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ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

ESPAD: The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs

COUNTRY REPORT REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA I. Data Collection

A. Introduction A1. Earlier national studies and comparabilities with these.

To our knowledge, four research projects into the use and misuse of drugs among Slovene secondary school pupils have so far been conducted on national samples. In 1983, a study of drug abuse was carried out among the students of the Ljubljana University (average age 21.3 years (+ -1.8), range 19 to 30 years).

The first study of the kind was the doctor's thesis dealing with the characteristics of the Slovene population of drug addicts by Martina Zmuc-Tomori written in April 1979. In the summary of the project the author stated that the purpose of the study was to identify some characteristics of drug use and abuse in Slovene adolescent population, and to determine psycho-social risk factors for drug abuse. The study involved 300 pupils from several secondary schools in Slovenia, 100 young drug addicts and 50 adult alcoholics. Data were collected by means of special inventories, including the Freiburg Personality Inventory, and medical records of the subjects studied. It was found that, in general, the use of various drugs among Slovene secondary school students remains within the boundaries of socially tolerated behaviour, and that it is not psychopathologic in origin. Thus, the young taking drugs seem to be mostly imitating parental behaviour and habits. The phenomenon of drug abuse studied in a group of young addicts treated in the psychiatric hospital was found to differ in many ways from the ordinary drug use pattern: drug addicts tend to take many different substances rather than a single drug, they also abuse socially accepted drugs (tobacco), and finally, their addiction takes origin in individual and family psychopathology. The personality structure of drug addicts is specific and very similar that of adult male alcoholics. The motives for drug abuse are intimately connected with emotional tensions and inner conflicts experienced by these young people. Several forms of addiction, mostly alcoholism, were found in parents of these adolescents. The author concluded that the results of the study could be applied to programmes of prevention and treatment of drug addiction among adolescents.

Another study dealing with this issue was carried out by Eva Stergar on a representative sample of Slovene secondary school - aged youth in November 1990 (1st and 3rd year students, n=1,310). She investigated the incidence of the use of alcohol and tobacco (i.e. the so-called legal drugs) among adolescents and their attitude towards the use and misuse of these two drugs. The issue of illicit drugs in Slovenia, which include psychoactive substances, such as marijuana, hashish and cocaine, was not addressed in the study. The following were the main conclusions of the investigation: ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

"The finding that experience with alcohol use was reported by the majority of the students surveyed accords with the results of previous research in this area. As indicated by the data collected for the 3rd year students, the proportion of abstainers in the Slovenian secondary school-aged youth has decreased by 11% over the past ten years. Moreover, among 3rd year students, there were nearly 5% less abstainers than in the undergraduate student sample. These findings support the view that the incidence of adolescent alcohol use has been on a constant increase. The motives for teenage drinking in the surveyed sample were similar to those reported in previous studies; among the leading ones being peer pressure, curiosity, mere chance, etc. This high incidence of teenage drinking suggests that adolescents perceive alcohol use as a socially normative and acceptable behaviour. In view of the observation that heavy drinking with drinking- related consequences is usually connected with personal motives, such as his/her wish to reduce tensions, boost self-esteem or improve cognitive and motor functioning, adolescents who drink alcohol can be divided into high-risk and low-risk groups of drinkers. Some 17% of the 3rd year students and a notably lesser percent of 1st year students belonged to a high-risk group of alcohol consumers.

Paternal alcoholism was found to account for 16% of high-risk alcohol use in the surveyed sample. High-risk drinkers usually came from single-parent families and dysfunctional family environment and grew up in an atmosphere of constant conflicts between parents. They showed a significantly higher rate of alcohol use, intoxication episodes and drinking-related problems as compared to their age mates whose fathers were not heavy drinkers. Differences between boys and girls emerged especially concerning the drinking habits formed between the first and the third year of secondary school. As compared to the results of the studies carried out in the late 70s, the incidence of smoking among the 3rd year students decreased by more than 7% over the period of 12 years.

These observations call for the formulation of effective prevention strategies. Alcohol and tobacco abuse prevention should be started in the age group of less than 10 years. The programmes should involve the participation of parents and teachers and should focus greater attention on boys. The main objectives of these prevention programmes should be to improve the quality of life of the adolescent population by encouraging young people to adopt healthy ways of filling the gaps in their emotional life and social interactions."

