Research proposal

On

A psychological study on the effects of alcohol and

other drug abuse in college STUDENTS
-in AHMEDABAD
Rashi Joshi

21-PS-556

B.A. V (RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY PS-5501)

St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Ahmedabad

Submitted to Dr. Tatpar Joshipura

Department of Psychology

St. Xavier’s College

(Autonomous) Ahmedabad, August 2023

 ABSTRACT
Aim: To study the effects of alcohol and other drug abuse in college students.

Method- This will be a qualitative study involving undergraduate (University students), dean of
students and counsellor of two different Universities. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key
informant interviews will be used to collect data. Thematic analysis will also be done by
identifying, coding, and categorizing patterns or themes found in data. Conclusion: The
commonly abused substances were alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes. Alcohol and drug abuse
has left a negative impact among undergraduates (University students). The main
consequences being: discontinuation of studies, mental disturbances and risky sexual activities.

Keywords- Qualitative study, Focus Group Discussions, Key informant

interviews, Thematic Analysis, Undergraduates

Author- Rashi Joshi, TYBA- Sem V, St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad

INTRODUCTION
Substance abuse among college students is a public health concern. The use of
drugs at this early age predisposes one to drug dependence later in adulthood.
Studies have shown that consumption of licit and illicit substances among young
people had increased all over the world.

Studies done among University students in Kenya showed that, substance abuse
was a hazard with alcohol being the most frequently used stuff.

Alcohol and substance abuse was an increasing menace to the country and in
particular the coastal region which was a major transmit hub that had easy access
to illicit drugs. Substance use tends to peak between the ages of 18 and 25 years
with University students being at higher risk.

Substance use among University students was likely to interfere with their studies
and as a result their career development ends in jeopardy.
Historically, conceptualisations of alcoholism and drug addiction posited the
existence of an addictive personality based in psychodynamic formulations of
pathological dependency. This perspective is clearly stated within the first and
second editions of the DSM which classified alcoholism and drug addiction as
types of “sociopathic personality disturbances” and then later under a broader
category of “personality disorders”.

According to Ball (2005), “this dissociation of personality from addiction expresses

the failure during the preceding two decades to identify a single personality
type”.

It is now widely admitted that the addictive personality does not exist, or has, at
least, been largely rejected (Kerr, 1996; Nathan, 1998). In particular several
studies have shown that drug dependent individuals differ from controls on
several personality characteristics including, impulsivity, sensation seeking, and
proneness toward social deviance.

According to Ball (2005), Personality traits have not only been well validated as
predictors of substance use both in adolescents and adults, but are also reliable
predictors of earlier age of onset, polydrug use, chronic/heavy use, conduct and
antisocial personality disorders, violence, arrests, substance dependence severity,
HIV risk behaviours, psychiatric symptoms, mood disorders, suicide attempts,
family history and early dropout.

According to Anderson, Tapert, Moadab, Crowley, and Brown (2007) “Beginning

in early childhood, personality trait differences can be seen in those children who
abuse substances versus who do not”. Those Children who abused drugs at a
young age has significantly higher scores on neuroticism, and lower scores of
agreeableness and conscientiousness. These traits appear to be consistent across
the lifespan.

According to Grekin, Sher and Wood (2006), “Personality traits related to

neuroticism and disinhibition have been consistently associated with substance
use disorders”.
 Review of literature
The research assists on the psychological study on the effects of alcohol and other drug abuse
in college students. Most of the results conclude that mental disorders resulting from use of
drugs are affecting young adults at a crucial time in their lives while adversely damaging their
future.

Danzo and colleagues (2017) conducted a study on ‘reciprocal relationship

between alcohol and depression’ published by American journal of Psychology to
investigate the effects of psychological problems on alcohol use. The study noted
the developmental pathways for both depression and alcohol use are intertwined,
and co- occurring depression and alcohol use problems represent one of the most
prevalent and debilitating co morbidities in adolescence and adulthood.

Shalini Singh and Yatan Pal Singh Patra (2016) conducted a study on “A review of
Indian Research on co-occurring Psychiatric Disorders and Alcohol use Disorders”
published by The Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, to find out the co-
occurrence of Psychiatric disorder and Alcohol use disorder. This study concluded
that a large portion of the treatment seeking population with alcohol use
disorders presented with Psychiatric co morbidities. The commonly associated
diagnosis included almost all the disorders including mood disorders, psychotic
spectrum disorders, anxiety spectrum disorders as well as sexual dysfunction.
Personality disorders were also commonly prevalent, and childhood ADHD poses
a risk of developing substance use disorder in the future.

Sorab Gupta, Sandeep Singh Sarpal, Dinesh Kumar, Turandeep Kaur and Sumant
Arora (2013) conducted a study on “Prevalence, pattern and familial effects of
substance use among the male college students- a North Indian study”, published
by the Journal of clinical and diagnostic research, to find out the familial effects of
drugs among the male college students in North India. The result of this study
shows that the prevalence of substance use was seen in 52.7% students belonging
to age group of 19 to 21 years. More prevalence of substance abuse was found
among law students (76.2%) followed by the students from Art stream (62.5%).
Among the users Alcohol was most commonly used (53.5%), followed by smokers
(27.3%), tobacco chewers (8.2%), cannabis (6.8%). 49% of the users were using
substances on daily basis, followed by 23% who were using weekly and 29.3% of
users had father using any substance.

