@article{ref1,
title="Alcohol consumption and awareness of the risks related in alcohol-abuse in high school students: Evidence from a health education program",
journal="Annali di Igiene: Medicina Preventiva e di Comunita",
year="2013",
author="Angelone, A. M. and Rossi, R. and Bartolomei, G. and Di Carlo, D. and Fabiani, L. and Necozione, S. and di Orio, F.",
volume="25",
number="6",
pages="501-509",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The unceasing and widespread increase of alcohol consumption represents an important problem for the European Union. For this reason, we wanted to investigate the patterns of alcohol consumption among high-school students of Rieti, a city in central Italy, and of surrounding rural areas. Furthermore, the study intends to investigate students' awareness on alcohol-related health risks and on the consequences of driving in a state of intoxication.   METHODS: In the investigation 7 schools including senior highschools and technical schools were involved, for a total of 669 students aged between 15 and 19 years. As part of a program of health education, a self-administered anonymous questionnaire was proposed to each student. A descriptive and multivariate analysis was carried out.   RESULTS: The prevalence of usual drinkers was equal to 12.7 per cent. The logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between usual consumption of alcohol and the attendance of Technical Institutes (OR=3.43; 95% IC: 2.07 - 5.69), and the residence in rural areas (OR=2.19; 95% IC: 1.38 - 3.47). The area of residence in the multivariate analysis loses significance. Only 54.6 % of the students answered the questions regarding the state of driving under the effect of alcohol; of these, 11.0 % declared of having driven at least once under the effect of alcohol, whereas 18.0 % declared that they had been passengers of a driver who was drunk. The answer to the question whether the consumption of alcohol is harmful to health was &quot;no&quot; for 15.7 % of usual drinkers against 2.2 % of the non drinkers or occasional (episodic) drinkers.   CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the drinking habits of high school students of Rieti are worse for those attending technical schools. Usual drinkers show lower consciousness of alcohol-related harm. Our study may provide clues useful for the identification of the target population at high risk for alcohol abuse in order to create targeted prevention programs.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1120-9135",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}