Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of undergraduate medical students towards drug addiction and prevalence of drug addicts in Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum

Abstract Introduction: Addiction can be defined as the loss of control over drug use. Drug addiction makes major damage to the population and countries worldwide. Youths are a high-risk category for the use of the addicted substance. There are an increase in drugs usage and drinking alcohol in many developing countries. We conducted this study to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice towards drug addicts and addiction.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Khartoum between December 2020 and January 2021. 355 students participated in the study with a 97% response rate. A structured questionnaire was used and data obtained were analyzed by chi-square test to identify any association between deferent variables.Results: Among participants, 1.4% of students were reported they were addicted to drugs. 7.9% were tried at least one type of addicted illicit drug before. A very high percentage of students (92.1%) were considered to have good knowledge about drug addiction. Only 32.1% had a positive attitude toward addicted patients and addiction and the majority had the opposite. Relatively low percent (16.6%) have done a good practice toward addicted patients and drugs. There were significant associations between an academic year with all of the knowledge (p=<0.001), attitude (p=0.001), and practice (p=<0.001) scores. Besides significant association between gender and practice (p=0.004).Conclusion: Although the prevalence of drug addiction among medical students was low, it is detected as a warrant red light. Knowledge of students about drug addiction is good but a negative attitude towards it has been notified. More attention is required towards students about drug addiction. Introduction of a course or workshop about the danger of drug addiction and how to deal with addicted patients.