Consumo de Substâncias Psicotrópicas por estudantes do curso de medicina

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The consumption of psychotropic substances among medical students has become increasingly prevalent. Beyond its detrimental effects on health, the misuse of these substances—whether legal or illegal—may interfere with professional training and future performance. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of psychotropic drug use by medical students at a public university. METHOD: An online questionnaire was administered, assessing the use of psychotropic substances by medical students and examining its correlation with socioeconomic factors, year of study, and prior or current psychiatric diagnoses. Data were analyzed descriptively (absolute and relative frequencies) and association tests (Pearson's χ²) were conducted, with the strength of association measured using Cramér's V coefficient, considering a significance level of 95% (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Among the participants at the studied campus, 49.2% reported using psychotropic substances, primarily alcohol, with a notable increase in the consumption of medications such as anxiolytics and antidepressants during their academic years, as compared to the pre-university period. Medical prescriptions emerged as the primary motivator for substance use, and nearly half of the participants had used psychotropic substances prior to entering medical school. Factors such as a heavy academic workload, limited leisure time, and insufficient support networks were identified as significant influences. Furthermore, non-heterosexual students and those from higher-income families (50.8% earning more than three times the minimum wage) exhibited a greater propensity for use. The study also revealed that 95.8% of students consider the medical curriculum to be a risk factor for psychotropic substance use, with 78% associating living independently with an increased risk. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the use of psychotropic substances, particularly alcohol, represents a significant issue among medical students, with reports of increased consumption of medications such as anxiolytics and antidepressants during their studies, in comparison to their pre-graduate years. Factors such as the demanding academic curriculum, lack of adequate support networks, and restricted opportunities for leisure were identified as potential contributors to this behavior. Despite the limitations inherent in the cross sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, the results emphasize the necessity for academic discourse, mental health interventions, and further research involving larger and more diverse cohorts to address this pressing issue in medical education.