In Karachi, a concerning trend has been revealed showing that future doctors are using mental relaxation and sleeping pills, with hostel residents being the most frequent users of such medication.
This revelation was made in recent research conducted by the Department of Community Medicine at Jinnah Sindh Medical University. The study was carried out on 336 medical students, and it was found that 11 percent of the students use tranquilizers for mental relaxation.
According to the research, 8.1 percent of students who commute from home to university use these drugs, while 19 percent of hostel residents are taking them. These students mostly use benzodiazepines to cope with mental stress, depression, and lack of sleep.
The research was conducted by experts including Dr. Mubashir Zafar from the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Health, Saudi Arabia; Dr. Tafazzul Haider Zaidi, Dr. Farooq Yousuf, Dr. Muhammad Nal Wala, Dr. Ibad-ur-Rehman, and Dr. Muhammad Burhan from the Department of Community Medicine at Jinnah Sindh Medical University; and Dr. Hameed Mumtaz Durrani from Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad.
The experts contacted 336 medical students during the research. The study revealed that stress is a major issue faced by medical students across Pakistan and worldwide, with factors such as sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, and academic pressure forcing students to rely on medication for mental relaxation.
The research also emphasized the need for further studies focusing on the use of tranquilizers among medical students.
According to the researchers, sleep disturbances were identified as the key factor associated with the use of tranquilizers. Medical students appear to suffer from stress due to an extensive curriculum, strict academic schedules, high parental expectations, and competition in medical education.
The experts stated that the research was conducted among undergraduate students through a questionnaire, and those who refused to participate or were already diagnosed with mental illness were excluded.
A total of 336 medical students aged between 21 and 23 years were included in the study, consisting of 187 female and 149 male students. It was found that students purchase these medicines without a doctor’s prescription.
Experts warned that this trend among students raises concerns about potential addiction risks. They also noted that medical students experience sleep disturbances more frequently than their non-medical counterparts.
Jinnah Sindh Medical University spokesperson Asfiya Aziz commented on the findings, stating that students enrolled at the university face intense academic pressure. She said that students worry about their future and strive to meet family expectations, as medical education is truly demanding. She added that the university provides counseling and guidance to its students to help them manage mental health challenges effectively.
