Objective: To analyze several factors and attitudes related to drug use among first-year Spanish university students, with special reference to tobacco.
Methods: Descriptive study using voluntary and anonymous questionnaire.
Study variables: sex, age, family environment, tobacco, cannabis and alcohol use, attitudes in favour of or against smoking, perceived danger of drugs and perceptions of friends behaviour.
Results: 2445 students, 1014 (42%) men and 1431 (58%) women, mean age 19 years. Women in this study see smoking as appealing, believe it helps them stay slim and claim that it makes them feel good. Of the total sample (men and women), 16.5% use cannabis daily, occasionally or at weekends, while 10.4% state that their friends have tried or use other drugs.
Conclusions: In this sample women and men have different perceptions about tobacco. Level of tolerance and permissiveness with regard to alcohol contributes to the fact that young people perceive less risk in relation smoking. Starting smoking tobacco early may make the use of alcohol and other drugs more likely.