Assessment of Psychoactive Substance Use and Attention Deficit Among University Students in Morocco

<ns3:p>University students may turn to psychoactive substances for various reasons, including stress relief, social integration, curiosity, or perceived cognitive enhancement. However, regular or excessive use can impair attention, memory, and executive functioning, potentially affecting academic performance and long-term mental health. Understanding the patterns and motivations behind substance use in this population is essential for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.A sample of 239 university students, aged between 18 and 35 years, was recruited to participate in the study. The selection aimed to reflect a diverse cross-section of young adults in higher education, encompassing various academic disciplines and socioeconomic backgrounds. Each participant was asked to complete a series of standardized questionnaires designed to assess the frequency, intensity, and context of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use. In addition to substance use metrics, participants provided demographic information and personal history through structured information sheets, which included questions about family background, peer influence, and psychosocial factors potentially linked to substance consumption.Among university students who reported substance use, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between scores on the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST), with a correlation coefficient of r = +0.27 (p &lt; 0.001). This finding suggests that individuals with higher nicotine dependence may also be more prone to problematic cannabis use, pointing to potential shared behavioral or neurobiological mechanisms underlying substance dependence. Further analysis using Pearson’s correlation revealed significant differences across age categories in several cognitive performance indicators measured by the d2-R test. Specifically, younger and older students differed in their levels of concentration (CC), accuracy (E%), and processing speed (CCT), with all comparisons yielding p &lt; 0.05. These results imply that age may play a moderating role in how substance use affects attentional control and cognitive efficiency.To address the risks associated with psychoactive substance use, targeted strategies should be implemented on Moroccan university campuses. These should include awareness campaigns and psychosocial support services tailored to students’ diverse backgrounds, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. Moreover, the results obtained in this study can be meaningfully interpreted through the lens of the microgenetic theory of symptom formation, which posits that cognitive and behavioral symptoms emerge through dynamic, moment-to-moment processes in the brain. This framework helps explain the observed correlations between substance use and attentional performance, suggesting that even subtle disruptions in neurocognitive processing—such as those linked to psychoactive substances—may reflect deeper, evolving patterns of dysfunction.</ns3:p>