The alcohol and narcotic use among adolescents in a medium size city in Sweden : Prominent risk factors and prevalence among females and males

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of alcohol and narcotic use among adolescents in the age of 16-19 in private schools in a medium size city in Sweden. The aim was also to identify important risk factors for the use of narcotics. In upper secondary school in Sweden, 74,0 % of the adolescents had consumed alcohol and 18,0 % had used narcotics in the year of 2016. The results in this study showed that the prevalence of alcohol and narcotic use among the adolescents in Sundsvall was similar to the national prevalence, and gender differences were found in the amount of alcohol consumed as well as in types of narcotics used. The most common type of alcohol consumed by females was light beer or cider and wine whereas for males it was strong beer or cider. More males than females had ever used narcotics and the most common type of narcotic was marijuana/hash among both genders. Earlier research and criminological theories have found several risk factors regarding the use of narcotics. The most prominent risk factors found in this study were lack of parental awareness, having deviant peers, lack of school commitment, positive attitudes towards narcotics and alcohol, and lack of leisure time activities. Research shows that the use of narcotics is connected to criminal behavior and identifying relevant risk factors is a must in order to prevent future problems. This study highlighted several important risk factors and suggested where future measures should be aimed.