Status of Alcohol Consumption among Medical Students in Nepalgunj Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The growth in alcohol consumption is skyrocketing. Alcohol ranks first as the most commonly misused substance by medical students. Considerably more stress has been documented among medical students. They tend to consume alcohol to cope with stressful situations. Excessive drinking can lead to consequences like loss of concentration and poor performance in academics. While there is extensive research on alcohol consumption patterns in various populations, there is a notable scarcity of localized studies, particularly in medical schools in periphery of Nepal. This study aims to fill the gap by providing specific data on the status of alcohol consumption among students at Nepalgunj Medical College. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students of Nepalgunj Medical College. Results: Among 406, 15% (61) consumed alcohol. Among the alcohol consumers, 15% were CAGE positive and possibly have alcohol problems and all of them were male. About 32.8% of them initiated drinking due to peer pressure, 29.5% of the students started out of curiosity. Conclusion: The prevalence of alcohol consumption is comparatively lower among medical students in Nepalgunj Medical College. However, the alcohol problem is more among the drinkers. Alcohol problem is very common in male and final-year students. The most common reasons for initiation of drinking by them is peer pressure. Further studies regarding alcohol abuse pattern, its determinants, and treatment among the medical students are the current necessities to apply the proper interventional strategies to ensure the production of compatible and genuine doctors in the future.