Consumo intensivo de alcohol, cannabis y prácticas sexuales de riesgo en estudiantes universitarios.

Objective: To determine the incidence of risky sexual activities among college students and its association with heavy episodic drinking (HED) and cannabis use. Method: A cohort study was carried out from 2005 to 2011 among college students of the Compostela Cohort (n=517). HED was measured by third question of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Risky sexual activities were measured as: Sex under the influence of alcohol (SUA) and Sex without a condom (SWC). Logistic regression models were conducted. Results: The incidences of SUA were 40.9% and 53.0% and of SWC 13.7% and 25.7% for women and men, respectively. HED and cannabis use are associated to SUA in both females [OR=2.08 (IC95%:1.03–4.21), OR=2.78 (IC95%:1.57–4.92)] and males [(OR=4.74 (IC95%:1.49–15.09), (OR=4.37 (IC95%:1.17 – 16.36)]. Moreover, cannabis use in females was associated with SWC [OR=2.96 (IC95%:1.52–5.75)]. The population attributable fractions of SUA for HED were 24.7% y 52.9% for women and men, respectively. Conclusions: HED and cannabis use represent a public health problem due to its association with a variety of problems, including engagement in risky sexual activities. Our results allow us to suggest that a good proportion of unsafe sex could be avoided by removing this consumption pattern of alcohol.