Alcoholism among Dental Students

Abstract

College students are at a specific stage to experience more freedom in making personal choices about their health behaviours than earlier or later in life—some forms of risky behaviours such as alcohol consumption peak in this age group. Alcohol use is broadly reported among university students. To evaluate the pattern of alcohol consumption among dental undergraduate students and associated factors with alcohol consumption. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional type of study comprising 100 dental college students in Chennai. A self-designed questionnaire contains 10 questions based on the knowledge, awareness on the harmful effects of alcohol among dental college students. Questionnaires were circulated through an online website survey planet. After the responses were received from 100 participants, data was collected and analysed. 92% of students are not alcoholics. 90% of students are aware that alcoholism is injurious to health. 76% of students were aware that alcoholics get a risk of hepatic cancer if they drink alcohol. 60% of students consuming alcohol said they drink because of family problems,35% because of work-related stress and 5% because of peer pressure. The alcohol consumption rate is less among dental students and the majority of them are aware of the harmful effects of alcoholism. However, more intense awareness programs should be initiated to discontinue the use of alcohol.