Dangerous Crystal: Determining of Methamphetamine Awareness Levels Among University Students

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the awareness levels of university students about methamphetamine addiction and to examine the variations according to certain factors. This descriptive study was conducted with 338 university students, and the responses to the Substance Addiction Awareness Scale and some questions related to methamphetamine were analyzed. More than 50% of the participants (N=177) reported that they had not known of methamphetamine before, and two-thirds of them (N=213) stated that they were not familiar with the substance. The mean scale score was determined as 108.36, indicating that the awareness levels were quite high. Participants who were unaware of the substance and had not known of it before had significantly lower awareness scores compared to those who were aware of and had known of methamphetamine. The most significant determinant of awareness was found to be learning about the substance from social media and communication tools, and learning from friends and educational sources also played a significant role. On the other hand, it was determined that the participants' awareness regarding factors leading to addiction did not significantly differ depending on whether the substance previously heard or not, known or unknown.

Keywords

• Methamphetamine
• University Students
• Awareness
• Addiction

Tehlikeli Kristal: Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Metamfetamin Farkındalık Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi

Öz

Bu araştırmada üniversite öğrencilerinin metamfetamin bağımlılığı hakkında farkındalık düzeylerinin belirlenmesi ve bazı faktörlere göre değişimlerinin ortaya konması amaçlanmıştır. Tanımlayıcı nitelikte olan bu araştırma, 338 üniversite öğrencisi ile yapılmış, Madde Bağımlılığı Farkındalık Ölçeği ve metamfetamine yönelik bazı sorulara verdikleri yanıtlar analiz edilmiştir. Katılımcıların %50’den fazlasının (N=177) metamfetamin maddesini daha önce duymadıkları, üçte ikisinin ise (N=213) maddeyi bilmedikleri belirlenmiştir. Ölçek puan ortalaması 108.36 olarak tespit edilmiş ve farkındalıklarının oldukça yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Katılımcılardan maddeyi bilmeyen ve daha önce duymamış olanların farkındalık puanlarının maddeyi bilen ve duymuş olanlardan anlamlı düzeyde düşük olduğu belirlenmiştir. Farkındalığın en önemli belirleyicisinin maddeyi sosyal medya ve iletişim araçlarından duymak olduğu, ayrıca arkadaşlar ve etkinlik-eğitim kaynaklarından duymuş olmanın da belirleyici olduğu görülmüştür. Öte yandan, katılımcıların bağımlılığa neden olan faktörlerle ilgili farkındalıklarının maddenin daha önce duyulması ya da duyulmaması, bilinmesi ya da bilinmemesine göre anlamlı düzeyde farklılaşmadığı belirlenmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Metamfetamin
• Üniversite Öğrencileri
• Farkındalık
• Bağımlılık

Kaynakça

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