Alcohol, tobacco and psychodrugs in university students and non-university youths

The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of legal drugs consumption (alcohol, tobacco and psycho-drugs) in university and non-university youths to see if there are differences in consumption patterns. The sample consisted of 772 students from the University of Cordoba and 2405 non-university youths from the Cities and Drugs Project (“Programa Ciudades ante las Drogas”) for the province of Córdoba. Information was collected with a questionnaire adapted ad hoc on patterns of consumption of legal substances. The results indicate that the two groups score very highly on habitual alcohol use, tobacco and psycho-drugs, but there are significant differences in the type of relationship they establish with the consumption of substances. University students show a higher consumption of alcohol and psycho-drugs than non-university youths, while non-university youths show a greater habitual tobacco use. It is noteworthy that with experimental use the pattern is reversed: non-university youths have more experiences with alcohol and psycho-drugs, and university students with tobacco. In conclusion, one can say that there are differential patterns of substance consumption depending on the environment.