engleski

Alcohol consumption among adolescents

Background Alcohol is believed to be the oldest drug known to man and presents major public health issue. Adolescents grow up in an alcohol friendly environment, with alcohol representing inevitable aspect of important social events. Adolescents have extremely low alcohol tolerance, causing potentially dangerous reactions to organism. Harmful effects of alcohol in adolescents are primarily related with traffic accidents, delinquent behavior and offences or crime. The study was designed in order to get the objective data regarding alcohol abuse in adolescents in the city of Split, Croatia. Methods This is a cross-sectional study which included 2799 school children divided in two age groups: 1074 primary school children (aged 14-15) and 1725 high-school adolescents (aged 18-19). The questionnaire was anonymous. Results It was found that 63% of primary school children and 95% of high-school adolescents were consuming alcohol. Moreover, according to this study, 2% of primary school children and 32% of high-school adolescents reported getting drunk for more than 10 times. In the group of primary school children who experienced alcohol drinking, “binge drinking” experience was confirmed by 31.2% of them, and also by 52% of high-school adolescents. When purchasing alcohol, 54% of primary school children were not asked about the age. Conclusion The results of this study indicate necessity of education on harmful effects of alcohol. The education should comprise all persons that participate in life and education of adolescents. More consistent implementation of laws prohibiting minors from obtaining alcohol from all kind of shops is necessary.

alcohol consumption ; adolescents ; education

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