Drug consumption among the student population of Mexico City and its metropolitan area: subgroups affected and distribution of users.

The results of a survey based on a sample of 4,059 students attending intermediate and upper intermediate schools in Mexico City and its metropolitan area showed that the percentage of drug use "ever" by substance was the following: alcohol, 59; tobacco, 53.2; inhalants, 5.4; cannabis, 3.8; tranquilizers, 3.1; amphetamines, 2.7; sedatives, 1.3; opium, 0.91; LSD, 0.54; cocaine, 0.52; heroin, 0.29. Of the students reporting use "ever", the percentage reporting use of one of these substances "in the past months" ranged from 22.5 to 58.3. While there were more female students among the users of tranquilizers and stimulants, male students predominated among the users of other substances, with the difference being most pronounced among cannabis users. Older students were more involved with cannabis; in contrast, inhalants were more popular with younger students. The use of other substances varied little with age. Use of alcohol and cannabis was also most frequent among students of schools in middle, upper middle and upper class areas, whereas use of inhalants was most common among students attending schools in lower class areas.