[Perceived norms among Peruvian students for drug use among peers].
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the difference between perceived norms about drug use among peer and actual drug use as reported by the same university students. The students were between 18 and 24 years old and attended health courses.


METHODS
cross-sectional study based on a survey, using an anonymous questionnaire filled out by the students.


RESULTS
There were 306 participants. Senior students used drugs as follows: 51.3% used tobacco, 90.8% used alcohol, 5.9% used marijuana, and 0.7% used cocaine. Differences were observed between perceived norms and actual drug use for tobacco (70% vs. 51.3%), marijuana (10% vs. 5.9%) and cocaine (8.3% vs. 0.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
university students presented an overestimated rate for the use of tobacco, marijuana and cocaine among their peers.
Bustamante
Inés V
IV
Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración Carlos Vidal Layseca, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru. ibustama@jhsph.edu
Strike
Carol
C
Brands
Bruna
B
Cunningham
John
J
Wright
Maria da Gloria Miotto
Mda G
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010568:Peru; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult