Addictive behaviour of adolescents in secondary schools in Hungary.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate drug use among secondary schoolchildren aged 14-18 years in the city of Szeged in Hungary in order to observe and describe drug use, smoking and alcohol intake and to find risk factors for these behaviours.


METHODS
The questionnaire was concerned with recreational drug use, smoking and drinking habits as well as family structure and life-style based upon the European School Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs questionnaire. Statistical methods used were the chi2 test and multiple logistic regression analysis. The standard errors were estimated using the Huber-White procedure.


RESULTS
Overall 20% of schoolchildren reported experience of drug usage. Boys were significantly more likely to report drug use than girls (chi2=4.65; p=0.031). Cannabis was the most commonly reported drug used (96%). The proportion of drug users was significantly higher among those who had smoked (13%) or were current smokers (65%) compared to those who never smoked (1%; chi2=164.7; p<0.001). Moreover, the risk of drug use was significantly higher in those children who reported a drug user in the family (OR 9.3; 95% CI 4.3-19.9; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the hypothesis that strategies for the prevention of drug use should consider the association between drug and tobacco use.
Nyári
Tibor A
TA
North of England Children's Cancer Research Unit, School of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Herédi
Katalin
K
Parker
Louise
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D015994:Incidence; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D013287:Illicit Drugs