AN UPDATE ON BRITISH MEDICAL-STUDENTS LIFE-STYLES

Information about medical students' lifestyles was obtained from 785 s econd-year students from seven medical schools in Great Britain by a p ersonally administered questionnaire. Fifteen per cent of the students were non-drinkers. Among those who drank, 48% of the men and 38% of t he women exceeded sensible weekly limits of alcohol consumption, and h igh-risk levels of consumption were reported by 12% of men and 7% of w omen. Cannabis had been used at least once or twice by more than half the men and 40% of the women, and 10% reported regular use (weekly or more often). Experience with other illicit drugs was also reported: am phetamines (8% of students), LSD (7%), ecstasy (4%), amyl/butyl nitrat e (10%) and magic mushrooms (7%). Nineteen per cent of the students ha d used two or more different drugs. Experience with illicit drugs star ted before entering university in more than a third of those who used them. Comparison of the results with other student surveys suggests th at the lifestyles of medical students differ little from those of othe r student groups, but that alcohol and illicit drug consumption is inc reasing in university students generally. Prospective studies are unde r way to establish whether medical students change their lifestyles at later stages of their course and after qualification.