Introduction:

The consumption of substances, both legal and illegal, is on the rise, especially among young people worldwide, resulting in an increase in related accidents and deaths. It is crucial to understand the consumption patterns among university students to assess the need for intervention.

Materials and methods:

A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with medical students at the Universidad Privada del Valle in 2023. The WHO's ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test) questionnaire was used to detect substance use.

Results:

A total of 206 students aged 19 to 27 participated, with 58.5% female and 41.5% male. Alcohol was consumed by 95% of participants, tobacco by 65%, and cannabis by 32%. Significant associations were found between alcohol and tobacco use (65.6%), tobacco and cannabis use (91%), and alcohol and cannabis use (33.8%). There was a relationship between alcohol and tobacco use (RR = 7, χ²(1, N = 206) = 15, p < 0.05). No significant differences in alcohol or tobacco consumption were found by gender. Males showed a higher risk of consuming cannabis (RR = 1.25, χ²(1, N = 206) = 5.9, p < 0.05). According to ASSIST, 55% of the students needed brief intervention, and 6% required intensive treatment for alcohol use, with the rest being proportionally lower.

Discussion:

The study reveals alarming levels of licit and illicit substance use. There are students in need of intervention and intensive treatment, highlighting the urgency of addressing this public health issue.