Introduction

Public health problems caused by the consumption of psychoactive substances have reached alarming proportions and constitute an important and largely prevenTable health and social burden on a global scale.

Objective

To identify the relationship between risk perception and alcohol and tobacco consumption in health sciences university students of a public educational institution of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.

Methodology

The study design is descriptive and correlational, with a sample of 609 students selected by stratified probabilistic sampling. A personal data card and the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco consumption, the risk perception questionnaire for the consumption of licit drugs and the test for the identification of disorders due to alcohol use were used. The present study is under the provisions of the Regulation of the General Health Law on Research for Health in Human Beings in Mexico.

Results

The amount of cigarettes consumed and the age of the participants presented a statistically significant relationship (rs=0.156, p= .026) as well as the perception of risk and the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed, had a significant negative relationship (rs=-0.102, p=.02.

Conclusion

The study provides accurate and timely information regarding the profile of alcohol and tobacco consumption in health science students.

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