Substance use by surgical residents and students entering surgery.

We studied the use of alcohol, tobacco, and nine unprescribed or illegal substances by surgical residents and medical students accepted into surgical programs. With the exception of alcohol, surgical residents had less lifetime experience and used less than other residents or nonmedical college graduates. Students entering surgery had used these substances more frequently and were more likely to be using them regularly than were residents. Residency directors need to be aware of the change in attitude and use patterns of present residents as compared with those of the past.