Consequences of the use and/or abuse of psychoactive substances by undergraduate students: a scoping review

Introduction: The use of psychoactive substances in society remains a relevant issue in public debate. The literature points to a behavioral trend among undergraduate students that reinforces the hypothesis of a perception of opportunity for the use and/or abuse of psychoactive substances by university students. Objective: To identify the main consequences related to the use and/or abuse of psychoactive substances among undergraduate students. Methods: A scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR protocol. The search was performed in the PUBMED/MEDLINE, SCIELO, and LILACS databases in September 2025. A combination of the descriptors “university students,” “psychoactive drugs” (and their related descriptors), and “substance use disorders” defined by the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) was used. Records from the last 5 years were included; full and free texts; in Portuguese, English, and Spanish; and records that contemplated the proposed Person-Concept-Context (PCC) mnemonic. Results: 97 records were identified, of which 16 met the criteria established by the authors. The literature consistently indicates that the use and/or abuse of psychoactive substances by undergraduate students is mainly related to negative outcomes in academic performance, risky behaviors, and the onset/worsening of mental health disorders. Conclusion: The findings indicate, succinctly, that the use and/or abuse of psychoactive substances by undergraduate students and its negative consequences are a reality that requires interdisciplinary care strategies from institutional managers, with an emphasis on early diagnostic screening models and psychosocial support.