Substance use by adolescents

The author examines the factors determining involvement of adolescents in smoking and alcohol use. The study was based on the data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS 2004) concerning the state of health, the ways and conditions of life of 815 children aged 14-17. Statistical analysis was carried out by means of logistic regression models for boys and girls separately. The obtained results show that smoking is more prevalent among boys than girls (26.1% against 5.7%). Negative example of mother is the major factor inciting teenagers to smoking and alcohol use. There is a close relation between teenagers’ smoking and alcohol use. Smoking and alcohol use among girls is caused by dissatisfaction with their material position and low self-esteem, and among boys – by living in one-parent family, physical inactivity and low self-esteem.