The Republic of Slovenia participated in the 1995 ESPAD project with the survey that yielded the following results: Alcohol and tobacco were the most frequently reported illicit drugs used by the representative group of Slovene students born in 1979. The respondents were fairly tolerant of the use and abuse of these legal drugs , and harmful health effects of drug abuse were notably underestimated in some segments. The survey showed marijuana (hashish) to be the most popular illicit drug: the use of marijuana was reported by 14% of respondents; half of them had used it up to 5 times in their lives. Of the 182 respondents reporting the use of marijuana, 32 had used it 40 times ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA or more. The proportion of students who had used marijuana during the previous 30 days was slightly above 6%.

The use of other illicit substances, including amphetamines, LSD, crack, cocaine, ecstasy and heroin, was reported by less than 2% of respondents. Substance abuse ( "I used it 10 times or more") was reported by occasional respondents.

The proportion of students who had used inhalants in their lifetime was about the same as that of students reporting lifetime use of marijuana, except that the use of inhalants was mostly restricted to younger age groups. Differences between sexes were found .

Lifetime use of sedatives prescribed by a doctor was reported by 7.6% of respondents.

Students with average or below average performance at school showed a higher prevalence of heavy smoking , and reported more frequent drinking of various alcoholic beverages, more intoxication episodes and more frequent drinking of large amounts of all types of alcoholic beverages. These characteristics were found more often in boys than in girls.

In 1996, a random sample comprising 4,706 first to fourth year students, mean age 17 years and 3 months, from 94 Slovene secondary schools was surveyed as a part of a larger-scale study on "Health risks for Slovene secondary school students " by Tomori M., Stergar E., Rus Makovec M. and Pinter B. The authors studied the prevalence of and interaction between various risk factors in this population group. The purpose of the study was to identify the groups of young people most at risk, to determine the origin of major risks (family environment, inappropriate behavioural and cognitive patterns, dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs, personality traits enhancing vulnerability etc.), as well as to identify protective factors. The analysis of the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and illicit substance use showed that drinking alcohol comes top on the reported figures: the consumption of alcohol was reported by 71% of respondents and drunkenness during the previous 30 days by 30%. At the time of the survey, cigarette smoking was reported by 27.2% of students. During the previous 30 day period, marijuana was used by 11.2% of students and heroin and cocaine by 1.6%. Psychoactive substances, including sedatives, were consumed by 10.6% of respondents; a significantly higher proportion of girls than boys. The prevalences of cigarette smoking, alcohol use and drunkenness were significantly higher for students attending technical schools relative to grammar school students. Drinking of alcohol, drunkenness and use of marijuana were more frequently reported by boys than by girls, but there was no statistically significant gender difference concerning the use of tobacco. As for the protective factors, the authors pointed out healthy lifestyles, positive attitude to one's future, healthy leisure time activities, stable family environment and emotional support provided by the family and/or friends. They believed that the leading risk factors for drug abuse included: inappropriate ways of spending one's free time, depression, being overburdened with problems and self- aggressive behaviour patterns. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

A2. The purpose of survey

The main purposes of this survey were: - to collect data on the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among students born in 1983, the samples being drawn from the youth in Slovenia and the regions of Maribor, Kranj, Nova Gorica and Ljubljana city; - to study the 1995 – 1999 trends in Slovenia concerning the use of alcohol and other drugs among students born in 1983; - to contribute these data to the European survey; - to compare data on drug use in Slovenia with trends in Europe and in the neighbouring countries.

The information about drug consumption and trends for the time period 1995-1999 in the Republic of Slovenia will serve as a basis for planning health education and health promotion programmes.

The survey is planned to be repeated every four years.

A3. Responsible person and institution

The person responsible for the ESPAD 1999 research is Eva Stergar, M.A., psychologist, Head of the Health Education Unit at the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia. An interdisciplinary research group has been established for the purpose.

A. Population of students from which sample was drawn

B1. 2 Geographical area(s) where survey was conducted

The survey was conducted in the Republic of Slovenia (national sample), in three selected regions of the Republic of Slovenia (regional samples of Maribor, Kranj and Nova Gorica) and in the city of Ljubljana. The Republic of Slovenia is divided into nine health regions, each having its own regional institute of public health. Three of them and the city of Ljubljana participated in the survey of 1st year secondary school students within the framework of the 1999 ESPAD project. Regional and city samples comprised approximately 1,500 pupils each. A common methodology was invariably used. Data provided by health regions and the city of Ljubljana – with exception of data for classes appearing in both samples - were not included in this report.

B3. Grade/levels surveyed

A representative sample of 1st year secondary school students was surveyed.

B4. Approximate percent of children born in 1983 who were in school in March 1999

A representative sample of 1st year students of secondary schools was surveyed. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Answers of students born in 1983 are presented in this report.

