Introduction: The uses of legal drugs are common among university students, but have not done local research to reveal dependence on them. The objective was to determine the factors associated with consumption of tobacco and alcohol in students from eight Peruvian medical schools. Methods: Multicenter cross-sectional study of secondary data, a self-applied questionnaire was used in Peruvian medicine students, the test Cage and Fagerströmwas used to define tobacco consumption and alcohol habit, respectively; in addition to measuring other socio-educational variables. It was obtained statistical association and p values. Results: Of the 1,918 students tested, 55% (1,046) were women and the median age was 20 years. 34% of students consumed regularly tobacco; 9% (178) showed tobacco dependence, increased frequency of alcohol consumption (RPa: 8.39, IC 95%: 4.99-14.09; p < 0.001) and coffee (RPa: 1,72; IC 95%: 1.31- 2.27; p < 0.001); receiving money from family decreased tobacco consumption (RPa: 0.68; IC 95%: 0.49-0.94, p = 0.019). 28% (537) consumed alcohol regularly, increasing its frequency being male (RPa: 1.51; IC 95%: 1.09-2.09, p = 0.012), having failed a course (RPa: 1,17; IC 95%: 1.02-1.33, p = 0.021), the academic semester coursing (RPa: 1.04; IC 95%: 1.01-1.08, p = 0.014) and consumption of tobacco (RPa: 2.89; IC 95%: 2.40-3.47; p < 0.001); also it decreased the frequency of alcohol comsuption daily hours studying (RPa: 0.96; IC 95%: 0.94-0.97; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although the frequency of alcohol consumption and tobacco was not high, this associated some modifiable factors, which may intervene to reduce the frequency and potential consequences.