The use of alcohol and tobacco by adolescents in the municipality of Embu, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify the use of alcohol and tobacco among adolescents. It is a descriptive study that was developed with 1533 adolescents, both male and female, based on the following inclusion criteria: aged between 10 and 20 years old, registered and regularly attending elementary or high school at state schools in the morning period, in the regions of Santo Eduardo and Santa Emília, in the municipality of Embu. Results showed that 4.8% smoked and 58.3% tried an alcoholic drink. The age mean for the initiation in the use of alcohol was 13.1 years old (s=1.9) and the age mean for the initiation in the use of tobacco was 12.6 years old (s=1.5). The conclusion was that the study population presented a low consumption of tobacco and a high consumption of alcohol, an early initiation in the use of alcohol and tobacco, the alcoholic ingestion took place, mainly, in parties, with friends, and even at home, with relatives. It was also observed that wine is the favorite drink of these adolescents.