Risk Factors for Substance Use among University Students in Ukraine during Wartime

INTRODUCTION: The impact of ongoing conflict in the country on substance use among youth remains unclear. This study aims to identify the risk factors for substance use among university students and their association with mental health problems and sociodemographic characteristics during the war in Ukraine.

METHODS: University students (N =1398) in Ukraine aged 18-20 (75.5% female) completed surveys on substance use, PTSD, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and a brief screening for insomnia and suicidal behaviour. ANOVA analysis was used to examine interaction between sociodemographic characteristics and CRAFFT risk score, and ANCOVA analysis to explore the interaction between covariates. Additionally, we applied the Pearson correlation adjusted with Benjamini-Hochberg procedure to determine correlations of main variables with substance use intensity.

RESULTS: A total of 66.4% of university students reported alcohol use, 11.5% had used other substances. The vast majority of students had a trauma experience (91.1%), and more than half experienced multiple trauma (62.0%). Students of relatively older age, those who were relocated twice (inside Ukraine and abroad or abroad and back to Ukraine), stopped education, or were on academic leave used substances more. Any traumatic experience was associated with more intensive substance consumption. Living with relatives and having better wellbeing before the war was connected with lower substance use.

CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic experiences and unsecure living environment due to the ongoing war in Ukraine put Ukrainian students at high risk of further increases of mental health and substance use issues. Preventive measures are needed to protect students from the war adversities and to help them develop psychological resilience.