PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of alcoholic beverage use among children and young people of Białystok city and to assess the influence of familial and environmental factors on this phenomenon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 894 pupils in the city of Białystok. An anonymous questionnaire, prepared in the Department of Pediatric Nursery of the Medical University of Białystok was used in the study. RESULTS: The examinations revealed that alcohol use among adolescents of Białystok increases with the increasing age of pupils (33.2%--the first grade of middle school, 63.4%--the third grade of middle school, and 79.9%--the second grade of high school). The first experience with alcohol took place in the 5-10 age bracket, but the greatest alcohol initiation (35% of young people) was reported in the 10-15 age bracket; 16% of children were not capable of establishing proper relations with their parents. The examined pupils observed destructive behavior most frequently among their friends (38%) and in people with whom they had no direct contact (36.8%). Adolescents were revealed to use alcohol for company (21.6%), due to lack of safety feeling (18.4%), and the ability of free time organizing (23.4%). CONCLUSION: 1. Alcohol use by children and adolescents from the city of Białystok increases with the age and the biggest alcohol initiation takes place in the age of 10-15 brackets. 2. Familial and social conditioning/factors influence alcohol use by children and adolescents.
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of alcoholic beverage use among children and young people of Białystok city and to assess the influence of familial and environmental factors on this phenomenon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 894 pupils in the city of Białystok. An anonymous questionnaire, prepared in the Department of Pediatric Nursery of the Medical University of Białystok was used in the study. RESULTS: The examinations revealed that alcohol use among adolescents of Białystok increases with the increasing age of pupils (33.2%--the first grade of middle school, 63.4%--the third grade of middle school, and 79.9%--the second grade of high school). The first experience with alcohol took place in the 5-10 age bracket, but the greatest alcohol initiation (35% of young people) was reported in the 10-15 age bracket; 16% of children were not capable of establishing proper relations with their parents. The examined pupils observed destructive behavior most frequently among their friends (38%) and in people with whom they had no direct contact (36.8%). Adolescents were revealed to use alcohol for company (21.6%), due to lack of safety feeling (18.4%), and the ability of free time organizing (23.4%). CONCLUSION: 1. Alcohol use by children and adolescents from the city of Białystok increases with the age and the biggest alcohol initiation takes place in the age of 10-15 brackets. 2. Familial and social conditioning/factors influence alcohol use by children and adolescents.