Social and Psychosocial Determinants of Psychoactive Substance Use and Misuse by University Students (PSYSUB)

General Overview

The PSYSUB project investigates university students’ consumption of psychoactive substances using multilingual questionnaires across diverse settings. The data collected will inform a multicentre study aimed at understanding the associations between knowledge, attitudes, and the use and misuse of psychoactive substances among the student population across EUniWell universities.

Purpose and Significance

Psychoactive substance consumption, including tranquilizers, stimulants, and energy drinks, has reached alarming levels among young adults, contributing to a silent global pandemic. This rise is fuelled by factors such as easy accessibility, mental health challenges, and a low perception of risk. Gender-specific influences, including societal expectations and gender-related stress, further shape consumption patterns.

University students are particularly vulnerable due to the pressures of academic life and exposure to psychosocial factors that increase the risk of mental health challenges such as depression, stress, and anxiety-factors often linked to substance use and misuse. Tackling this pressing public health issue requires targeted educational interventions to improve awareness and transform attitudes towards psychoactive substances.

PSYSUB, coordinated by Professor Narmeen Mallah from the University of Santiago de Compostela, is conducted in collaboration with five other EUniWell universities: the University of Murcia, the University of Florence, Nantes Université, Semmelweis University, and the University of Birmingham. The project seeks to identify misconceptions and medically inappropriate attitudes towards substance use to inform preventative strategies and interventions.

A pile of white, round tablets placed on a wooden surface. Represents both pharmaceutical and psychoactive substance as tranquilisers, stimulants or energy drinks.

Implementation Method and Timeline

The project is structured into three key stages:

Stage 1: December 2024 – February 2025

  • Logistics, translation, and pilot testing of a pre-developed questionnaire on psychoactive substance use.
  • Psychometric evaluation (e.g., reproducibility) to validate the tool.

Stage 2: February – June 2025

  • Administration of the validated questionnaire at partner universities to collect data.

Stage 3: July – November 2025

  • Data analysis and dissemination of results.
  • A plenary session will be held at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Autumn 2025 as a one-day interactive workshop. Partners will present their findings, and academic and public health authorities will be invited to discuss the implications.

Expected Outcomes

The PSYSUB project aims to:

Develop a validated assessment tool

  • This tool will identify social and psychosocial determinants of psychoactive substance use among university students.
  • Validation will ensure high-quality data, and its availability in six languages will enable its application across multiple countries.

Uncover misconceptions and attitudes

  • Insights into country-specific and European trends will inform the design of targeted educational programmes.
  • Gender-sensitive analyses will guide the development of tailored interventions.

Stimulate future research

  • Findings will encourage further research on psychoactive substance use and contribute to global efforts in substance misuse management.

By addressing these objectives, PSYSUB will play a vital role in fostering informed, evidence-based approaches to psychoactive substance use prevention and education.

Contact:

Narmeen Mallah, University of Santiago de Compostela

Anna Júlia Éliás, Semmelweis University

Antonella Mannini, University of Florence

María Cristina Núñez Parra, University of Murcia

Julie Arsandaux, Nantes Université

Sani Musa, University of Birmingham