- A J Flisher: Students' Health Service, University of Cape Town.
Various aspects of psychotropic drug use by University of Cape Town 5th-year medical students during the final 4-week block of the year and the ensuing examination period were studied using a questionnaire. The response rate was 96.2%. Twenty-seven (17.8%) of the respondents indicated that they had used a total of 32 psychotropic drugs--18 used benzodiazepines, 6 used stimulants, 4 used beta-blockers and 3 used antidepressants. Fourteen students used the drugs daily or more frequently, while 10 had used psychotropic drugs before the period under investigation. Fourteen drugs were obtained from sources other than the prescription of a medical practitioner. Fourteen students used the drugs for insomnia. In 2 cases the purpose for which the drug was taken was not achieved. Six adverse drug reactions were reported. Implications of these results are explored.