ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of substance abuse among university students in the Gaza Strip. A cross-sectional study. Four universities in the Gaza Strip [Al Azhar, Islamic, Open Alquds, and Al Aqsa University]. A total number of 1047 university students in the 1[st] and 4[th] year of study of Art and Science colleges, aged 17-40 years, in 2003. Participants completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire of two parts; the first part of 13 questions relating to socio-economic information, health status and abusing unprescribed substances, sources and reasons of abusing and the second part of 5 questions for 8 substance categories. Results showed that 2.1% have ever used unprescribed substances over the past twelve months; 11.7% abused tobacco [smokers] with significant differences for male [21.4%] compared to [2.1%] for female, 1.2% abused alcohol with significant differences for male [2.1%] compared to [0.2%] for female. The study revealed no significant differences of other substances; 0.79% abused psycho-stimulants, 1.09% abused sedatives, 0.30% abused opiates, 0.99% abused cannabis, 0.70% abused inhalants, and 0.20% abused hallucinogenic. Pharmacies were the most common source of narcotics and stimulants. Our low level of abusing alcohol and other drugs even during the years of conflict and war is inconsistent with literatures in the West, which suggested that people who experienced major trauma and those with post traumatic stress disorder or depression may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to relax, cope with stress or relieve symptoms