Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

FIGURE 6. Siblings (N = 33).
SOURCE: Gyor County Hospital, Hungary (unpublished data,
1992).
pilot study with the Tri-Ethnic Center <strong>of</strong> Colorado State University.
The American Drug and Alcohol Survey (Oetting et al. 1986) was
developed and adapted to Hungarian circumstances and patterns <strong>of</strong> use
(Nemeth et al., in press). The adapted questionnaire was filled out
anonymously by 234 students in the 8th and 11th grades. The average
age <strong>of</strong> the 8th graders was 14.2 years, and the average age <strong>of</strong> the 11th
graders was 17.0 years. The highest lifetime prevalence <strong>of</strong> inhalant use
was found in 8th-grade females (2 percent), while past-month prevalence
in all groups was close to 0. <strong>Inhalant</strong>s (and nitrites) were perceived as
being “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain by over 50 percent <strong>of</strong> the 8thgrade
students and over 75 percent <strong>of</strong> the 11th-grade group. There was
no statistically significant difference between genders. Students’ relative
lack <strong>of</strong> substance involvement, with the exception <strong>of</strong> alcohol and
cigarettes, is interesting especially in light <strong>of</strong> the perceived availability <strong>of</strong>
these substances. The attitudes young people have toward drug use and
their perception <strong>of</strong> harmful effects <strong>of</strong> use have much to do with whether
they use drugs or not (Oetting and Webb 1992). The virtual lack <strong>of</strong>
experimentation even when substances are perceived to be readily
available to students is a good sign. Most students indicated that they did
not and do not plan to use drugs in the future. It is important that these
intentions are maintained and strengthened by educating students about
the harmful effects <strong>of</strong> drugs.
113