CM Kumar and Shweta Singh Obeid Shafi (2019) in “Substance use in

Adolescents” published by the Indian Journal of Adolescent Medicine wanted to
do a situational analysis on the substance use in Adolescents. This study states
that as the Adolescence is a period of experimentation, exploration, identity
formation and risk taking, this leads to a higher incidence of drug abuse in
adolescents compared to the general population. Adolescent substance use differ
from that of adults in that progression from casual use to dependence occurs
more quickly, more likely to use multiple substances and are at higher risk of
presenting with psychiatric co morbidities. The prevalence of substance use by
adolescents has increased substantially in recent times and is a major public
health issue which has significant short and long term repercussions. Hence, there
is a need for greater awareness and education regarding drug use in adolescents
for prevention and treatment.

Jose C Galduroz, Nadia Tomita, Andreia G Bezerra (2020) conducted a study on

“Measures to reduce smoking: Brazil takes the lead” published by The Brazilian
Journal of Psychiatry wanted to find out the measures to reducing the smoking
and other drug abuse. According to this study smoking remains a major global
public health challenge. About 8 million people die every year from tobacco use
worldwide, of which 7 million occur from tobacco use and about 1.2 million non-
smokers die due to passive consumption.
 Methodology
This study has a descriptive and exploratory design. Focus group discussion and
key informant’s interviews were chosen for data collection. The participants were
Deans of students, counsellors and undergraduates of two different public
universities in the coastal region. They were purposely included because they
were likely to hold the information on the magnitude of drug abuse in their
universities. They were the ones who deal with indiscipline cases in their
institutions.

Four Key Informant Interviews (KII’s) with the deans of students and counsellors
from the two universities were conducted. There were two interviews in each
University about the perceptions on the problem of drug abuse and the
magnitude of the problem among students. The number of KIIs was guided by
data saturation. By the time the third interview was conducted, the interviewer
noticed there was repetition of issues that had already been raised and a decision
was made not to conduct further interviews.

A total of 40 students (20 males and 20 females) between 18-25 years actively
took part in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Four FGDs with students from both
Universities were carried out. The number of FGD was guided by data saturation.
During FGDs, there was always moderator research assistant that kept time and
took short notes of the discussions. An FGD guide with a list of questions was
used in the meetings. Each FGD lasted between 40-50 minutes; the taped
discussions were then transcribed in readiness for analysis.

Thematic analysis was carried out by identifying, coding, and categorizing

patterns or themes found in the data. Data was presented in form of texts and
where possible verbatim quotes used to amplify the voices of the informants.

Ethical consideration: The research proposal was approved by Moi University

school of Medicine. Permission to carry out the study was also sought from the
National Commission of Science and Technology (NACOSTI) also the University
administration of both Universities.
 IMPLICATIONS

This study found that the burden of alcohol and drug abuse among the University
students was quite substantial and it impacts negatively on those involved in the
vice. The study showed alcohol was the commonly abused substance. Other
abused substance included marijuana, miraa and cigarettes.

The problem of drug abuse has had negative effects on both students and staff in
institutions of higher learning. This has an impact on the students learning
activities. Drug abuse leads to poor attendance and poor performance that
sometimes lead to discontinuation from the university.

Substance abuse particularly use of marijuana (bhang) had been linked to mental
health problems. Participants confirmed witnessing students with mental
disorders which after follow up was established to be associated with the intake
of bhang. Studies have shown that, there was a relationship between the use of
marijuana and conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, mania as well as
psychosis. Marijuana use may also decrease age at onset in both schizophrenia
and bipolar disorder.

Globally, non communicable diseases related burden of deaths, net years of life
lost and net disability adjusted life years, respectively can be attributed to alcohol
consumption, with the burden being particularly high for cancer and liver
cirrhosis. Alcohol consumption contributes to disease, injury, disability and
premature death more than any other risk factor in developing countries with low
mortality.

The problem of substance abuse among the undergraduates in the coastal region
was of concern to both students and the staffs. The most commonly abused
substance was alcohol particularly the local brew (mnazi). Easy accessibility to
various substances was a main factor predisposing students to engage in drug
abuse. Among other factors, alcohol and drug abuse lead students engage in risky
sexual behaviour exposing themselves to the risk of contracting sexually
transmitted diseases including HIV/ AIDS. There is need to sensitize this group of
student on the harm associated with drug abuse and dissuading them from
engaging in substances abuse. This will require Universities to set up programs
aimed at creating awareness on the harmful effects of the substances.

Reference

JC Galduroz, N Tomita, AG Bezerra- Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020- SciELO

Brasil

S Gupta, SS Sarpal, D Kumar, T Kaur- Journal of clinical and diagnostic

research,2013- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CM KUMAR, SS OBEID SHAFI- Indian Journal of Adolescent: Situational Analysis,

2019- aha.iapindia.org

Lal B, Singh G, Drug abuse in Punjab Br J Addict 1979 74:441

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Topic- Drug abuse: A study and result of Indian distress and unfullfillment of
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National Institutes of Health (.gov) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov >pmc Drug

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United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime www.jcdr.com THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF
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SAGE Journals https:// journals.sagepub.com>pdf Educating Psychologists about

Substance Abuse

Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research for doctors on Substance abuse,

College students, Drug dependence, Familial effects.

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