Objective:

To know the effect of the determinants of planned behavior on tobacco and alcohol consumption in high school adolescents.

Material and Methods:

A predictive correlational study was carried out in 735 adolescent students of public high schools, located in 14 urban complements belonging to the State of Nuevo León, Mexico. Data were obtained through self-administered questionnaires for sociodemographic variables, tobacco and alcohol consumption, attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control towards tobacco and alcohol consumption. Logistic regression models of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control over tobacco and alcohol consumption were performed.

Results:

The subjective norm (OR = 1.02, p = .028) and the perceived behavioral control (OR = 1.084, p = .001), were found to be significant in predicting tobacco use sometime in life, while the attitude (OR = .980, p = .017), subjective norm (OR = 1.034, p= .025) and perceived behavioral control (OR = 1.080, p = .001), were found to be significant in predicting alcohol consumption at some time in the life.

Conclusions:

Based on the results, the applicability and relevance of the Theory of Planned Behavior can be determined for the generation of new scientific knowledge, which allows the design and implementation of specific programs to face the situations that adolescents perceive as facilitators for the tobacco and alcohol consumption.