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Multi-Substance Use Behaviors: Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Use among University Students in Finland

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  • Walid El Ansari

    (Department of Surgery, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
    College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha 3050, Qatar
    School of Health and Education, University of Skovde, 541 28 Skövde, Sweden)

  • Abdul Salam

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam 31444, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Virtually no studies appraised the co-use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) among Finn undergraduates. We assessed the associations between sociodemographic, health, academic, policy, and lifestyle characteristics (independent variables); and individual, multiple and increasing ATOD use (dependent variables) using regression analyses. Data were collected by online questionnaire at the University of Turku, Finland (1177 students). Roughly 22% of the sample smoked, 21% ever used illicit drug/s, 41% were high frequency drinkers, and 31.4%, 16.3%, and 6.7% reported 1, 2, or 3 ATOD behaviors respectively. Individual ATOD use was significantly positively associated with the use of the other two substances [adjusted odds ratio (Adj OR range 1.893–3.311)]. Multiple ATOD use was negatively associated with being single ( p = 0.021) or agreeing with total smoking or alcohol ban policy on campus ( p < 0.0001 for each); but positively associated with not living with parents ( p = 0.004). Increasing ATOD behaviors were significantly less likely among those agreeing with total smoking or alcohol ban policy on campus ( p range 0.024 to <0.0001). Demographics significant to either individual, multiple, or increasing ATOD use included males, being single, not living with their parents during semesters, and to some extent, religiosity. Age, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, self-rated health, health awareness, income sufficiency, and academic variables were not associated with individual, multiple, or increasing ATOD use. Education and prevention efforts need to reinforce abstinence from ATOD, highlight their harmful outcomes, and target risk groups highlighted above. University strategies should be part of the wider country-wide successful ATOD control policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Walid El Ansari & Abdul Salam, 2021. "Multi-Substance Use Behaviors: Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Use among University Students in Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6426-:d:574564
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tamara Espejo-Garcés & Javier Cachón-Zagalaz & Félix Zurita-Ortega & Gabriel González-Valero & José Luis Ubago-Jiménez, 2021. "Study of Psychosocial and Academic Indicators in Young Adults from Andalucía, Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Walid El Ansari & Abdul Salam & Sakari Suominen, 2020. "Is Alcohol Consumption Associated with Poor Perceived Academic Performance? Survey of Undergraduates in Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-19, February.
    3. Tatjana Gazibara & Marija Milic & Milan Parlic & Jasmina Stevanovic & Dragoslav Lazic & Gorica Maric & Darija Kisic-Tepavcevic & Tatjana Pekmezovic, 2018. "Illict drug use and academia in North Kosovo: Prevalence, patterns, predictors and health-related quality of life," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-12, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carsten Müller & Kareem El-Ansari & Walid El Ansari, 2022. "Health-Promoting Behavior and Lifestyle Characteristics of Students as a Function of Sex and Academic Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Beata Gavurova & Viera Ivankova & Martin Rigelsky, 2021. "Alcohol Use Disorders among Slovak and Czech University Students: A Closer Look at Tobacco Use, Cannabis Use and Socio-Demographic Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-16, November.
    3. Dorota Kleszczewska & Joanna Mazur & Katarzyna Porwit & Anna Kowalewska, 2022. "Who Is Able to Resist What Is Forbidden?—The Relationship between Health Literacy and Risk Behaviours in Secondary School Students in the Broader Social and Educational Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.

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