E. Karam et al., Use and abuse of licit and illicit substances: Prevalence and risk factorsamong students in Lebanon, EUR ADDIC R, 6(4), 2000, pp. 189-197
Objective: This study aims at examining the patterns of 'substance' use in
Lebanon among an 'at risk' population, the university students. Method: A s
tratified cluster sample of 1,851 students from two major universities was
included in the study and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (version 3) was
administered. Results: The prevalence of nicotine users in the sample was
18.3% and of ever consuming alcohol 49.4%, 2.1% of the sample were alcohol
abusers and 2.4% alcohol dependents according to DSM-III criteria. For the
remaining substances, tranquilizers were found to have the highest rate of
ever use (10.2%), whereas heroin had the lowest rate (0.4%); the rates of a
buse and dependence in these categories (other than alcohol and nicotine) f
ollowing DSM-III criteria ranged from 0.1 to 0.8%. Conclusion: University s
tudents in Lebanon in this study have relatively low rates of use and abuse
of substances but this might be changing. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG,
Basel.