title: [Alcohol Abuse and Associated Factors in Student Children and Adolescents].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have confirmed high prevalence of alcohol abuse in adolescent students from Bucaramanga, Colombia. However, few studies on the associated factors have been carried out.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of prevalence of alcohol abuse and associated factors in student children and adolescents from Bucaramanga.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of adolescent students completed an anonymous questionnaire about the consumption of alcohol, illegal and legal substances, together with the CAGE questionnaire and a series of scales and questionnaires assessing risk factors for alcohol abuse. To adjust for confusing variables, a multivariate analysis was performed using a logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2916 students were surveyed with an average age between 10 and 22, and a mean of 14.4 years (SD 1.65), 51.1% were female, 36% were in the last two years of high school (10(th) and 11(th) grades), and 17.66% were in private schools. The alcohol abuse pattern as measured by the CAGE scale was 14.6% (95% CI, 13.3 - 16.0%). The associated factors were: age (OR: 1.15, 95% CI 1.04 - 1.27), having a smoking or consuming alcohol sibling (OR: 1.48, 95% CI, 1.01 - 1.17) antisocial behavior (OR 3.03, 95% CI, 2.12 - 4.32) and best friend who uses illicit substances (OR 1.71, 95% CI, 1.06 - 2.76), best friend who smokes or drinks alcohol (OR 2.01, 95% CI, 1.40 - 2.88).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One out of 7 students showed a pattern of alcohol abuse. The associated factors were the influence of friends, family, age and antisocial behavior.
authors.affiliation: Médico, profesor asociado, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, director del Grupo de Neuropsiquiatría, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia. Electronic address: gredu@unab.edu.co.
authors.forename: Germán Eduardo
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rueda-Jaimes
authors.affiliation: Médica, egresada de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Grupo de Neuropsiquiatría, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jessica Liliana Pinto
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Médico, residente de segundo año, Universidad de Antioquia, investigador del Grupo de Neuropsiquiatría, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
authors.forename: Andrés Mauricio Rangel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Villalba
authors.affiliation: investigador invitado del Grupo de Neuropsiquiatría, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
authors.forename: Paul Anthony Camacho
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: López
keywords: Abuso de alcohol; Alcohol abuse; adolescentes; adolescents; epidemiology; epidemiología; estudiantes; students