Background: About 190 million people consume drugs and alcohol worldwide with the majority of this number being the youth. In Zambia the cŽn??mÐOŽn of alcohol and other drug abuse is on the increase with the majority of youths ?lArOnO to consume alcohol at an early age. KbuGcO|G?? Aim of this paper is to explore the usage of alcohol and tobacco among University of Zambia students and factors cŽnlrsb?OnO to this behavior. Methods: This study ?Ous?GE a crŽ????GcOŽnAu q?AnOlAO|G survey method design. Approximately 800 undergraduate students were targeted and surveyed in classrooms selected through a ?lrAOIGE random sample procedure. Data was collected by a self-administered q?G?OŽnnAsrG using the Health and Behavior Survey and the Global School Health Survey. Results: The results suggest that cŽn??mÐOŽn of alcohol was higher than that of tobacco. The prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use occurs across all years. However, the use of tobacco products was higher among Ir?l years and drinking alcohol was high among fourth years. Conclusions: It is prudent for sn?Ol?OŽn? such as the University of Zambia who are looking AOGr the youth and young adults for extended periods of OmG to put measures in place to curb such vices as regular and heavy cŽn??mÐOŽn of alcohol.