The problem of drug addiction through the eyes of students during the pandemic and post-pandemic reality

Relevance. The age specificity nature of drug addiction has changed significantly over the past decade, with the introduction of psychoactive substance abuse at school age being replaced by an incidence rate among the 18–24 age group, which corresponds to the student population [1]. In clinical and legal terms, there is a growing trend toward «controlled drug use»—the periodic non-medical use of narcotic and psychotropic substances (NPS) in small doses, based on the mistaken belief that such drug use is safe, despite the general awareness of the harm and danger of drugs [2, 3].

Purpose. To analyze the dynamics of the perceptions and attitudes of students in the Kursk region regarding the problem of drug addiction and measures for its prevention in 2017–2023 in the context of three significant periods.

Materials and methods. A proprietary questionnaire with closed-ended questions was used for the study.

Results. Before the pandemic (2017), students in the natural sciences and medical fields more accurately assessed the harm of non-medical use of narcotic substances: 81.4±3.7% versus 71.4±4.2% (t=3.566, p≤0.01). The main misconception was the underestimation of the harm of one-time trials, including «controlled» drug use (relevant for 15.6±3.5% of natural science and medical students and 25.2±4.0% of humanities students). A significant difference was found in misconceptions among students who did not have professional knowledge in this area (t=3.610, p≤0.01). The proportion of those who consider the threat of non-medical drug use to be far-fetched and irrelevant was less than 3.5% in both subgroups, with the difference being statistically insignificant (t=0.341, p>0.05).

Conclusions. From 2017 to 2021, students of natural sciences and medicine had a better understanding of the risks of non-medical drug use and the capabilities of narcology, which is related to their education. The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased awareness of the dangers of drugs and the role of narcology among future medical professionals and biologists. However, after the pandemic, there was a decline in awareness among medical and natural science students.

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