OBJECTIVE: To analyze the use of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, other psychoactive substances - PAS , among adolescents of public schools of Feira de Santana, Bahia/Brazil. METHOD: Cross sectional study with random samples, stratified in terms of conglomerate units (schools and students). The sample of the study totalled 1,409 adolescents between 14 and 19 years old from 10 public schools; 30% of the total of schools of the municipality with 500,000/inhabitants. The representation of schools and students was respected. The self-report instrument was elaborated according to OMS recommendations and as used in others studies1,2,3. The data were collected according to guaranteed the anonymity of the subjects investigated. RESULTS: 86,5% of the adolescents were considered well informed on PAS; 57,0% reported alcoholic beverage consumption, mainly beers and wines; 23,3% used cigarettes and 5.2% other PAS (marijuana, solvents and cocaine); 29,3% reported drinking alcoholic beverages one to three times/month and 13% every weekend. Among subjects 10 to 14 years old, 47% reported drinking alcohol and 16.7% using other PAS. The statistics analysis showed that consumption of alcohol, cigarettes and other PAS is significantly higher among 17-19 years males. Interestingly, the main motivation for drug use is the company of friends and parents. CONCLUSIONS: implement of a drug prevention program's in schools.
Adolescence; School; Drugs; Alcoholic beverages; Cigarettes
