OBJECTIVE:Recent studies show an alarming rate of alcohol and drug use among university students. The objective of this study was to assess the level of association between lifestyle and socioeconomic status and the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, medicine, and "illicit drug" use in the last 12 months among university students. METHODS:The sample included 926 undergraduate students in the Biology Department of a university in São Paulo who completed an anonymous, self-applied questionnaire in 2000 and 2001. Anova and Chi-square tests were applied to verify the correlation between substance use and variables. RESULTS:Among students who reported having a religion, alcohol consumption was 83.1%, tobacco use 20.7%, and "illicit drugs" 24.6% during this period. Among students who reported not having a religion, reported alcohol use was higher in the last 12 months: alcohol (89.3%), tobacco (27.7%) and "illicit drugs" (37.7%). Monthly family income was related to alcohol and "illicit drug" use (p<0.001 for both). The students who used tobacco and "illicit drugs" reported more free time during the week than students who didn't smoke during the period of time analyzed (p=0.033 and p=0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:Psychoactive drug use was common among students, indicating a need for policies to be implemented with the goal of reducing consumption. Students with higher family income and without religion should be considered to be at higher risk for alcohol and drug use among this group.

Resultados: Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre escolas e, nos 30 dias anteriores ao preenchimento do questionário, a prevalência do uso de drogas para os estudantes de Botucatu foi a seguinte, com a variação entre outras escolas mostrada entre parênteses: álcool 50% (42-50%); tabaco 7% (7-13%); solventes 8% (7-12%); maconha 6% (6-16%); benzodiazepínicos (BZD) 3% (2-9%); cocaína 0,5% (0,2-4%); anfetaminas 1 % (0-1%). Embora tenha se encontrado um uso crescente de todas as drogas do 1º ao 6º ano, e em especial os BZD, os estudantes não aprovam este uso. A análise de regressão logística indicou que o uso de álcool e drogas foi favorecido por: a) ser homem; b) perder aulas sem razão e referir ou ter muito tempo livre nos finais de semana; e c) ter uma atitude favorável em relação ao uso de álcool e drogas. Diferentemente de outras escolas, na Unesp não houve diferenças estatisticamente significantes de gênero em relação ao uso de tranqüilizantes. No entanto, as mulheres iniciam uso mais precocemente e o fazem mais freqüentemente. Também as mulheres já faziam uso de maconha antes de entrar para a faculdade (30% mulheres X 10% homens), o contrário ocorrendo com solventes (50% homens X 2% mulheres), sendo essas diferenças estatisticamente significantes. Conclusões: Embora a pesquisa tenha focalizado o uso (não abuso ou dependência), os resultados sugerem a necessidade de as universidades estabelecerem uma política clara de orientação sobre uso de drogas e álcool para os estudantes, incluindo mudanças curriculares e programas de prevenção.Uso de drogas e álcool; estudantes universitários; médicos; diferenças de gênero Background: The objective of this paper was to analyse the prevalence of drug use by medical students of Botucatu Medical School, compared to other eight medical schools of São Paulo State (at lifetime, last 12 months, and last 30 days). Research was carried out in 1994 and 1995, with 5,227 students, from first to sixth year of graduation. Method: Anonymous self-completed questionnaires were used, including the World Health Organization one, for students drug use survey. The completion rate was of 71% (3.725) and 421 were from Botucatu. Results: There were no significant statistical differences among schools, and the last 30 day drug use rate showed the following results, for Botucatu and other schools (drug use range) respectively: alcohol in 50% (42-50%); tobacco in 7% (7-13%); inhalants in 8% (7-12%); cannabis in 6% (6-16%); benzodiazepines (BZD) in 3% (2-9%); cocaine in 0,5% (0,2-4%); amphetamines in 1% (0-1%). Though there was an increased drug use from first to sixth year, especially BZD, most of the students did not approve of it. Risk factors for drug and alcohol use were: a) being men; b) truancy or excess free time on weekends; and c) approval of using alcohol

Background: Medical education and training can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms that might lead to possible academic and professional consequences. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of depressive symptoms among 481 medical students (79.8% of the total who matriculated).

The results of this study support the efficacy of topiramate in the relapse prevention of alcoholism. Suggestive evidence was also obtained for superiority of topiramate versus naltrexone, but this needs to be verified in future research with larger sample sizes.

ResumoContexto: Pesquisas têm demonstrado que a entrada na universidade é um período crítico, de vulnerabilidade para o início e a manutenção do uso de álcool e outras drogas. No Brasil, grandes levantamentos domiciliares e entre estudantes do ensino médio foram realizados nos últimos 20 anos; porém, os levantamentos referentes ao consumo de drogas entre universitários são representados por dados dos últimos dez anos. Objetivos: Revisar a evolução desses estudos e relacioná-los aos principais resultados encontrados, referindo a necessidade de novos levantamentos para estimativa do perfil e prevalência dos universitários diante do consumo de drogas no contexto estudado. Métodos: Revisão bibliográfica das bases de dados MEDLINE, LILACS, PubMed e Scirus de 1997 a 2007. Resultados: Foram encontradas 12 publicações referentes ao consumo de drogas entre universitários brasileiros. Estão apresentados como estudos de prevalência de uso e estudos de comportamentos de risco, os quais não caracterizam fidedignamente essa população. Conclusões: Há necessidade de estudos que viabilizem a comparação dos resultados, possibilitem adequações de programas de prevenção nessa comunidade, auxiliem na melhoria da qualidade de vida e desenvolvam novas frentes preventivas. A repetição poderá informar como as variáveis se comportam ao longo do tempo e se possibilitam avaliar tendências vindo a constituir estudos seriados. , G.A.; Andrade, A.G. / Rev. Psiq. Clín 35, supl 1; 48-54, 2008 Palavras-chave: Álcool, drogas ilícitas, tabaco, estudantes universitários, Brasil. Wagner AbstractBackground: Research has demonstrated that entrance into college is a critical period in which the student is vulnerable to initiating and continued alcohol and other drug usage. There have been large household surveys and surveys among high school students in Brazil during the last 20 years however, research regarding drug consumption among college students is represented by data solely from the last ten years. Objectives: The goal of this study was to review the evolution of these studies and to relate them to the principal results found in reference to the need for new research by which to profile university students with respect to drug consumption. Methods: A literature review of the databases MEDLINE, LILACS, PubMed, and Scirus from 1997 to 2007. Results: Twelve publications regarding drug consumption among Brazilian college students were found. They are presented as studies of prevalence in usage, and of risk behavior but, do not characterize this population faithfully. Conclusions: There is a need for further studies which allow comparisons between surveys in order to make adjustments in prevention programs of this community possible; that promote the improvement of quality of life; and that develop new preventive efforts. Follow-up surveys can bring new light to bear on how the variables behave over time and make tendency evaluations possible, which in turn could constitute studies in series.

These findings are consistent with results that have been reported for the general Brazilian population. Therefore, these findings should be taken into consideration when developing strategies at the prevention of drug use and the early identification of drug abuse among college students.

Religiosity was found to be a strongly protective factor against drug use among Brazilian university students. However, more studies are needed to identify the mechanisms by which religiosity exerts this protective influence.

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