Alcohol Use in Czech Adolescents
Authors:
L. Csémy 1; J. Hamanová 2
Authors‘ workplace:
Psychiatrické centrum, Praha
ředitel prof. MUDr. C. Höschl, DrSc.
1; Institut pro postgraduální vzdělávání ve zdravotnictví, Praha
ředitel Mgr. R. Gabriel
2
Published in:
Čes-slov Pediat 2009; 64 (10): 454-460.
Category:
Original Papers
Overview
Objective:
Czech Republic belongs to countries of very high alcohol consumption with negative consequences for health and social and economic parameters of the society. The relation to alcohol is formed as early as in childhood and adolescent age. The aim of the paper is to provide information on the trends in alcohol use, to describe expectations of the young people in relation to alcohol and to evaluate selected associations of excessive drinking of alcohol.
Methods:
Results presented in this paper are based on the data base of the European School Project about Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD (1995–2007). It is a cohort investigation performed in all participating countries by a unified methodology. The mean age of the sample at the time of survey was 15.6 years.
Results:
Drinking of beer is most widespread among young people, consumed regularly by 29% of boys and 16% of girls. Since 1999 the trends are without marked changes with the exception of increasingly more frequent of drinking in girls. In the Czech adolescents the positive expectations in relation to alcohol markedly prevail. In particular, alcohol is perceived as a remedy improving fun and making personal contacts easier. From the negative functions the possible loss of control of drinking is reported only rarely. In spite of the positive expectation adolescents encounter many problems associated with alcohol especially in the area of relations, sexual behavior, school performance and aggressive behavior. Frequent drinking of excessive doses is associated with a worse family situation, lower study aspiration and other forms of risky behavior (smoking and drug abuse). In the international context the Czech adolescents are in a group which is characterized by low degree of abstinence and higher frequency of drinking including alcohol intoxication.
Conclusions:
The efforts to change attitudes or behavior of adolescents have not been successful.
Restrictions given by the law should be enforced more consistently, and prevention should be applied more extensively including the participation of family physicians.
Key words:
adolescents, alcohol consumption, expectancies to alcohol, consequences of use, Czech Republic, international comparison
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Labels
Neonatology Paediatrics General practitioner for children and adolescentsArticle was published in
Czech-Slovak Pediatrics
2009 Issue 10
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