Prevalence, Awareness, Attitudes and Patterns of Stimulant Drug Use Among Students in Egyptian Universities (SDU)

Prevalence, Patterns, Awareness and Attitudes of Stimulant Drug Use Among Students in Egyptian Universities: a Cross-sectional Study.

Stimulants are dangerous drugs that are commonly abused by individuals looking to stay alert and focused, lose weight, stay awake, and get high. Although these drugs can be extremely harmful and even life-threatening, many of them can also be used to treat conditions like ADHD, narcolepsy, and in some cases, depression. There are many types of stimulant drugs, and it can be beneficial to know a little about each one, its purposes, and how harmful it can be when abused.

Illicit stimulants are usually schedule II, depending on whether or not they can be used to treat medical conditions. While some variations of stimulants are schedule I drugs, most are extremely addictive and dangerous schedule II substances. These drugs are often abused in a binge-crash pattern. According to the NIDA Teen, "In order to keep the 'high' going, people may take the drug repeatedly within a short period of time, at increasingly higher doses." This makes these drugs extremely addictive.

The aim of this survey to detect prevalence of non prescription stimulants in Egyptian students and increase their awareness of the harmful effects of these drugs.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Study of Stimulants in Egypt
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: questionnaire

Detailed Description

Methodology Undergraduate students at a large public university in Egypt (Minia, Assuit, Souhag, South Valley) who were 18 years of age or older took the survey in 2024. All survey and recruitment materials were approved by Minia University, faculty of pharmacy.

Students will receive survey through email. Students took the survey online at a time and location of their choice. No time limit was imposed. Participants will automatically routed through each section of the survey. First, students read a description of the study, including potential benefits and costs of taking the survey, and then they will be asked if they are a current undergraduate student at the participating university and their age. First section included the demographic data of participants, the second section the investigator will aske participants to indicate if they had ever been prescribed a stimulant. If participant answered yes, participants will route to the next section which asks about the frequency of use, the effects of stimulants and any complain if present.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1500

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Minya, Egypt, 11666
    • Asmaa Ahmed Hamed

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Undergraduate students at a large public university in Egypt who were 18 years of age or older took the survey in 2024. All survey and recruitment materials were approved by Minia University, faculty of pharmacy.

Students were received survey through email. Students took the survey online at a time and location of their choice. No time limit was imposed.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Academic student Age (18-30) years Included in medical faculty

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not undergraduates student Aged < 18 years

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
study group; Undergraduate students at a large public university in Egypt who were 18 years of age or older took the survey in 2024. All survey and recruitment materials were approved by Minia University, faculty of pharmacy. Students were received survey through email. Students took the survey online at a time and location of their choice.	Other: questionnaire; observational study

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prevalence/ pattern	- Do/ did you use stimulants ( Recreational drugs): Yes No; How do / did you obtain this medication Prescribed Non prescribed; When did you start receiving stimulants for last 1 year for last 3 years for last 5 years; Which Stimulant (drug) is/ was usedtobacco products (e.g., coffee, chocolate, cigarettes) high caffeine productspseudoephedrine, ( nasal decongestant)methylphenidate [Ritalin]amphetamine [Adderall]methamphetaminemodafinil (Provigil)dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)dextro/levoamphetamine (Adderall)adrafinil (Olmifon)piracetamOthers	1 year
Awareness/ attitude	- How do you know about the effect of stimulants: Substance use by peers Friends as a source of prescription stimulants Social media Promotion; Why do you use stimulant Because it helps me concentrate Because it helps me study and enhance memory Because it helps increase my alertness and concentration Because it gives me a high mood Because it helps me to be more energetic Because it improves sleep quality Because it decreases stress level Because of experimentation Because it helps me lose weight; Do you know that stimulant is harmful to the body systems Yes No; Which of the following side effects do you experience after using stimulantdecreased appetiteweight lossheadacheinsomniadizzinessnervousness.Seizurescardiac events (increase blood pressure and heart rate, heart attacks)psychosis; Did you receive treatment for the side effects after using stimulants Yes No	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Demographic data	- Age: 18-20 20-22 22-25 - Sex: Male Female - Residence: Rural Urban; University Minia Assiut South Valley Suhag; Faculty Pharmacy Medicine; Academic Year: First tear second year Third year fourth year Fifth year; Cigarette smoking Yes No; Associated disorder: psychic (e.g. ADHD); income or economic level Low income moderate income high income; visits to emergency department or hospital (times/ year) 1-3 4-10 11-15 >15	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Asmaa Ahmed Hamed Mohie Eldin

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 10, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 9, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 16, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 17, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 2, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 27, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Prevalence; awareness; attitudes; Stimulant drug; Egyptian universities
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Methods; Data Collection; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Surveys and Questionnaires
• Other Study ID Numbers: MPEC 240704 (Registry Identifier: Minia University)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No