Prevention of psychoactive substances abuse in pupils who attend higher grades of primary schools

Abstract

In the last decade scientists and field workers have been increasingly occupied by prevention of psychoactive substances abuse in primary schools. Having in mind that successful preventive actions necessitate acquaintance of frequency and characteristics of substances usage, we have presented, in the first part of this article, results of the research which was carried out in the sample of 561 pupils who attend V, VI, VII and VIII grades of ten Belgrade primary schools. It was shown that 32% of the sample use psychoactive substances. Substances most frequently used by our participants were alcohol (26%) and tobacco (15%). Statistically significant differences between males and females were determined in alcohol, but not in tobacco usage. Significant differences between various chronological groups were also revealed. On the basis of research results, directions for the selection of appropriate levels, strategies and programs of preventive practice were presented in the second part of the article. .

Prevencija zloupotrebe psihoaktivnih supstancija u osnovnim školama poslednje decenije sve više zaokuplja pažnju naučne i stručne javnosti. Polazeći od toga da je za uspešno preventivno delovanje neophodno poznavati učestalost i karakteristike upotrebe supstancija, u prvom delu rada su prikazani rezultati istraživanja sprovedenog na uzorku od 561 učenika V, VI, VII i VIII razreda deset beogradskih osnovnih škola. Osnovni rezultati istraživanja su: upotreba supstancija postoji kod 32% učenika; najučestaliji oblici su upotreba alkohola (26%) i upotreba cigareta (15%); u odnosu na pol ispitanika otkrivene su statistički značajne razlike u upotrebi alkohola, ali ne i cigareta; otkrivene su statistički značajne razlike u pogledu upotrebe cigareta i alkohola u odnosu na uzrast ispitanika. U drugom delu rada, na temelju prikazanih rezultata istraživanja, data su uputstva za izbor nivoa, strategija i programa preventivnog delovanja. .