Association between binge drinking and smoking in nursing students

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate binge drinking and its association with tobacco use in nursing students. This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 182 students. Data were collected using a socio-demographic information form, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). It was observed that 48.9% of the participants were classified as binge drinkers and 6% were smokers. Binge drinking was associated with frequency of drinking, dosage, and frequency of drinking five or more doses on a single occasion. Moreover, this consumption pattern was associated with time of smoking after waking, number of cigarettes per day, morning consumption, smoking at any time of the day, prohibition situations, and cases of illness. Binging has been associated with the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption and smoking; however, this conclusion may not portray the situation in Brazil as it deals with a specific population.