OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at tracing the profile of psychoactive substance (PAS) consumers among university students at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Brazil. METHODS: A transversal quantitative study was carried out among Pedagogy University students, registered for the second semester of 2010 at the UFES. The study used an anonymous and closed questionnaire proposed by the National Anti-drug Secretariat (SENAD). RESULTS: Alcohol and tobacco were the most frequently used PAS in life, 62.9 and 23.8%, respectively. According to the multivariate analysis, the use of legal PAS in life was associated to religion, whereas illegal PAS were associated to gender and socioeconomic class. CONCLUSION: Universities are a privileged place for discussion, and they need further approaches to this topic, especially among future educators, since they will deal with this issue in their professional life.
substance-related disorders; students; universities; tobacco