In 1983, 27.200 children were born in Slovenia. According to the Primary School Act, all children who have reached 7 years of age in the current calendar year enter the first grade of primary school on September 1. Provisional enrolment in the first grade is possible for children who will have reached 7 years of age by the end of February in the next calendar year. Primary education is compulsory and lasts 8 years. Most children continue their education in various types of secondary schools. The goal to extend secondary schooling to the whole generation has not yet been achieved in Slovenia. It is estimated that 5 to 10 % of children who have successfully completed elementary school do not go on to secondary education.

1983 GENERATION – ENROLLMENT NUMBER % PRIMARY SCHOOL 1,707 6.3 SECONDARY SCHOOL –1ST YEAR 22,609 83.1 SECONDARY SCHOOL – 2ND YEAR 1,987 7.3 SECONDARY SCHOOL – 3RD YEAR 9 0.0 NOT KNOWN 888 3.3 TOTAL 27,200 100.0

While planning the survey we assumed that in spring 1999 most of the 1983 cohort would be attending the first year of secondary schools. Accurate statistics on the secondary school enrolment at the beginning of school year 1998/1999 were supplied by the Bureau of Census of the Republic of Slovenia.

C. Sample

C1. Number and types of schools in the country

There were 170 secondary schools in Slovenia at the beginning of school year 1998/99. Traditionally, secondary education is offered in four types of schools:

1. grammar schools, 2. 4-year technical schools (technical, medical,...), 3. 3-year vocational schools, and 4. 2.5-year vocational schools.

Some secondary schools (e.g. grammar schools) offer a single form of education and others (e.g. 2.5-year, 3-year vocational and technical schools) provide several types of education.

Since in Slovenia there are no class registers to be used as a basis for the sampling procedure, classes had to be identified through personal contacts with school staff or by mail. Health Education Department at the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, started to collect data on 1st year classes (number of students, number of boys) of all secondary schools at the end of October 1998. Letters, presenting the ESPAD ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

project and the purpose of collecting data, such as the class label, number of students, number of boys, type of programme, were sent to all secondary schools. Sheets with the name and address of the school were attached to the letter together with the envelope with the Institute’s address and a stamp for reply. Most schools sent us their reply by the end of November, i.e. one month later. Others were contacted by phone. At the beginning of December, data on all 1st year classes were available, and 4 lists of 1st year classes by the type of secondary school were drawn up.

Statistics on the school year 1998/99 enrolment in the 1st year of secondary schools (in November) were supplied by the Institute of Public Health:

SCHOOL TYPE No of No of % Male % av. no of classes pupils pup./class GRAMMAR 294 9,000 31.1 3.856 42.8 31 SCHOOL TECHNICAL 307 9,091 30.4 4,385 48.2 30 VOCATIONAL 377 10,447 3.9 6,326 60.6 28 (3-YEAR) VOCATIONAL 89 1,362 4.6 973 71.4 15 (2.5-YEAR)  1,067 29,900 101.0 15,540 52.0 28

There should be approximately 3,600 pupils, i.e. 12% of the children enrolled, in a stratified random sample. Considering the average class size and the percentage of students in individual types of secondary schools, the following number of classes should be randomly selected for each school type in the national sample :

SCHOOL TYPE No of No of classes pupils GRAMMAR SCHOOL 35 1,080 TECHNICAL 36 1,091 VOCATIONAL (3-YEAR) 45 1,254 VOCATIONAL (2.5-YEAR) 11 163  127 3,588

C2. Number and types of schools chosen

128 classes from 104 secondary schools were chosen.

C3. Number and types of students chosen

Approximately 12% of the enrolled pupils (3,626) were included in our sample. Considering the average class size and percentage of students in each type of secondary education, the following number of classes was randomly selected for our sample:

SCHOOL TYPE No of No of Males % of ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

classes pupils males GRAMMAR 35 1,067 508 47.6 SCHOOL TECHNICAL 36 1,069 527 49.3 VOCATIONAL 46 1.313 877 66.8 (3-YEAR) VOCATIONAL 11 177 111 62.7 (2.5-YEAR)  128 3,626 2023 55.8

C4. Method of sampling. Step-by-step description of the sampling procedure

1. In autumn 1998, lists of all 1st year classes of Slovenian secondary schools were prepared separately for 4 types of secondary education, i.e. grammar schools, technical schools, 3-year vocational and 2.5-year vocational schools. The classes were denoted by: a) consecutive number b) class label c) name of school d) programme e) number of pupils f) number of boys.

2. After determining the sample size, classes were randomly chosen from each of the 4 lists of classes. The step was determined for each list separately. The first class on each list was chosen at random: each person in a group of four picked one number, and the sum of these numbers was taken as the consecutive number of the 1st class chosen.

