[Drugs, narcotics--knowledge and habits in schools]

During the school session 1988/1989, the school doctors in the County of Roskilde carried out a questionnaire investigation among 4,004 pupils in the seventh and ninth classes about their knowledge, habits and attitudes to euphorising drugs. The questionnaire investigation was voluntary and anonymous and this probably contributed to the serious replies. Ten municipalities participated and the results showed that more than 50% of the pupils had employed analgesic medicine within the past three months. The consumption of medicine requiring prescription was about 2% during the same period. Medicine was obtained mainly from the parents. Approximately 6% of the pupils in the ninth grade had been offered speed while less than 1% had consumed speed. 1-4% of the pupils had attempted sniffing while only very few had tried cocaine, heroin and morphine. The need for a multidisciplinary health educational campaign concerning euphorising drugs is emphasized.