ALCOHOL USE AND ADDICTION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS IN CHENNAI

Introduction Alcohol is a depressant, which in low doses causes euphoria, reduces anxiety, and increases sociability. In higher doses, it causes drunkenness, stupor, unconsciousness or death. Long-term use can lead to an alcohol use disorder, an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, and physical dependence. Due to its high alcohol content, drinking a large amount of undiluted liquor within a short period of time can cause serious and acute health problems. Aim The aim of the study is to check for alcohol use and consumption among college students in Chennai. Materials and methods A total sample of 150 college students were included in this study. This cross sectional study was conducted in Chennai by convenient sampling in February 2021. A pretested online questionnaire with 10 questions was distributed across online platforms. The statistics were computed with the SPSS version 23 software. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used for checking the alcohol use and consumption among college students. Association analysis was also done to arrive at the results. Results 62.67% of the study population have easy access to beer, 73.33% of them to wine and 69.33% to spirits. 76.67% of the participants started drinking beer from the age group 17-19, 82.67% of them started drinking wine from the range of 20-22 and 75.33% of the population started drinking spirits from the age group of 23-25. 8% of the study population in the age group 17-19, 12% in the age group 20-22 and 5% in the age group 23-25 have faced problems in their life due to alcohol consumption. Pearson chi square test was done and the p-value is 0.02. and hence it is statistically significant. Conclusion: Majority of the population are alcohol dependent or atleast consume a small amount of alcohol on a regular basis.