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 chi(2) 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 ( chi(2) = 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%; chi(2) = 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