Evaluation of medical students’ knowledge of psychoactive substances in the context of their future role in addiction prevention and therapy

Abstract

This study assesses the knowledge of medical students on the health effects of the use of psychoactive substances, in the context of their future role in prevention and treatment of addictions. The study was conducted using a questionnaire containing questions about classification, symptoms and effects of psychoactive substances, and the existing prevention programs. The study involved 430 students of medicine and allied faculties. Only 20.8% of medicine students and 12.5% of students of other faculties could correctly classify different psychoactive substances. Correct symptoms of drug misuse were mentioned by 20.4% of medicine students and 19.2% of students of other faculties. The overall knowledge of medical students was no greater than the knowledge of students of other allied faculties. Medical students showed insufficient knowledge about psychoactive substances and their effects on the human body, thus indicating the need to introduce into their study programme a more teaching in this area.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychoactive substances
• student knowledge
• drug classification
• drug addiction symptoms
• illegal drugs
• knowledge sources

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received.

Notes on contributors

Katarzyna Góralska

Katarzyna Góralska, PhD, MSc graduated from two faculties Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. Initially, she worked at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, and now she is a research and lecturer at the Medical University of Lodz. For 10 years, she has been the tutor of the Student Scientific Society of Biology and Medical Parasitology, which deals with the broadly understood subject of medical biology. She is the author of numerous scientific articles in the field of environmental medicine, including medical mycology. Member of many scientific societies. She is the head of the Department of Biology and Parasitology at the Medical University of Lodz.

Weronika Gawor

Weronika Gawor, MD graduated from the Medical University of Lodz. During her studies, she was active in the Student Scientific Society of Biology and Medical Parasitology. She did an internship in Alpenklinik Santa Maria, Rehabilitationsklinik fur Kinder and Jugenliche. She is currently completing a postgraduate internship at the University Clinical Hospital Military Medical Academy - Central Veterans Hospital in Łódź, and has started doctoral studies at the International Doctoral School of the Medical University of Lodz.

Szymon Lis

Szymon Lis, MD graduated from the Medical University of Lodz. During his studies, he actively participaded in the Student Scientific Society of Biology and Medical Parasitology and Students' ScientificSociety of Rheumatology activities. Completed a research internship at the Department of Applied Microbiology at the University of Warsaw. He participated several times in the organization of the International Conference Juvenes Pro Medicina for Students and Young Doctors. He is currently completing a postgraduate internship at the University Clinical Hospital Military Medical Academy - Central Veterans Hospital in Łódź.

Michał Oszczygieł

Michał Oszczygieł, MD graduated from the Medical University of Lodz. During his studies, he was repeatedly awarded by the University Authorities for his sports activities. Two-time medalist of the Polish Academic Sailing Championships. As part of his scientific activities, he actively worked in the Student Scientific Circle of Biology and Medical Parasitology. During the COVID19 pandemic, he worked at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, the National Hospital in Warsaw and at PKN Orlen Temporary Hospital in Płock. Decorated by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland with the Medal of the 100th Anniversary of Regaining Independence for participation in the Polish Medicines Mission in Dover on Christmas Eve 2020.

Adam Boroński

Adam Boroński, MD graduated from the Medical University of Lodz. During his studies, he was very active in the Student Scientific Society of Biology and Medical Parasitology. As part of the scientific exchange, he also studied at the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico and the Universidad de Malaga in Spain. Currently, he works as a resident at the M. Konopnicka University Center of Paediatrics in Lodz.

Ewa Brzeziańska-Lasota

Ewa Brzeziańska-Lasota, Professor, PhD, MSc is a graduate of the Faculty of Biology at the University of Lodz, for 20 years professionally associated with the Institute of Polish Mother's Health Center and the Medical University of Lodz. She is the head of the Department of Biomedicine and Genetics and the Chair of Medical Biology and Microbiology, Medical University of Lodz. Chairwoman of the Polish Genetic Society, Lodz Branch, member of many national and foreign scientific societies. In her research work, she mainly deals with genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors related to the development of human diseases, including cancer and lung diseases. She is a laureate of two team awards of the Minister of Health concerning a series of publications devoted to scientific work.