[Risk behavior in adolescent students in Santiago de Chile]

Aiming to measure the prevalence of risky behaviors, familial disturbances and their interrelations, a probabilistic sample of 1904 teenagers (aged 15.5 +/- 1.8 years, 42% male) was surveyed using and anonymous and self applied questionnaire. Fifty two percent of the sample smoked, 54% consumed alcohol, 12.5% marihuana, 3.2% amphetamines, 2.3% cocaine, 0.8% inhalants and 5.3% other drugs. Thirty two percent smoked frequently (monthly, weekly or daily); frequent alcohol, marihuana, amphetamines, cocaine and other drug consumption was found in 15.5, 5, 1.4, 0.4 and 1.4% of the sample. Substance abuse, except cigarette smoking was more prevalent among males. Substance abuse was more frequent among people over 15 years old. As to unsociable behaviors, 24% of teenagers referred vandalism in the last 24 months, 44% individual aggressions and 14% robbery. Twenty nine percent had school absenteeism. Parental separation, psychiatric treatments and treatments for alcoholism were present in 22, 6 and 4 percent of teenagers. Risky behaviors were significantly more frequent among offspring whose parents had any of these problems.