objectIve. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and psychotropic drug consumption by students of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) School of Medicine, Brazil, and to ascertain aspects related to substance use in this population. Methods. This study was carried out with students of all years of the UFMG Medicine course, who were invited to participate anonymously by answering a self-administered questionnaire that has previously been validated and adapted to the Brazilian reality. The instrument was based on World Health Organization methods for development of student drug use surveys and included 25 questions on substance use. The Student t test and chi-square testing were performed for comparison of means and proportions. results. Alcohol and tobacco were the most commonly used substances, consumed by 85.2% and 16.3% of students respectively. Among the psychotropic drugs, use of cannabis was reported by 16.5% of students, LSD by 6.9%, sedatives by 12%, amphetamines by 7.5% and inhalant substances by 16.8%. Use of cocaine, crack, opiates, anticholinergics and anabolic steroids was rarely mentioned. conclusIon. Alcohol was the most widely used substance, and its consumption was associated with other drug addictions. Drugs were used most frequently by single, male students who live alone and need not work to support themselves.

The electrocautery coated with lidocaine gel and glycerine lotion were the most effective methods for the hemostasis of hepatic parenchyma.