Psychoactive Substance Use among Young People: Core Findings of a Multi-Center Study in the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation

Abstract

This article presents core findings of a pre-intervention survey of psychoactive substance use in two communities in the Republic of Belarus and three communities in the Russian Federation between December 2000 and March 2001. The survey was part of the Global Initiative for the primary prevention of psychoactive substance use among young people in eight countries, initiated by the United Nations International Drug Control Program and the World Health Organization. The survey found that young people (10–21 year olds) fairly commonly reported the use of psychoactive substances, especially the use of malt beer and cigarettes. The young people also tended to report such use among significant others (e.g. (step)fathers, (step)mothers, older siblings, and close friends) in their lives. The young people in the Russian Federation sites tended to approve of various forms of psychoactive substance use among their peers.