Sistema FMUSP-HC: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) e Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSPLEMOS-SANTOS, PedroBLUMRICH, LukasDEBIA, Jordi BlanesCASTALDELLI-MAIA, Joao MauricioSUEN, Paulo Jeng ChianMALBERGIER, Andre2023-12-152023-12-152024SAO PAULO MEDICAL JOURNAL, v.142, n.2, article ID e2022493, 10p, 20241516-3180https://observatorio.fm.usp.br/handle/OPI/57723BACKGROUND: Medical students demonstrate higher rates of substance use than other university students and the general population. The challenges imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raised significant concerns about mental health and substance use.OBJECTIVES: Assess the current prevalence of substance use among medical students at the University of Sao Paulo and evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on drug consumption.DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 275 medical students from the UniverMETHODS: Substance use (lifetime, previous 12 months, and frequency of use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic) and socioeconomic data were assessed using an online self-administered questionnaire. Symptoms of depression were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. RESULTS: Alcohol was the most consumed substance in their lifetime (95.6%), followed by illicit drugs (61.1%), marijuana (60%), and tobacco (57.5%). The most commonly consumed substances in the previous year were alcohol (82.9%), illicit drugs (44.7%), marijuana (42.5%), and tobacco (36%). Students in the first two academic years consumed fewer substances than those from higher years. There was a decreasing trend in the prevalence of most substances used after the COVID-19 pandemic among sporadic users. However, frequent users maintained their drug use patterns.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of substance use was high in this population and increased from the basic to the clinical cycle. The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected the frequency of drug use and prevalence estimates.engopenAccessStudentsmedicalPrevalenceCOVID-19Mental healthEducationsubstance use disordersacademic-performancesuicidal ideationunited-statessao-pauloalcoholconsumptionprevalencegenderdepressionarticleCopyright ASSOCIACAO PAULISTA MEDICINA10.1590/1516-3180.2022.0493.R1.150623Medicine, General & Internal