Objective: to characterize the student population first enters the Universidad Austral de Chile in terms of drug use and associated factors. Methods: association study of drug use and demographic variables of 845 students. The self-administered questionnaire contained two main instruments, the detection pattern of alcohol and other drugs (DEP-ADO) and the AUDIT. Partnerships were established using parametricand nonparametric tests. Results: increased consumption of alcohol and marijuana was associated with male gender. The onset of drug and alcohol consumption did not differ significantly according to sex. The frequency of alcohol consumption on faculties has significant differences in men and women. The variables "where you live" and "who lives" was significantly related to consumption of amphetamine and marijuana. Conclusion: the main problem of this population is the consumption of alcohol, snuff and Marijuana.