Factors Affecting the Tendency towards Addiction with an Emphasis on Aggression among Paramedical Students in Iran

Background: Drug abuse has been dramatically increasing in recent years among university students. Aggressive people are more inclined to use drugs and become addicted. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting the tendency towards addiction with an emphasis on aggression among paramedical students. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 undergraduate students, selected through stratified random sampling, at Guilan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Data were analysed by using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: A total of 85.4% were little inclined towards addiction and 67.5% had a low level of aggression. The level of aggression correlated significantly with the tendency towards addiction. Gender (male), field of study (health), parents’ occupation, and history of drug abuse among family and friends correlated significantly with the tendency towards addiction too. Aggression was significantly correlated with the history of drug abuse among family and friends and socialisation with addicts. Conclusion: Aggression is considered a predictor of the tendency towards addiction among university students. University counselling centres should consider organising educational workshops to reduce aggression and help prevent the students’ tendency towards drug abuse and addiction.