[Addictive substances and medical students in Zagreb]

We surveyed 3 generations (1996-1998) of the 3rd year medical students at the University of Zagreb for their contact with tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances of abuse using an anonymous questionnaire. Of 464 participants 25-30% were smokers, 60-70% confirmed that they had got drunk and 31% that they had used illicit substances at least once in the lifetime (primarily cannabis). The proportion of participants confirming contact with cannabis was significantly higher in 1998 than in 1996--34.3% vs. 22.3% (p < 0.05). Comparing the data with a similar survey in 1989, it seems that there has been no significant change in the use of socially accepted substances (tobacco, alcohol), but the proportion of students in contact with illicit substances has increased three times. This increasing trend is in agreement with trends among medical students in Western countries. The students' knowledge about the hazards related to the most harmful substances was poor.