Medical college is where future doctors spend years mastering the art of saving lives. However, behind the intense study schedules and white coats lies a quiet mental health and behavioral crisis.
A nationwide study published in BMC Public Health reveals that nearly one in seven medical students in Bangladesh uses tobacco or other substances.
To understand the scope of this issue, our research team surveyed 1,129 medical students across 16 medical colleges in all eight divisions of Bangladesh. The findings provide important insights into the lives of our future healthcare professionals.
Overall, 13.64% of medical students reported using tobacco or other substances. Tobacco was the most commonly used product, accounting for 54.5%.
However, the study also found notable use of non-prescription & non-pharmacological use of sedatives (26%) and cough syrups containing codeine or dextromethorphan (18.8%).
Since these medications are sold over the counter, students can easily get them when they are stressed or can't sleep.
The data shows a clear upward trend throughout medical training. While only 4.9% of first-year students reported substance use, the figure climbs to 21.8% among final-year students and reaches 26% among intern doctors.
The relentless academic workload, long clinical rotations, and chronic exhaustion may become increasingly challenging as students progress through their medical training.
Key insights emerged regarding the psychosocial triggers behind substance use:
Perhaps the most alarming finding is the severe lack of institutional support. Over 35% of student users reported that no one had ever approached them to offer help with stopping.
Institutional interventions such as campus counseling or official support programs accounted for less than 0.6% of cessation efforts.
When asked why non-users refrained from substances, students cited religious values (68.3%), moral ethics (63.8%), and family reasons (39.8%) as their primary shields.
These protective factors offer valuable direction for designing prevention strategies.
Addressing this concern requires immediate, multi-tiered action:
Doctors are the backbone of our health system. Protecting their well-being during their formative training years is essential not only for their own lives, but for the quality of care they will provide to the nation.
Dr Shouvik Roy Subha is a medical doctor, public health researcher, and epidemiologist.