ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE AMONG JAPANESE HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS

In the first large-scale survey on the use of alcohol and tobacco and the inhalation of paint thinner by Japanese high school students, a hi gher percentage of respondents reported past or regular use of these s ubstances than in a 1978 survey. The survey was conducted in 44 high s chools. The 14,438 respondents (ages 15-18 years) represented 9 of Jap an's 47 geographically distinct urban and rural prefectures. Most (76% ) reported that they had consumed alcohol at some time, and 50% report ed drinking on a regular basis. Alcohol consumption, drinking partners , and motivation for drinking were compared by student gender, geograp hic region, and years of education. Fewer students reported smoking ci garettes: 32% had smoked at some time, and 14% smoked regularly. Inhal ation of paint thinner was rare: 3% had purposely inhaled it, and 1% h ad abused it. A significant percentage of the alcohol drinkers also us ed tobacco and/or thinner, a tendency that was the same despite differ ences in gender, grade in high school, and urban or rural geographic r egion. A tendency toward polysubstance use was evident among these hig h school students.