3. The list of the selected classes in the national sample was drawn up.

C5. Estimation of the representativeness of the sample

The sample should be representative for all 1st year students in the country, for all types of secondary schools and for both genders. D. Field procedures

D1. Step-by-step description of the data collection procedure from the questionnaires being printed to entering data into the computer

January 1999 The questionnaire was translated from English to Slovene and back to English.

February and March 1999 Pilot testing of the questionnaire was carried out in a class of 27 pupils following a 2.5- year vocational training. This type of programme is generally opted for by children with a ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA lower learning potential. We were mainly interested in the level of their understanding of questions, their responses to individual issues, the time needed to complete the questionnaire, etc. The pilot survey posed no special problems, except that at the beginning the pupils showed no interest in answering questions on drugs (“Not again; it is not very interesting etc.”), yet after some encouragement and motivation given by the data collecting staff they started reading the questions and stopped complaining; finally they found the questionnaire quite interesting. After final editing the questionnaire was sent to the printing office.

We contacted the Ministry of Education and Sports acquainting them with the project and its aims. We described the questionnaire and the data collection procedure, and presented the measures taken to keep the obtained information strictly confidential (the questionnaire contained no identity-revealing data; they were to be handed out in sealed envelopes), the handling of the collected data and data processing. The Ministry was asked for a formal approval and support of the project, as well as for their opinion about the study which was to be forwarded to all head teachers of the selected schools. On February 24 we received a letter by the Ministry offering full support to the project, stressing that the survey was well prepared and that the presented technique of data collection fully adhered to the principles of personal data protection. They invited all head teachers, pupils and other staff of the selected schools to take part in the study.

The schools were contacted for the first time when we asked them to provide us data on 1st year classes in autumn 1998. On February 26, 1999 we sent a letter to all headmasters of the schools included in the sample, explaining them the rationale of the survey, emphasizing the European dimension of the research project and informing them about the classes selected and the time of data collection. We enclosed the letter of approval sent by the Ministry of Education and Sports. In all Slovenian secondary schools, counselling services are provided by a special team consisting of a psychologist, education specialist and/or social worker. The number of team members is proportionate to the size of the school. Knowing that the school counselling staff are skilled in various forms of testing and data collecting, we invited them to participate in the survey as data collectors.

During the last week of February and the first week of March, we contacted the counsellors from the selected secondary schools in order to: - inform them briefly and concisely about the aims of the survey; - find out how they felt about the survey and about collecting the data in classrooms; - make sure that the main data on the selected class/es, e.g. number of students, school type, class label were correct; - remind the participants that data collection will take place during the period from March 29 to April 2 (before Easter holidays); - ensure effective co-operation of the data collecting staff; - inform them about the terms of payment .

After our first contact, the majority of school counsellors told us they were willing to participate in the project. Some head teachers even sent a written confirmation of their ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA participation in ESPAD 99 to the Institute of Public Health.

Instructions for the data collection procedure and classroom report sheets were prepared at the beginning of March. They were based on the materials supplied by CAN, except for some minor details which were adapted for use in Slovenia.

In mid - March we set to the distribution of questionnaires. For each class a box with questionnaires, envelopes and class-room report sheet was prepared. The box was clearly labeled (classroom label, data collector’s name, school address) and the mailing address of Institute of Public Health was enclosed. Each data collector received a letter giving all particulars about ESPAD 99, a thorough information on the data collection procedure and behaviour of data collectors during testing, and the payment contract to be returned to the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia together with the completed questionnaires.

Also, all materials were sent to all regional institutes of public health in the regions conducting regional surveys.

Data gathering took place from March 29 to April 2, i.e. 30 days after the end of winter holidays and before Easter Monday. In the Nova Gorica region where winter holidays started a week earlier, data collection began on March 22. During that time period 126 classes were surveyed. In 2 classes, however, data collection was cancelled at the last minute by the head teacher. It was carried out immediately after Easter Monday.

April 1999 The completed questionnaires were mailed to the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, or in some cases, brought there by school counsellors personally.

May 1999 Instructions for coding and scrutinizing the questionnaires in Slovene language were drawn up (translation of the materials supplied by CAN). A coding book was prepared.

June 1999 Three students (final year of psychology, second year of arts, first year of sociology) were engaged for coding and scrutinizing the answers in each classroom. The data scrutinizing procedure involved: - checking whether the number of filled in questionnaires tallied with the data entered in the classroom reports; - reading through the given answers and rejecting questionnaires with missing key data (sex, year of birth), and those with answers which were obviously not meant seriously.

The coding procedure involved putting down individual code (region, state, school, class, person, type of school). ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

All questionnaires which were considered unsatisfactory or doubtful in some way were set apart for control review by the project leader.

