Use of addictive substances in young university students from the Valencian Community (Spain)

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the use of different addictive substances in young university students from the Valencian Community, according to different sociodemographical and academic characteristics. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 in eight Valencian universities (n= 26.529). The NECOPSED Research Team from the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera designed an ad hoc questionnaire through a focus group, including the following variables: sociodemographical (gender, age), academic (career, year), and frequency of substance use (from 1 = never to 7= daily use), among others, which was administered in classrooms selected by convenience. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted. Results: the sample (n= 520) included 61.2% of women, and the mean age was 20.73 years. The most common drugs used were alcohol (k= 4.91), tobacco (k= 3.17) and cannabis (k= 2.06). A higher use of all substances was found in men, as well as an increase parallel to age, with statistically significant superiority in some of them (p< 0.05). There were no differences between students from careers associated with health and the rest (p> 0.05). Conclusion: the substances more used were alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. Substance use was associated with gender and age, but not with academic grade.