Background & Objectives: Using of drugs arbitrarily leads to failure of treatment and causes side effects in prolonged time. The aim of this study was to survey prevalence of arbitrary drug use and the factors affecting it.

  Methods: Three hundred students participated in this cross-sectional and descriptive study in Ardabil (Islamic Azad, Mohhaghegh Ardabili, Payame-Noor and Medical Sciences Universities) during 2010. The samples were selected randomly from four universities and data were collected by questionnaire and then, analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics such as chi-square test.

  Results: The average of students’ age was 20.64±2 years. 23.3% of them were married from whom 92.2% were non-medical students and 7.1% were medical students. 76.7% of all students were single. 83% of all students were using drugs arbitrarily. The highest mean score for student attitude was reflected to safety of used drugs. Lack of time to visit a physician, believing the safety of many drugs and selling of drugs without prescription were the most common causes in arbitrary drug use among students.

  Conclusion: Regarding to the high arbitrary drug use among students, it is necessary to make a new policy for education and correct informing of students in order to reduce self-treatment.