At the same time the preparations for the programme for entering data into the database (dBaseIV+) were underway. Special instructions based on the CAN materials were written for feeding the information into the computer (e.g how to mark a missing or incorrect answer). Three persons responsible for data input set to work during the last week of June. Data input was arranged both for the national data and the city of Ljubljana data.

July 1999 The programme for entering classroom reports data into the database was prepared, and the data were fed into the computer. Data entering (questionnaires and class room reports) was completed on July 15.

August 1999 The 1st part of the Country Report (Data collection) was prepared and the classroom reports data were analysed. The PC SPSS 8.0 programme was used for data processing. On the first control analysis we identified the input errors and made due corrections after comparing them with the original questionnaire.

Data on the enrolment in secondary schools were to be supplied by the Bureau of Census of the Republic of Slovenia.

D2. Number and type of people collecting the data

A total of 91 data collectors participated in the survey. There were two “types” of data collecting staff. a) Data for the national sample and for samples of the two selected regions were collected by school counsellors - educationalists, psychologists, social workers and teachers- who were paid remuneration for their extra work. b) Data for two regions were gathered by research assistants from regional institutes of public health, mostly doctors and health education co-ordinators. Apart from data collectors and students no other persons were present in the classroom during data collecting.

D3. Instructions given to the students

The counsellors gave approximately the same instructions to all students before they began to answer questions. Instructions for students and instructions for data collectors on how to behave during testing had been formulated at the national Institute of Public Health and sent enclosed with other materials.

D4. Time period when data were collected ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Data collecting took place from March 29 to April 2, as this specific time period - beginning 30 days after the end of winter holidays and ending before Easter Monday - was considered most suitable for the purpose. In the region of Nova Gorica where winter holidays had started a week earlier, data collection was begun on March 22. During this time period the survey was conducted in 126 classes. Two classes were not surveyed: the head teacher cancelled data collection at the last minute and the survey was postponed until the week after Easter Monday.

D5. Possible comments from the data collecting staff about the data collection procedure in the class- rooms

Of the 128 classroom reports reviewed, 84 comprised no comments on the data collection procedure.

Other comments reported by the data collecting staff (some reported several different comments) were as follows: 14 reports: The students took the task seriously and made no comments. 11 reports: At the beginning of the activity there was some noise and laughing in the classroom, but when the students were asked to be quiet, they soon quieted down and set to their work quite seriously. 8 reports (in 7 cases they referred to students attending 2.5-year vocational schools): The students had difficulty understanding the questions, mostly because of their poor reading skills, inadequate understanding of some terms, and limited capacities. Nevertheless, they took their task seriously and showed great diligence in completing the questionnaire. 7 reports: The questionnaire was too extensive and the students demonstrated notable fluctuations in their concentration. 5 reports: The students did not understand some terms, such as alcopops, anabolic steroids, to inhale etc. and asked for additional explanation of their meaning. 4 reports: They expressed a wish to be informed about the results of the survey. 4 reports: The students felt important because they had been invited to participate in the survey and were eager to answer the questions. 4 reports: The desks should have been be set well apart to prevent students from peeping at each other's answers, yet there was no enough room. 4 reports: The data collecting staff received a positive and encouraging message. 3 reports: Data collectors had a very good opinion of the questionnaire: they found it interesting and were glad that it addressed the issue of adolescent drug abuse. 3 reports: Some students found it difficult to stay still once they had finished writing, and they were making noise while the others were still completing the questionnaires. 2 reports: Boys completed the questionnaire earlier than girls (even 10 minutes earlier). 2 reports: There were too many questions on illicit drugs.

E. Data collection instrument a) All questions 1 - 46 from the revised final version of student questionnaire (December 1998) ,with the exception of question 12 (cider is not drunk in Slovenia), were included. b) The “Psycho-social measures” and “Deviance” modules were included. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

All together there were 318 variables.

E2. Brief description of possible other (Non-ESPAD) questions included in the questionnaire

At the end of the questionnaire, 8 questions about the level of nicotine dependency based on the Fagerstrom tolerance test were included.

E3. Describe the translation process and its results

The questionnaire was translated by the project leader, who also referred to the 1995 questionnaire. When necessary (e.g. original questions 11,13,14,15,21,27,28,29,34,35,36) more popular terms for beverages and drugs were added ( in brackets). For question 5 about performance at school the grading scale used in Slovene schools (grade 1 -fail to grade 5 - excellent) was used. The translation and adaptation of the questionnaire posed no major problems.

