[Alcohol, drug and tobacco use amongst adolescents in Barcelona region]. / Hábitos tóxicos de los adolescentes.

AIMS: to describe consumption, knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol, tobacco an "illicit drugs" amongst teenagers aged 12-15 years. DESIGN: cross-sectional study. RECRUITMENT: high schools from Barcelona area. PARTICIPANTS: 407 studies of ESO (Secondary education) aged 12-15, academic year 2007-2008. SURVEY MEASURES: demographic characteristics, alcohol, tobacco and drug use, opinion and information about them. It was an ad hoc questionnaire of 22 items, anonymous and filled in by each student. RESULTS: the sample (n = 348) consisted of 50% of women and 50% of men. Mean age: 13.91 years old. The largest group was 14 years old. 35,34% of pupils had tried tobacco, 55,17% alcohol, 9,8% cannabis, 1% cocaine and 0,5% synthetic drugs. 72,41% tried them because they were curious. 40% did not consider alcohol as a drug. Tobacco and alcohol were accessible in more than 85% of the cases. The main source of information comes from the media 49,75%. CONCLUSIONS: adolescents start tobacco consumption between 12-13 years, alcohol at 13, cannabis at 14 synthetic drugs at 13 and cocaine between 14 and 15. The most used substances are alcohol and tobacco and they were not considered drugs by more than half of the surveyed. They believe availability is high. More than half of the sample would like to receive more information about drugs.

Hábitos tóxicos de los adolescentes / Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco use amongst adolescents in Barcelona region

Objetivo: describir el consumo, conocimientos y actitudes sobre sustancias tóxicas en el grupo de edad de 12 a 15 años. Diseño: estudio transversal descriptivo. Emplazamiento: centros de educación secundaria. Nivel de atención sanitaria: Salud Comunitaria. Participantes: 407 estudiantes de ESO, de la provincia de Barcelona entre 12 y 15 años de edad (curso académico 2007-2008). Mediciones principales: variables sociodemográficas, hábitos tóxicos, opinión e información sobre tabaco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaína y drogas de síntesis mediante cuestionario ad hoc de 22 ítems, anónimo y autocumplimentado. Resultados: las encuestas válidas (n=348) procedían en un 50% de mujeres y otro 50% de varones, con edad media de 13’91 años. El grupo más extenso era el de 14 años. Un 35,34% del total de alumnos había probado tabaco; 55,17% alcohol; 9,8% cannabis; 1,1% cocaína; y 0,5% drogas de síntesis. El 72,41% las probó por curiosidad. Un 40% de los alumnos no consideraba el alcohol una droga. Tabaco y alcohol se estiman accesibles en más del 85% de los casos. La principal fuente de información procedía de los medios de comunicación (49,7%). Conclusiones: los adolescentes empiezan a consumir tabaco entre los 12 y 13 años; alcohol con 13; cannabis con 14; drogas de síntesis con 13 y cocaína entre los 14 y 15 años. Las sustancias más consumidas son el alcohol y el tabaco; no siendo consideradas como drogas por más de la mitad de los encuestados. La mayor parte de ellos afirma que la accesibilidad es alta. Más de la mitad de la muestra desearía recibir más información. Nota de las autoras. El estudio que nos ha permitido realizar el artículo, ha sido elaborado como tesina del Máster en Enfermería de Salud Pública y Comunitaria que ofrece bianualmente la Universidad de Barcelona(AU)

Aims: to describe consumption, knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol, tobacco an «illicit drugs» amongst teenagers aged 12-15 years. Design: cross-sectional study. Recruitment: high schools from Barcelona area. Participants: 407 studies of ESO (Secondary education) aged 12-15, academic year 2007-2008. Survey measures: demographic characteristics, alcohol, tobacco and drug use, opinion and information about them. It was an ad hoc questionnaire of 22 items, anonymous and filled in by each student. Results: the sample (n= 348) consisted of 50% of women and 50% of men. Mean age: 13.91 years old. The largest group was 14 years old. 35,34% of pupils had tried tobacco, 55,17% alcohol, 9,8% cannabis, 1% cocaine and 0,5% synthetic drugs. 72,41% tried them because they were curious. 40% did not consider alcohol as a drug. Tobacco and alcohol were accessible in more than 85% of the cases. The main source of information comes from de media 49,75%. Conclusions: adolescents start tobacco consumption between 12-13 years, alcohol at 13, cannabis at 14 synthetic drugs at 13 and cocaine between 14 and 15. The most used substances are alcohol and tobacco and they were not considered drugs by more than half of the surveyed. They believe availability is high. More than half of the sample would like to receive more information about drugs(AU)