Knowledge Towards ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs): A Study
38-41
Correspondence
Kalpana L.Professor And Head
Department of Pharmacology
SIMS&RC, No 15, Hesaraghatta Main Road
Bangalore-90, Karnataka, India.
Mob: 9880655158, 9900133966
Email: kalpu154@gmail.com; kavya_jss@yahoo.co.in.
Aim: Drug abuse has led to a detrimental impact on the society worldwide. In India, drug use and related problems are of major interest and concern, but research on awareness has received less attention. The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge of students towards ATOD.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional, observational study was conducted on 300 students in 3 different colleges in Bangalore. The survey module was developed using an anonymous self administered questionnaire.
Results: Out of 293 subjects assessed 159 were males and 134 were females. Males had better knowledge about the risks involved in alcohol and tobacco consumption where as in other drugs females had better knowledge. Students from rural background had less knowledge towards alcohol and tobacco’s harmful effects, in other drugs they had better knowledge.
Conclusions: Knowledge about the risk involved in using ATOD is inadequate and if knowledge is inculcated among youths about the risk involved in drug abuse it will go a long way towards winning the battle against drug abuse.