Study Evaluates Addictive Substance Use and Abuse by University Students
The use of addictive substances by university students is a growing problem and one that will not go away on its own. A recent post in the Science Daily examined the work of a group of psychologists from the University of Almeria in Spain, led by Dr. Pilar Flores and Flor Zaldívar.
This team recently concluded a study on the use of such substances and the manifestation of impulsive behavior in the same group of people on a cognitive and psychomotor level. The data provided by this project suggests that regular consumers of cannabis and alcohol are more impulsive than non-users. At the same time, there is no evidence to suggest that the consumption of these substances is related to impulsivity.
In a 2006 study promoted by the Department for Equal Opportunities and Social Welfare, researchers found that there are significant behavior differences depending on the analyzed groups. For those student groups that consumed addictive substances, they showed more impulsive behavior than non-users. The pattern changes, however, when motor tasks are evaluated.
In conclusion, these experts explain "it is undeniable that university students regularly consume addictive substances. On the other hand, it seems clear that there is a relationship between drug use and impulsive behavior although we still have to clarify whether this attitude is a cause or a result of drug use."
Further research into this topic will help health experts to identify exactly what drives these students to use certain substances in order to develop effective campaigns that are effective in thwarting use. At the same time, information gathered from such research can also contribute to effective treatments.
