RESEARCH PAPER
The association between alcohol and tobacco use among elementary and high school students in Crete, Greece
| 1 | Department of Thoracic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete,
Heraklion, Greece |
| 2 | Department of Social Medicine, School
of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece |
| 3 | Agia Barbara Health Care Center, Heraklion, Crete, Greece |
| 4 | 3rd Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Chest Diseases Hospital "Sotiria", Athens, Greece. |
| 5 | Prefecture of Lasithi, Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Constantine Ilias Vardavas
Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete P.O 71003, Greece
Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete P.O 71003, Greece
Publication date: 2012-09-25
Tobacco Induced Diseases 2012;10(September):15
KEYWORDS
high school studentelementary school childelementary school student current alcoholjunior high school student
ABSTRACT
Background:
Tobacco and alcohol use during adolescence have potential long term health consequences and a possibility of future addiction.
Methods:
This cross sectional study took place in 2007 among a convenience sample of 981 adolescents from public elementary and high schools in Eastern Crete, Greece. Following parental consent, an anonymous structured questionnaire including information on personal and family use of alcohol and tobacco was distributed.
Results:
Among the entire study population, cigarette experimentation was found to be associated with current alcohol use, with an Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) of 38.8; (95%C.I: 5.33-58.2) and with having a smoker in the immediate family (aOR 10.3; 95%C.I: 3.14-34.0). Among the subset of elementary school children, cigarette smoking was strongly associated with current alcohol use aOR 9.7; (95%C.I: 2.12-44.3), while the association between smoking experimentation and sibling and parental alcohol use was statistically significant within the entire population (however not among elementary students) with an aOR of 2.76 (95%C.I: 1.24-6.15) and aOR 3.66, (95%C.I: 1.97-6.81) respectively. The elementary child’s gender was not found to be associated with cigarette experimentation among this study population.
Conclusions:
Strong associations were found between alcohol use and tobacco experimentation. The potential parental influence on consequent adolescent tobacco and alcohol use was also noted. Potential community based interventions, if launched in Greece, should take the role of the Greek family into account.
Tobacco and alcohol use during adolescence have potential long term health consequences and a possibility of future addiction.
Methods:
This cross sectional study took place in 2007 among a convenience sample of 981 adolescents from public elementary and high schools in Eastern Crete, Greece. Following parental consent, an anonymous structured questionnaire including information on personal and family use of alcohol and tobacco was distributed.
Results:
Among the entire study population, cigarette experimentation was found to be associated with current alcohol use, with an Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) of 38.8; (95%C.I: 5.33-58.2) and with having a smoker in the immediate family (aOR 10.3; 95%C.I: 3.14-34.0). Among the subset of elementary school children, cigarette smoking was strongly associated with current alcohol use aOR 9.7; (95%C.I: 2.12-44.3), while the association between smoking experimentation and sibling and parental alcohol use was statistically significant within the entire population (however not among elementary students) with an aOR of 2.76 (95%C.I: 1.24-6.15) and aOR 3.66, (95%C.I: 1.97-6.81) respectively. The elementary child’s gender was not found to be associated with cigarette experimentation among this study population.
Conclusions:
Strong associations were found between alcohol use and tobacco experimentation. The potential parental influence on consequent adolescent tobacco and alcohol use was also noted. Potential community based interventions, if launched in Greece, should take the role of the Greek family into account.
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