[Adolescents' free time activities and substance use].

The aim of this study was to test the strength of the relationship between adolescents' free time activities and substance use, against a background of other factors important for substance use. A survey of 1843 students in grades: seven, nine and ten in Ilawa (84% of target population) was conducted in December 2001. The results of stepwise logistic regression (with Wald statistics) showed that some forms of adolescents' free time activities are directly significant for substance use, others - are not, when controlling for factors, such as: previous usage of other substances, participation in company of peers using illegal drugs or drinking alcohol, academic achievement, religious involvement and parental alcohol drinking or cigarette smoking. Frequent, individual sport activity was found to be associated with less substance use: non-smoking and non-drinking. Participation in various organised activities (without sport) was significant only for cigarette non-smoking. None of the adolescents' free time activities were significant predictors concerning illegal drug use.