<![CDATA[The surge in opioid abuse has significantly impacted the general population, particularly affecting tertiary students. Opium misuse within this demographic presents a complex challenge influenced by various social, psychological, and environmental factors. Addressing this research gap, the study investigates the knowledge of opium-type drugs (opiate, heroin, morphine, and oxycodone) among tertiary students, with a specific focus on gender differences. Using a cross-sectional research design and a quantitative approach, data were collected from 296 tertiary students through Google Forms. Descriptive analysis, employing percentages and frequencies, revealed intriguing patterns in knowledge and lack of knowledge across genders regarding various opium drugs. In the opiates category, females demonstrate a slightly higher knowledge percentage (42.9%) compared to males (40.2%). Conversely, females show a significantly higher lack of knowledge about LSD (33.1%) compared to males (22.3%). Regarding heroin, males display a slightly higher knowledge percentage (43.2%) than females (40.9%); nevertheless, females have a notably higher lack of knowledge about heroin (10.1%) compared to males (5.8%). Knowledge about morphine is comparable between males (42.6%) and females (41.2%), but females exhibit a slightly higher lack of knowledge (9.8%) compared to males (6.4%). In the case of oxycodone, males exhibit a significantly higher knowledge percentage (16.2%) than females (9.1%); however, females show a notably higher lack of knowledge (41.9%) compared to males (32.8%). The analysis underscores diverse knowledge patterns among genders, emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions. Overall, the study concludes that the knowledge level concerning opiates, heroin, and morphine is robust, shaped by widespread information dissemination, educational initiatives, and the involvement of healthcare professionals, collectively enhancing public awareness.]]>
