The State of Smoking and Alcohol Use in Korean Adolescents

Lee, Gi Chan; Kim, Young Joon; Shin, Young Kyoo; Park, Sang Hee; Tockgo, Young Chang

Abstract

PURPOSE
Recently, smoking and alcohol use in adolesecnt have increased and it has been a social issue in Korea. This study was performed to understand the state of smoking and alcohol use in Korean adolescents, and to make a basic data for education of them.
METHODS
This study was carried in 1994. 3,360 students in 13 schools aged from 13 to 18 were enrolled in this study (male 1,640, female 1,720) lived in the small and medium cities around Seoul. Question-naire on the experience of smoking and alcohol use was used.
RESULTS
1) Seven hundred and eleven students (21.2%) of subjects (30.5% of male and 12.2% of female) had experienced smoking and the rate of smoking experience was increased with age showing highest rate (41.3%) in male 3rd graders of high school. 6.2% of subjects were classified as habitual smoker. The onset of smoking occurred mostly during primary school period (37.4%), and the motive of smoking was mostly inducement of friend (45.0%). 2) Seventeen hundred and twenty six students (51.4%) of subjects (60.5% of male and 42.7% of female) had experienced alcohol use at anytime and the rate of alcohol experience was increased with age showing highest rate (83.6%) in male 3rd graders of high school. 25.9% of subjects who had drinking history had an experience of drunken state and 6.5% of subjects drank more than one time a week. The onset of drinking occurred mostly during primary school period and the motive of drinking was usually inducement of friends or family.
CONCLUSIONS
This study provides the significant evidence about excessive smoking and alcohol use in Korean adolescents. So it is necessary to educate them about physical and emotional injury by smoking and alcohol use for prevention of further increment of such fault behaviors.