Publication Detail

Nelson, M., Jensen, C. and Lenton, S. (2020). Study drug use among university students in Western Australia - Results of a web survey and their policy and practice implications. Drug and Alcohol Review, 40, (4), pp. 530-539. doi:10.1111/dar.13190 [RJ1608] View web page

(CE) by university students. Evidence suggests students who use CEs tend to perceive them as effective, but whether CEs

improve cognition in healthy individuals is unclear and any drug use carries a risk of harm. Two previous studies have investigated

the prevalence of use in Australian university student samples and neither assessed university system factors which may

contribute to use. Design and Methods. During 2016, a convenience sample of 2133 18–29-year-old students across all

five Western Australian universities completed a quantitative anonymous web survey targeting both users and non-users

of CE. Results. Of the final sample, 7.9% reported use of a prescription drug for CE purposes in the last 12 months.

Prescription CE use was predicted by greater frequency of illicit drug use and among students who reported they had not had a

take-home exam in the last 12 months. Rates of use and predictors of over the counter (28.6%) and illicit drugs (2.4%) were

predicted by different individual and contextual factors. There were high rates of reporting positive effects from CE use, but

although negative effects were reported less commonly, they were not trivial. Discussion and Conclusions. These findings

have implications for university policy and university health services raising the issue with students and potentially providing

clinical interventions addressing CE use. Further research should include representative samples and address both system and

individual variables in understanding patterns of CE use among students. [250 words]

Name & Contact Details Role Research Program Location
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Professor Simon Lenton
Tel: 61 (0)8 9266 1603
s.lenton@curtin.edu.au
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Director

Harm reduction policy and strategies

Perth