OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of the family environment in relation to alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. METHODS: This was a descriptive study consisting of in-depth analysis on the topic of family influence related to legal drug use. A semi-structured questionnaire containing 25 questions on alcohol and tobacco use was completed by 1,533 adolescents of both genders. Inclusion criteria were: adolescents aged ten to 20 years who were regularly attending morning classes in the sixth, seventh or eighth years of elementary education or in the first, second or third years of high school education at state schools in two regions of the municipality of Embu, São Paulo, Brazil. Subjects agreed to participate in preventive health promotion workshops of the Corporality and Health Promotion Project. Statistical analysis applied odds ratio, with a 95% confidence interval and chi-square test, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: 66% of the adolescents who had not tried alcoholic drinks did not have any family members who were frequent drinkers (p<0.001) and 84% of those who smoked had family members who were smokers (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The family environment induces and facilitates alcohol and tobacco use. It is extremely important to use this knowledge to design preventive health education projects.
adolescent; alcohol drinking; smoking; family relations
