Prevalence of Ritalin Abuse and its Relationship with Demographic Characteristics Among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Substance abuse is a significant global issue, particularly among professional doctoral students who have increased access to medications like Ritalin. The misuse of Ritalin among this population poses substantial risks. Hence, understanding its prevalence and reasons is crucial. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of Ritalin abuse among professional doctoral students at Lorestan University of Medical Sciences and investigate its relationship with demographic characteristics.

Methods: This study is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional investigation involving 320 professional doctoral students at Lorestan University of Medical Sciences during the 2022-2023 academic year. A checklist was employed to assess the prevalence of Ritalin usage and its correlation with demographic factors. The acquired data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.

Findings: The study found that 10.6% of the students surveyed were misusing Ritalin. Most participants were female (56.9%) and were studying medicine (70%). A significant proportion had a good income level (38.8%), and clinical professional doctoral students had the highest rate of Ritalin misuse (52.9%). Gender, educational level, place of residence, and marital status showed significant associations with Ritalin misuse (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Misuse of Ritalin among professional doctoral students (pharmacy, medicine, dentistry) at Lorestan University of Medical Sciences is widespread. Consequently, due to the negative impacts and issues stemming from unjustified and self-administered Ritalin misuse, strict control and supervision in drug distribution and sales are imperative, along with measures to deter non-prescription sales.