[Knowledge and drug abuse among students in Brasília, Brazil]

A survey on how much students know about drug use was conducted among State-owned schools in Distrito Federal: 994 primary school pupils and 829 high school students were screened up altogether with 351 graduate school students from the University of Brazilia. A 56-question anonymous questionnaire was administered on social-demographical information, acquaintance with drugs, motivation for use and its frequency, and supply sources. It was found out that, indeed, pupils and students alike knew a great deal about drugs, their information, in general, originating in the mass media. Alcohol is the most widely used "legal" drug. Medical drugs, inhalants, marijuana and cocaine follow on. Among medical drugs, tranquilizers are second to none, and generally gotten through a doctor's prescription. This, coupled to the inhalant boom, deserves a top priority attention on the part of authorities. The research suggests that, instead of emphasizing on danger-oriented divulgation, prevention campaigns should reinforce and accurate the youths' knowledge on drugs so that they are made fully aware of what drug has in store for them. At the same time, campaigns should instruct adults (i.e teachers, professionals, and parents) that drug abuse problems are better dealt with when resorting to appropriate attitudes, instead of giving up in despair.