Changes in Drug Use Among Belgian Higher Education Students: A Comparison Between 2005, 2009, and 2013.

BACKGROUND: Most drug users initiate illicit drug use during adolescence and young adulthood. Although in the general population a trend towards a decrease in drug use can be seen, patterns of drug use among students are unclear. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to look at drug use patterns among students in higher education in Belgium. METHODS: A survey study in Antwerp (Belgium) was conducted on three occasions (2005, 2009, and 2013) at several institutes for higher education. Students (total sample size 24,478; 29,210, and 31,950, respectively) were asked if they had used legal or illicit drugs in the past year. To compare whether drug use differed between the separate years, χ(2)-tests were performed on past-year drug use for all three time points. If significant, χ(2)-tests between pairs were performed. Gender and age differences were also analyzed. RESULTS: The use of nondistilled alcohol, spirits, and cannabis decreased during this period but no change in student's use patterns was seen for beer, wine, sedative hypnotics, stimulating medication, XTC, cocaine, or amphetamines. Tobacco use decreased initially, but increased in 2013. More men indicated having used drugs in the past year than women. Only for cannabis did more younger students indicate having used in the past year. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: The data from this study could provide valuable insights for academic and governmental bodies and health care professionals into the use of drugs by higher education students since this subgroup shows specific use patterns.

Consumption of tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs in university students in Belgium and the Netherlands: the role of living situation.

UNLABELLED: Studying at university/college is associated with consumption of tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs. This lifestyle may be associated with moving outside parental control. The aim of this study was to investigate differences between students living with their parents and students living alone or with peers regarding substance use in Belgium (Antwerp) and The Netherlands (Amsterdam). METHOD: The results of two separate surveys, one in Amsterdam (8,258 students) and one in Antwerp (27,210 students) were compared. Both questionnaires contained items about consumption of tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs, and whether students considered their consumption as a problem and relevant confounders. Students living with their parents were compared with students living alone or with peers, using multivariate logistic regression analyses, separate for Antwerp and Amsterdam. RESULTS: Consumption of tobacco was associated with living with peers. Similar patterns were shown for consumption of alcohol and recreational drugs. Living with peers rather than living with family or alone was a determinant of problematic substance use as well. Patterns were similar for both universities in two different countries. CONCLUSIONS: Students living alone or with peers in Amsterdam and Antwerp may be at risk for problems concerning their consumption of recreational drugs. These findings may have implications for targeted prevention programs.