Drug consumption among medical students in São Paulo, Brazil: influences of gender and academic year.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among medical students.


METHODS
Over a five-year period (1996-2001), we evaluated 457 students at the Universidade de São Paulo School of Medicine, located in São Paulo, Brazil. The students participated by filling out an anonymous questionnaire on drug use (lifetime, previous 12 months and previous 30 days). The influence that gender and academic year have on drug use was also analyzed.


RESULTS
During the study period, there was an increase in the use of illicit drugs, especially inhalants and amphetamines, among the medical students evaluated. Drug use (except that of marijuana and inhalants) was comparable between the genders, and academic year was an important influencing factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased inhalant use was observed among the medical students, especially among males and students in the early undergraduate years. This is suggestive of a specific behavioral pattern among medical students. Our findings corroborate those of previous studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhalant use is on the rise among medical students at the Universidade de São Paulo School of Medicine. Because of the negative health effects of illicit drug use, further studies are needed in order to deepen the understanding of this phenomenon and to facilitate the development of preventive measures.
Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, School of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. lucio@cisa.org.br
Lucio Garcia de
LG
Oliveira
Lucia Pereira
LP
Barroso
Gabriela Arantes
GA
Wagner
Julio de Carvalho
Jde C
Ponce
André
A
Malbergier
Vladimir de Andrade
Vde A
Stempliuk
Arthur Guerra de
AG
Andrade
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs