ABSTRACT
The aim of the present work was to study smoking habits and drug abuse among Menoufeya University students. Four faculties were randomly chosen : Faculties of Commerce and Laws as academic faculties and faculties of Medicine and Science as practical ones. A representative sample of 5300 students was selected randomly from first and fourth grades of academic faculties, while all students from the practical ones were included in the study. All students were subjected to a modified Arabic Version of the World Health Organization standard questionnaire for young people. Results revealed that the prevalence rate of regular smoking was 27.4%, and for drug abuse was 5.6% among Menoufeya University students. Smoking was higher among males [36.5%] than females [6.2%]; among academic faculty students [31.5%] than practical ones [19.5%]; among urban students [29%] than rural ones [26%]. It was also significantly higher among students lacking parental supervision and among those who did not play sports as well as among students who had smoking friends [62%], had at least one member of their families smoking [53.7%] and had teaching staff smoking [30.4%]. Bango was the most common substance used [2.5 vs 1.2%] among academic and practical students respectively. Most of students obtained the drugs from sources inside their faculties [69.7% vs 47.82%]. Peer pressure and imitation were the main reasons for smoking and drug abuse followed by curiosity. Most students were knowledgeable about smoking and drug abuse mainly from media and with attitude against it, however, practical faculties were significantly more knowledgeable than those of academic ones. The authors recommend an urgent need to implement [antismoking anti-addiction] program among university students