title: Drugs use and risk behavior in a university community.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate drug use and risk behaviors among students of the University of Guayaquil in Ecuador. To evaluate this issue, we used the questionnaire "Youth Risk Behavior Survey" (YRBS). The study sample consisted of 751 undergraduate students: 328 (44%) male and 423 (56%) female. Average age was 20 years old and 85,5% of the students were single. Alcohol, tobacco and marihuana were the most consumed substances among students, who use them for entertainment. Drug consumption (legal or illegal) among students has become an issue for specialized research as well as an important field of intervention for public policies.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Faculty, University of Guayaquil Ecuador.
authors.forename: Ketty Aracely
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Piedra Chavez
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Sandra Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pillon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011640:Public Policy; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013334:Students; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence