Substance use and knowledge among Italian High School students.

This study was aimed for evaluation of Italian students' attitudes to addictive substances, their knowledge and personal experience, and their awareness about the risks. The research was realized among high school students from Marche region in the Central Italy in the year 2006; the study group was randomly chosen from all schools in the region. 4118 appropriately completed questionnaires returned. The statistic processing was carried out by using chi-square test for two qualitative variables. 29.9 % of the students have tried drugs; 36.4 % of the interviewed reckon alcohol, tobacco and antidepressants for drugs. A relationship between the use of licit and illicit addictive substances and a correlation between the use of illicit substances and the use of liquors and tobacco in family was found. The students, who drink frequently, smoke regularly and use drugs, believe that the drugs create dependence only if overused; only a quarter of them classify themselves as drug addicts. The study indicates a lack of information on the drugs among the young people. It emerges that the young people do not sufficiently know the risk of the dependence. A change of the preventive strategies should be considered.