Substance, Cigarette and Alcohol Use Among High School Students in the Provincial Center of Samsun, Turkey

Objective: This study was designed to determine the levels of cigarette, alcohol and substance use among high school students in the Samsun provincial centre. Material and Method: The study population consisted of 26,707 students attending 40 high schools. Contact was established with 951 students, 92.7% of the study sample. “Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance” survey questions were used in formulating the questionnaire. Results: Nine hundred and fifty-one students, 468 female (49.21%) and 483 male (50.79%), participated. Non-smoking among females (75.21%) was significantly higher than among males (64.39%). As students progressed through school, levels of smoking at least one cigarette and of smoking every day in the previous month increased significantly. Levels of using alcohol at least once and of drinking and intoxication in the preceding month were higher among male students. Levels of intoxication rose significantly with progress through school. The number of students stating that they had used any substance during their lives was 3.15%, and was significantly higher among males (4.55%) compared to females (1.70%). Conclusion: Smoking and alcohol and substance use are more common among males. This must be considered in deterrent campaigns targeting this age group.