[Prevalence of tabacco, alcohol and marijuana consumption among university students].

BACKGROUND University students are especially vulnerable towards substance abuse AIM To describe and compare drug consumption in students of a Chilean university who attended first and fourth year of studies, according to gender and faculty. MATERIAL AND METHODS A representative, stratified and proportional sample of 305 students was randomly chosen by faculty, career, grade and gender during 2009. The consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs was evaluated using an anonymous survey. RESULTS Students from health care faculties had the lower prevalence of consumption of tobacco, alcohol, tobacco-alcohol and marijuana, during the first and fourth year. Education area and social sciences faculties had the highest prevalence of consumption. Fourth year students had higher rates of consumption than their first year counterparts. Females had significantly lower rates of alcohol and marijuana consumption. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana consumption was higher among students from education and social sciences faculties and those attending the fourth year of studies.