Describe the possible pre-testing of the questionnaire and its results

Pilot testing of the questionnaire was done in one class (27 pupils) of lower vocational education. Courses lasting two and a half years are generally opted for by pupils with a lower learning potential. We were mainly interested in the level of their understanding questions, their responses to individual issues, the time needed to complete the questionnaire, etc. This pilot survey posed no specific problems, except that at the beginning the pupils did not seem very keen to answer the questions about drugs (“Not again; it is not very interesting etc.”), but after data collectors had stimulated their interest in the questionnaire and as they began to read the questions they stopped complaining and finally found the questionnaire quite interesting. The completed questionnaires were scrutinized and some minor corrections were made.

F. Data processing

F1. Quality check of the data entry During the data input process the project leader randomly selected 180 questionnaires in order to assess the quality of the procedure. The next steps included checking of all variable frequencies, comparison with the classroom reports (no. of completed questionnaires) and correction of errors.

The SPSS data processing programme was used. The database (data entering) was prepared using the dBaseIV+ programme.

II. Methodological results

A. School co-operation A1. Schools and classes willingness to participate in the study ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

All the selected schools and classes were willing to participate in the project.

B. Student co-operation B1. Refusals (proportion of students refusing)

Twelve (0.4%) students in the whole sample refused to fill in the questionnaire: 2 of them attending secondary technical school and 10 attending 3-year vocational school ( 8 of them from the same class).

B2. Unusable data (Number and proportion of questionnaires excluded because of obviously bad data, guidelines used in the scrutinising process)

After close scrutinization of the answers we excluded a total of 48 questionnaires (i.e. 1.5% of all the questionnaires completed) filled in by 7 students from grammar schools, 12 students from secondary technical schools, 23 students from 3-year vocational schools and 6 students from lower vocational schools. The CAN guidelines were invariably used in the scrutinizing and excluding process. The excluded questionnaires had been completed by 32 boys and 11 girls; 5 questionnaires were rejected because of the missing data on sex; in 4 of these there was no information on the year of birth either. Other reasons for exclusion were mostly the following: - missing or obviously wrong data on the year of birth ( born in 1993, no data ,etc.) in more than half (30) the questionnaires rejected; - no answers to more than 50% of questions (5 cases); - ticking off the answers systematically, irrespective of their meaning, inconsistent answering (5 cases); - unusable answers, jokes ( 3 cases).

B3. Response rates (Table 1) ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

B4. Overall assessment of student co-operation

As indicated by the classroom reports and scrutinizing process 12 students refused to take part in the project. In the scrutinizing phase, 48 questionnaires were excluded from the study; 32 of these had been completed by boys and 11 by girls, and 5 contained no data on sex. More than one-half were excluded because of the missing or obviously wrong (year 1999, 1993) date of birth. The response rate ranged from 85.7% (lower vocational education) to 94.1% (grammar schools). Approx. 10% of students failed to attend, mostly because they were ill on the day of data collection. In general, however, students included in the sample were willing to take part in the project.

C. Student comprehension

C1. Incomplete questionnaires (Number and proportion of finished and unfinished questionnaires) / C2. Average time to complete questionnaire

Students in the surveyed classes took on average 42.5 minutes to complete the questionnaire (range 20 - 90 minutes).

C3. Data collection leaders comments about possible disturbances during completion (See Classroom reports) (table 3-4)

Disturbances during completion of questionnaires were reported for 66 classes (for one class no data were available). These disturbances included giggling (in 11 classes only at the beginning of the survey and in one after the completion of the questionnaire), exchanging glances etc in 51 cases, making remarks in 15, and other disturbances in 18 cases.

The documented remarks and comments were the following: - "Stupid questions! Rubbish!"(8) - "What a long questionnaire!"(6) - Whispering (5) - "What is meant by this?" (4) - "If my mum saw this..." (2) - "What is "a magic mushroom"? (2)

These disturbances - mostly transient and limited to the beginning of the survey - did not interfere with the completion of the questionnaire.

C4. Data collection leaders comments about the interest and serious of the students (See Classroom reports) (Tables 5-6) ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

As indicated by the classroom reports the surveyed students were very cooperative: in more than three-fourths of classes, the task was taken seriously by all, or nearly all pupils. In 64% of classes, all, or nearly all students found the questionnaire interesting, in 26% of classes it was interesting for the majority of students. In slightly less than one-tenth of classes, the questionnaire was interesting for 50% or less than 50% of pupils. Some classroom reports stressed that students set to their task responsibly and diligently , being flattered to have been invited to participate in the survey. The high level of students' cooperativeness was confirmed by a relatively small number of questionnaires excluded. Disturbances during completion occurred mostly at the beginning of the survey, and after the fastest students had completed the questionnaire.

