[Addictive substance use among first-year university students]. / Consumo de drogas en estudiantes universitarios de primer curso.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze several factors and attitudes related to drug use among first-year Spanish university students, with special reference to tobacco. METHODS: Descriptive study using voluntary and anonymous questionnaire. STUDY VARIABLES: sex, age, family environment, tobacco, cannabis and alcohol use, attitudes in favour of or against smoking, perceived danger of drugs and perceptions of friends behaviour. RESULTS: 2445 students, 1014 (42%) men and 1431 (58%) women, mean age 19 years. Women in this study see smoking as appealing, believe it helps them stay slim and claim that it makes them feel good. Of the total sample (men and women), 16.5% use cannabis daily, occasionally or at weekends, while 10.4% state that their friends have tried or use other drugs. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample women and men have different perceptions about tobacco. Level of tolerance and permissiveness with regard to alcohol contributes to the fact that young people perceive less risk in relation smoking. Starting smoking tobacco early may make the use of alcohol and other drugs more likely.

Consumo de drogas en estudiantes universitariosde primer curso / Addictive substance use among first-year university students

Objetivo: Mejorar el conocimiento de algunos de los factores y actitudes que pueden influir en el consumo de drogas de los estudiantes universitarios españoles de primer curso, en especial en lo referente al tabaco. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo mediante cuestionario anónimo y voluntario. Variables de estudio: sexo, edad, entorno familiar, consumo de tabaco, alcohol y cannabis, actitudes a favor y en contra de fumar, percepción de peligrosidad y percepción de las conductas de los amigos. Resultados: 2445 alumnos, 1014 hombres (42%) y 1431 mujeres (58%), edad media 19 años. En la población estudiada un mayor porcentaje de mujeres que de hombres afirma que fumar tabaco es apetecible, creen que les ayuda a estar delgadas y les hace sentir bien; los hombres afirman en mayor proporción que facilita la relación grupal. Los universitarios que fuman tabaco se iniciaron en el consumo de alcohol antes que los que no fuman. El 16,5% del total de la muestra consume cannabis a diario, ocasionalmente o los fines de semana. El 10,4%afirma que sus amigos han probado y consumen otras drogas. Conclusiones: En este estudio las mujeres y los hombres tienen distinta percepción sobre el tabaco, y el porcentaje de mujeres fumadoras es mayor. El nivel de tolerancia hacia el alcohol contribuye a que los jóvenes tengan una menor percepción del riesgo. Se podría pensar que el inicio tabáquico temprano puede actuar como la puerta de entrada para el consumo de alcohol y otras drogas (AU)

Objective: To analyze several factors and attitudes related to drug use among first-year Spanish university students, with special reference to tobacco. Methods: Descriptive study using voluntary and anonymous questionnaire. Study variables: sex, age, family environment, tobacco, cannabis and alcohol use, attitudes in favour of or against smoking, perceived danger of drugs and perceptions of friends’ behaviour. Results: 2445 students, 1014 (42%) men and 1431 (58%) women, mean age 19 years. Women in this study see smoking as appealing, believe it helps them stay slim and claim that it makes them feel good. Of the total sample (men and women), 16.5% use cannabis daily, occasionally or at weekends, while 10.4% state that their friends have tried or use other drugs. Conclusions: In this sample women and men have different perceptions about tobacco. Level of tolerance and permissiveness with regard to alcohol contributes to the fact that young people perceive less risk in relation smoking. Starting smoking tobacco early may make the use of alcohol and other drugs more likely (AU)