Vol. 9, Issue 3 (2020)

1. To assess the knowledge and attitude regarding the use of psychoactive drugs

2. To know the awareness of the health consequences of psychoactive drugs and their short term & long term complications

Material and Methods: A cross sectional observational study by presenting pretested semi structured questionnaire to medical undergraduate students at Raichur institute of medical sciences (RIMS) Raichur. Student opinions were summarized and analyzed in a Microsoft Excel worksheet, and the results were analyzed.

Results: Majority of students (>60%) identified almost all psychoactive substances like codeine, ganja, morphine, heroine, tobacco, alcohol etc. 95% of the students felt that psychoactive substance use is unacceptable. 88.5% of the students felt that the use of psychoactive substances will slow down the progress activity at school. 67.14% of students agreed that there are no potential benefits associated with psychoactive substances use. 18.57% of students admitted to have a friend who is abusing the psychoactive substances. Alcohol (40%) & tobacco (31.43%) were the most common psychoactive substances abused by their friends. Majority of students were aware of short term and long term complications of psychoactive substance use. Two students volunteered that they were using psychoactive substance especially alcohol.

Conclusion: Most students could identify the commonest psychoactive substances mainly alcohol, heroine, ganja, morphine and tobacco They are aware that there is possibility of drug addiction from continued use & the use of psychoactive substances can slow down progress activity at colleges. Few admitted that they have friends who is abusing the psychoactive substances especially alcohol & tobacco. Majority were aware about various short term, long term complications of addictive, stimulant abused drugs. We feel educating the students regarding the areas where they further lack adequate knowledge would be beneficial to them.