[Use of alcohol and narcotics among Danish adolescents in the 1980's]

A review is presented of the results of epidemiological investigations from 1980 to 1988 concerning the use of alcohol and narcotics among adolescents in Denmark. The material includes ten anonymous questionnaire investigations in all of which school pupils participated and a qualitative interview investigation. Comparison of the age-specific prevalence rates reveals that the use of alcohol and narcotics increases with age and that the intake of alcohol is slightly higher in boys than in girls. The majority of the adolescents drink mainly at weekends and in connection with social events. The use of hash is greatest among boys and the average age for commencing is slightly higher than for alcohol. Apart from hash, the employment of narcotics is low in school pupils. Although approximately 24,000 adolescents were questioned, the investigations together provide an uncertain picture of the habits as these are not representative for Danish adolescents. It is not possible to indicate genuine risk groups. It is concluded that initiatives for prophylactic efforts do not have any basis for action. Repeated national representative questionnaire investigations are proposed supplemented by qualitative interviews with particularly selected adolescents and local key-persons.