Page No :406-417
Ujjwal Sharma, Rupali Sharma, Nancy Devi, Savi and Ankita Choudhary
Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu , J&K, India
Substance abuse, including emerging trends like vaping, is a significant concern for
student health. This study investigates the prevalence and patterns of drug use among
female undergraduate students in Jammu, aiming to identify influential factors and
assess the severity of abuse. A cross-sectional design was employed, with 200
undergraduate students completing standardized questionnaires. The results revealed
that cough syrup was the most commonly misused substance, followed by alcohol, ecigarettes
(vaping), and “cool lip” products, primarily initiated for medical rather than
recreational purposes. Notably, substance use among female students was relatively
low compared to similar studies in the Jammu & Kashmir region. Mental health, as
assessed by the Mental Health Inventory and PGI health questionnaire, was found to
be poor. The Big Five Inventory revealed that most students exhibited traits of openness
to change, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, which are positively correlated with
substance abuse. However, despite these risk factors, substance abuse levels remained
low, potentially due to protective factors like supportive family relationships, limited
availability of illicit drugs, and frequent awareness programs under the Nasha Mukt
Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA). Educational institutions’ promotion of healthy lifestyles through
student engagement may have also contributed to the reduced substance misuse in
this population.