Abstract

Objective To estimate the prevalence of tobacco smoking, alcohol and drug use among UK vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) in 2005, and compare these with prevalence in 2000.

Design Cross-sectional survey using an anonymous self-report questionnaire.

Subjects and methods All 767 VDPs who started practice in the summer of 2004 were sent a questionnaire in order to obtain data on the frequency and amount of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and other illicit drugs used before and during vocational training (VT). The same survey had been conducted on VDPs five years earlier. The analysis was based on 502 subjects who responded and completed the questionnaire in 2005 and 534 subjects in 2000.

Results Regular tobacco use (10+ cigarettes per day) was reported by 5.4% of males and 4.0% of females in 2005. This is lower than reported in 2000 (9%) and a statistically significant reduction in males. Eighty-two percent of males and 81% of females reported alcohol use; a statistically significant reduction from 2000 (89% males and 88% females). Reported 'binge drinking' remained high with 44% of males and 39% of females drinking at least half the recommended weekly units of alcohol in one session, similar to those levels seen in 2000. Thirty-eight percent of males and 26% of females reported cannabis use during their VT, similar to levels seen in 2000. Reported use of illicit drugs other than cannabis was less than in 2000. Reported illicit drug use was associated with alcohol drinking, and particularly with tobacco use.

Conclusion This study has found the level of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use (excluding cannabis) among VDPs decreasing since 2000, but levels of binge drinking and cannabis use remaining similar.