Frequência do uso de psicofármacos entre jovens estudantes que cursam pré-vestibular

Frequency of psychoactive drug use among young pupils in university entrance courses

Abstract

Objective:This study explores the use of psychoactive drugs among pupils between 17 and 21 years old in university
entrance courses, according to their selected academic fi elds. Methods: Forms were distributed to random classes at two
leading university entrance schools, for voluntary completion by these pupils, preserving their anonymity. Results: The
total sample consisted of 886 pupils, completing the forms in the presence of the researcher, who collected each form as it
was completed. it was ascertained that 182 pupils take some type of psychoactive drug, separated into pharmacological
groups, with anti-depressants being the most widely used. The highest rate was among the 21 year-olds, with no signifi cant
statistical difference among their selected academic fi elds and psychoactive drug use. The chi-square test for independence
indicates that taking psychoactive drugs and selected academic fi elds are not related (p-value: 0.117). Conclusion: This
leads to the conclusion that psychoactive drug use is high among university entrance course pupils, refl ecting diffi culties
in coping with increasingly keener competition, social and family pressures, doubts about choice of profession and
other anxieties that might be age-related or could be linked to other factors. A serious problem of self-medication with
psychoactive drugs was noted, despite restricted sales and retained prescriptions, which can have severe and unexpected
consequences. Some questions were raised about the use of these drugs and the factors triggering their use.