@article{ref1,
title="Self-reported illicit drug use among Norwegian university and college students.  associations with age, gender, and geography",
journal="Frontiers in psychiatry",
year="2020",
author="Heradstveit, Ove and Skogen, Jens Christoffer and Edland-Gryt, Marit and Hesse, Morten and Vallentin-Holbech, Lotte and Lønning, Kari-Jussie and Sivertsen, Børge",
volume="11",
number="",
pages="e543507-e543507",
abstract="Background and Aims: Several studies have pointed to relatively high levels of  illicit drug use among students in higher education compared to the general  population. The aim of the present study was to provide an updated examination of  self-reported illicit drug use among Norwegian University and college students. <br><br>METHODS: Data stem from the SHoT study (Students' Health and Well-being Study), a  nationwide cross-sectional survey for higher education in Norway including Norwegian  full-time students aged 18-35. Self-reported illicit drug use across a range of  specified drugs comprised the outcome variables. Information on gender, age, and  study location (geographical area) was also collected and used as stratification  variables. The SHoT-survey from 2018 (N = 50,054) was used for the analyses of  associations between demographical variables and illicit drug use, while trends in  illicit drug use were estimated by comparing the 2018-results with data from the  SHoT-surveys conducted in 2010 and 2014. <br><br>RESULTS: The proportion of students  reporting having ever tried illicit drugs increased from 2014 to 2018, for both  males (30.8 vs. 36.7%) and females (17.5 vs. 24.0%, both p < 0.001), while only  minimal changes occurred between 2010 and 2014. The most commonly used illicit drugs  during the past 12 months in 2018 were cannabis (15.2%), followed by MDMA (4.0%),  cocaine (3.0%), and LSD/psilocybin (2.1%). Illicit drug use showed both linear  increase with age, and inverted U-shaped relationships that peaked in the age span  from 23 to 28 years of age. Males reported higher illicit drug use compared with  females for all drugs. Proportions of illicit drug use varied across geographical  areas within the country, with the highest use being reported in the Oslo area (the  largest city and capital of Norway). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The present study reports an  increase from 2010 to 2018 among Norwegian University and college students in the  proportion of those reporting to have tried illicit drugs. Despite varying  proportions of use across type of drug, age, gender, and geographical location, the  overall high levels of illicit drug use past 12 months confirm the need to address  illicit drug use in this population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1664-0640",
doi="10.3389/fpsyt.2020.543507",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.543507"
}