Knowledge, attitudes, and perception toward new psychoactive substances among Saudi university students: a cross-sectional study - Scorecard - MDSpire

Knowledge, attitudes, and perception toward new psychoactive substances among Saudi university students: a cross-sectional study

  • By

  • Abdullah Al Hamid

  • Abdulrahman A. Alnijadi

  • Lujain Alrubaia

  • Lina Albraik

  • Mousa Alfaifi

  • July 8, 2026

  • 0 min

Share

Clinical Scorecard: Understanding Saudi University Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Regarding New Psychoactive Substances: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionNew Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
Key MechanismsNPS are designed to produce psychoactive effects similar to controlled substances but are not regulated, leading to health risks.
Target PopulationUniversity students in Saudi Arabia
Care SettingPublic health and educational interventions

Key Highlights

  • 58% of students had high levels of knowledge regarding NPS.
  • Access to NPS was reported as easy by 57% of respondents.
  • 39.7% admitted to past usage of NPS.
  • Females showed significantly greater knowledge compared to males.
  • Common motivations for NPS use included social gatherings, weight loss, and stress reduction.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

    Management

      Monitoring & Follow-up

        Risks

        • NPS can lead to agitation, psychosis, seizures, cardiovascular complications, respiratory depression, and death.

        Patient & Prescribing Data

        Young adults, particularly university students

        Educational measures are necessary to address the risks associated with NPS.

        Clinical Best Practices

        • Enhance awareness and knowledge about NPS among young adults.
        • Implement educational interventions targeting university students.

        Related Resources & Content

          Original Source(s)

          Related Content