C5. Comments on any specific problems (See Classroom reports) / C6. Overall assessment of student comprehension

The average time needed to complete the questionnaire varied with the type of the school. It was as follows: 38.4 minutes for grammar school students; 40.8 minutes for students attending 4-year secondary technical schools, 44.5 minutes for students attending 3-year vocational schools and 54.4 minutes for students following lower vocational education. The questionnaire seemed to be too extensive for students of 7 classes with poor school record (lower vocational school), yet they completed the questionnaire conscientiously and responsibly. Five classroom reports stated that students were not familiar with certain terms used in the questionnaire, such as alcopops, anabolic steroids, to inhale etc. and asked for additional explanation of their meaning. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Table 1. Sample size and response rates*

Sampling frame and sample size

Type of school Total number of Total number of Total number of Total number of such schools in such schools in classes from students from the country* the sample* such schools in such schools in the sample the sample Boys Girls GRAMMAR 73 35 35 508 559 SCHOOL TECHNICAL 100 35 36 537 542 VOCATIONAL 97 44 46 877 436 (3-YEAR) VOCATIONAL 49 11 11 111 66 (2.5 YEAR) Total NOT NOT 128 2033 1603 RELEVANT RELEVANT

* number of schools offering type of schooling

Participating classes and students. Response rate. Type of school Number of Number of participating Response rate*** participating students** % classes Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total GRAMMAR 35 476 513 989 94,8 93,4 94,1 SCHOOL TECHNICAL 36 502 460 962 91,9 93,3 92,6 VOCATIONAL (3- 46 722 367 1089 87,8 88,6 88,1 YEAR) VOCATIONAL 11 91 53 144 85,8 85,5 85,7 (2.5 YEAR) Total 128 1791 1393 3184 90,6 91,8 91,1

Table 2. Relation between ESPAD questions, national questions, variable labels and ESPAD variable numbers

Question number QUESTION in the ESPAD NUMBER IN Variable label (same as in SPSS Variable number questionnaire THE syntax file) in SPSS NATIONAL QUESTIONNA IRE ([VARIABLE] ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

