Psychoactive substance use among polish juveniles: Insights from court files and self-report studies

• In Event: Prevalence and Trends in Juvenile Crime and Risky Behavior

Abstract

Liquor stores, neighborhood shops, supermarkets, gas stations – in Poland, alcohol can be purchased almost anywhere and at nearly any time of day or night. Some studies indicate that alcohol addiction – to varying degrees – may affect as many as 6 million Poles. Analyses also show that alcohol may be one of the main causes of crime, either directly, when a person commits a crime under the influence of alcohol, or indirectly, as a result of social degradation and demoralization. At the same time, drinking patterns and the use of other substances in Poland have undergone slight changes over recent years.

So how does alcohol and psychoactive substance use look among juveniles, for whom these substances may be particularly dangerous? What substances do they consume most frequently? Where do they get them? Are adults aware that juveniles are using illegal substances? We looked for answers to these and other questions related to substance use among juveniles by analyzing juvenile case files (1,156 cases) and through self-report surveys conducted in Polish schools.

The aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of psychoactive substance use among Polish teenagers and to reflect on the consequences. We will also consider how this picture has changed over the years.

Authors

• Paulina Sidor-Borek, University of Warsaw

• Krzysztof Worek, University of Warsaw