ], smoking [ 15 ], mental health problems and satisfaction with life [ 19 , 20 ], or age of alcohol consumption onset [ 21 ]. The need to constantly monitor this problem is underlined by the fact that university students who suffer from problematic alcohol use with the risk of dependence are also characterized by the use of other addictive substances, such as tobacco, cannabis or cocaine [ 22 ].…”

Health-Promoting Behavior and Lifestyle Characteristics of Students as a Function of Sex and Academic Level

“…Likewise, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) can seriously interfere with academic performance at university [ 38 , 39 ]. A recent report from Finland found a high prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption and other substance use among university students [ 40 ]. Likewise, the prevalence of ATOD use among college students ranged between 41–70% in Kenya, Oman, and India [ 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”