© 1996 by Oxford University Press
brief-report |
Addiction Among High School Pupils in Holon (Israel) and their Attitudes Towards Drugs: a Pilot Study (1993–1994)
Pediatric Department, Wolfson Medical Center P.O. Box 5, Holon 58100 Israel, affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv University
One-hundred-and-twenty-five high school pupils aged 14–17 years had completed anonymous questionnaires dealing with smoking habits and alcohol consumption, as well as with the knowledge and attitudes towards drug addiction. Twenty-four per cent of the pupils smoked regularly; the age of onset of smoking was 13.93±1.53 years. Thirty-one per cent of the pupils admitted to the regular drinking of alcoholic beverages (including beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages); the age of onset of drink was 14.65±0.79 years. The pupils' knowledge concerning drugs was relatively low (scoring of 37.78±16.87 per cent). Pupils in the 16–17-year age group proved to have the highest knowledge. Pupils who used to take drugs received a higher score for their knowledge than other pupils in their classes. Most pupils presented conservative attitudes towards drugs; pupils in the 16–17-year age group received the highest (most liberal) scores; higher (liberal) scores correlated with parental familial status (cohesion) (P=0.029) and inversely correlated with the behavior marks (r=0.294; P=0.03). The attitude of addicted pupils (to cigarettes, alcohol and drugs) was more liberal in comparison with their peers (P<0.003).