Abstract
The evaluation of the lifetime- 12 months- and 4-weeks- prevalences of psychoactive substance use among 14 - 20 years old adolescents in Grenada W.I. was carried out as a descriptive cross-sectional study of a representative population of students (787 students) attending Secondary Schools.
In a comparison between schools with urban and rural locations, prevalence rates were contrasted and variables determined regarding age and gender as influencing factors for consumption, as well as the influence of socio-economic and -demographic factors in the context of family structure, peer influences, and health awareness.
As instrument assessing the data a selfadministered questionnaire was applied. The statistical bivariate analysis was carried out using two-by-two contingency tables, the chi2 test for significance, and the Mantel-Haenszel test for homogeneity. For univariate and multivariate qualification of the risk factors with reference to the dependent variables, logistic regression analysis was applied.
The evaluation of the preliminary test - retest indicated a Cronbach alpha score of 0.6 - 0.8 for the relevant items, thus showing good to very good reliability of the response behaviour.
Alcohol proved to be the drug of first choice for young people. The lifetime - prevalence of the overall population was found to be 87.7% for male and 70% for female students. For the lifetime prevalence of marihuana, 19.1% of the boys and 9.3% of the girls reported consumption at some time. The lifetime prevalence for tobacco smoking for the sample population was 26.9% for male and 17.5% for female students. Gender-specific comparison of the urban and rural sub-populations for the 12-month period showed a risk for alcohol consumption for girls that was statistically significantly lower (OR 0.6 urban/ 0.4 rural) and for marihuana consumption a lower risk (OR 0.4) for females in the rural sub-population. For both genders the lifetime prevalence for cigarette smoking showed a significantly higher risk in the urban subpopulation (OR 1.6 males / OR 1.7 females).
A statistically significant predictor in the phase of experimental consumption of psychoactive substances among the socio-economic and -demographic aspects and also age - specific factors was the amount of money available per day. Professional qualifications of both parents and a two-parent-household were evaluated as protective factors. Special risks for the consumption of marihuana were found for male (OR 2.1) and female students (OR 4.4) in the urban sub-population from single-parent households. Parental consumption of alcohol, having peers who consume alcohol and drugs and being introduced to illegal drugs by friends were significant predictors for consumption of psychoactive substances, along with curiosity, the desire to be accepted, and religious motives.
Across cultures in industrial and threshold countries, predictors of consumption of psychoactive substances by adolescents in the phase of experimental consumption are to be found in the family setting and in peer group influence. Further evaluations are necessary which also include risk groups such as school drop-outs, in order to analyse trends and to develop and implement differentiated prevention programmes. | 
