[Alcohol, tobacco and drug use in Swiss men 20 to 33 years of age].

In a second follow-up in 1985 former military recruits were asked to fill in a standardized questionnaire concerning their consumption of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and medicines. They had been interviewed for the first time on enlistment in 1972/73 and had filled in a second, mailed questionnaire in 1979. The consumption patterns from 1972/73 to 1985 are described in subjects who participated in all three surveys. Out of the original 4082 recruits, 1103 had answered in 1979 and in 1985 the questionnaires of 843 young men could be evaluated for all three inquiries. The average amount of alcohol consumed was 118.7 g per person and week in 1972/73, 102.8 g in 1979 and 117.2 g alcohol 100% in 1985. Accordingly, the numbers of subjects belonging to the extreme consumption classes decreased significantly from 1972/73 to 1979: abstainers from 94 (11.2%) to 44 (5.2%) (p less than 0.001) and heavy drinkers (more than 350 g alcohol 100% per week) from 54 (6.4%) to 27 (3.2%) (p less than 0.001). From 1979 to 1985 the moderate drinkers (up to 150 g alcohol 100% per week) decreased from 638 (75.8%) to 568 (67.5%) (p less than 0.001) and the middle-range drinkers (160 to 350 g) increased from 133 (15.8%) to 193 (22.9%) (p less than 0.001). Concerning consumption of tobacco, the number of nonsmokers rose between 1972/73 and 1985 from 378 (45%) to 464 (55%) (p less than 0.001). The number of heavy smokers did not change significantly over the three surveys. From 1972/73 to 1979 and from 1979 to 1985 fewer (p less than 0.01) subjects increased their cigarette consumption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)