Factors related to the potential risk of trying an illicit drug among high school students in Paris

Abstract

To identify risk factors of trying an illicit drug among adolescents exposed to an environment strongly using licit drugs, attitude toward illicit drugs, and use of tobacco, alcohol and tranquilizers were explored in a high school in Paris, April 1990. After a semi-directive interview and a pilot test, 233 students of one class chosen at random out of three at each high school level, completed an anonymous questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to detect risk factors of trying an illicit drug. Three kinds of risk factors were identified: (a)licit drugs: alcoholic drunkenness and abstaining from tranquilizers if personal discomfort is present, (b) peer modeling: presence of a fellow using marijuana, and (c) risk notion: weak risk notion on hashish use and belief that hard and soft drug use are not related. One student in 3 appeared at potential risk of trying an illicit drug. The risk factors suggested by this study may be used to set a policy of illicit drug primary prevention among adolescent specified populations. The importance of environmental factors is underlined.