IN THE SPSS SYNTAX FILE 1) Core items Q1 Q1 Gender ESP01 Q2 Q2 Year of birth ESP02 Q3a Q3A Ride moped/mc for fun ESP03a Q3b Q3B Play computer games ESP03b Q3c Q3C Do sports, athletics or exercise ESP03c Q3d Q3D Read books for enjoyment ESP03d Q3e Q3E Go out in the evening ESP03e Q3f Q3F Other hobbies ESP03f Q3g Q3G Play on slotmachines ESP03g Q4a Q4A Illness ESP04a Q4b Q4B Skipped or cut ESP04b Q4c Q4C Other reasons ESP04c Q5 Q5 Average grade ESP05 Q6 Q6 Cigarettes lifetime ESP06 Q7 Q7 Cigarettes 30 days ESP07 Q8a Q8A Alcohol lifetime ESP08a Q8b Q8B Alcohol 12 months ESP08b Q8c Q8C Alcohol 30 days ESP08c Q9 Q9 Drinking by 25 ESP09 Q10a Q10A Beer ESP10a Q10b Q10B Wine ESP10b Q10c Q10C Spirits ESP10c Q11 Q11 Beer last time ESP11 Q12 / Cider last time ESP12 Q13 Q12 Alcopop last time ESP13 Q14 Q13 Wine last time ESP14 Q15 Q14 Spirits last time ESP15 Q16a Q15A Never drink ESP16a Q16b Q15B Home ESP16b Q16c Q15C Someone else’s home ESP16c Q16d Q15D Street, park beach etc ESP16d Q16e Q15E Bar/pub ESP16e Q16f Q15F Disco ESP16f Q16g Q15G Restaurant ESP16g Q16h Q15H Other place ESP16h Q17 Q16 5+ drinks 30 days ESP17 Q18a Q17A Feel relaxed ESP18a Q18b Q17B Into trouble with police ESP18b Q18c Q17C Harm my health ESP18c Q18d Q17D Feel happy ESP18d Q18e Q17E Forget my problems ESP18e ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Q18f Q17F Can’t stop drinking ESP18f Q18g Q17G Get a hangover ESP18g Q18h Q17H Feel more friendly/outgoing ESP18h Q18i Q17I Do something to regret ESP18i Q18j Q17J Have lot of fun ESP18j Q18k Q17K Feel sick ESP18k Q19a Q18A Drunk lifetime ESP19a Q19b Q18B Drunk 12 months ESP19b Q19c Q18C Drunk 30 days ESP19c Q20 Q19 How drunk last time ESP20 Q21 Q20 Drinks to get drunk ESP21 Q22a Q21A Tranquilizers/sedatives ESP22a Q22b Q21B Marijuana/hashish ESP22b Q22c Q21C LSD ESP22c Q22d Q21D Amphetamines ESP22d Q22e Q21E Crack ESP22e Q22f Q21F Cocaine ESP22f Q22g Q21G Dummy drug ESP22g Q22h Q21H Heroin ESP22h Q22i Q21I Ecstasy ESP22i Q22j Q21J Methadone ESP22j Q22k Q21K Magic mushrooms ESP22k Q23 Q22 Wanted to try ESP23 Q24a Q23A Marijuana/hashish lifetime ESP24a Q24b Q23B Marijuana/hashish 12 months ESP24b Q24c Q23C Marijuana/hashish 30 days ESP24c Q25a Q24A Sniffed lifetime ESP25a Q25b Q24B Sniffed 12 months ESP25b Q25c Q24C Sniffed 30 days ESP25c Q26 Q25 Tranquilizers/sedatives ESP26 prescribed Q27a Q26A Tranquilizers/sedatives ESP27a Q27b Q26B Amphetamines ESP27b Q27c Q26C LSD/other ESP27c Q27d Q26D Crack ESP27d Q27e Q26E Cocaine ESP27e Q27f Q26F Dummy drug ESP27f Q27g Q26G Heroin (smoking) ESP27g Q27h Q26H Heroin (other than smoking) ESP27h Q27i Q26I Ecstasy ESP27i Q27j Q26J Magic mushrooms ESP27j Q27k Q26K Drugs by injecting ESP27k Q27l Q26L Alcohol with pills ESP27l Q27m Q26M Alcohol with marijuana/hashish ESP27m Q27n Q26N Anabolic steroids ESP27n ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Q28a Q27A Drink beer ESP28a Q28b Q27B Drink wine ESP28b Q28c Q27C Drink spirits ESP28c Q28d Q27D Get drunk ESP28d Q28e Q27E Smoke 1st cig ESP28e Q28f Q27F Smoke daily ESP28f Q28g Q27G Try amphetamines ESP28g Q28h Q27H Try tranquilizers/sedatives ESP28h Q28i Q27I Try marijuana/hashish ESP28i Q28j Q27J Try LSD/other hallucinogens ESP28j Q28k Q27K Try crack ESP28k Q28l Q27L Try cocaine ESP28l Q28m Q27M Try dummy drug ESP28m Q28n Q27N Try ecstasy ESP28n Q28o Q27O Try heroin ESP28o Q28p Q27P Try magic mushrooms ESP28p Q28q Q27Q Try inhalants ESP28q Q28r Q27R Try alcohol with pills ESP28r Q28s Q27S Try anabolic steroids ESP28s Q29 Q28 First drug ESP29 Q30 Q29 Got the substance ESP30 Q31a Q30A Never used any of these ESP31a Q31b Q30B Wanted to feel high ESP31b Q31c Q30C Didn’t want to stay out from ESP31c group Q31d Q30D Had nothing to do ESP31d Q31e Q30E Was curious ESP31e Q31f Q30F Wanted to forget my problems ESP31f Q31g Q30G Other reasons ESP31g Q31h Q30H Don’t remember ESP31h Q32a Q31A Don’t know ESP32a Q32b Q31B Street, park etc. ESP32b Q32c Q31C School ESP32c Q32d Q31D Disco, bar etc ESP32d Q32e Q31E House of a dealer ESP32e Q32f Q31F Other(s) ESP32f Q33a Q32A Smoking cigarettes occasionally ESP33a Q33b Q32B Smoking 10 cig or more daily ESP33b Q33c Q32C Drinking 1-2 drinks few ESP33c times/year Q33d Q32D Drinking 1-2 drinks several ESP33d times/week Q33e Q32E Getting drunk once a week ESP33e Q33f Q32F Trying marijuana/hashish ESP33f once/twice ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Q33g Q32G Smoking marijuana/hashish ESP33g occasionally Q33h Q32H Smoking marijuana/hashish ESP33h regularly Q33i Q32I Trying LSD/other hallucinogenic ESP33i once/twice Q33j Q32J Trying heroin once/twice ESP33j

Q33k Q32K Trying tranquilizers/sedatives ESP33k once/twice Q33l Q32L Trying an amphetamine ESP33l once/twice Q33m Q32M Trying crack once/twice ESP33m Q33n Q32N Trying cocaine once/twice ESP33n Q33o Q32O Trying ecstasy once/twice ESP33o Q33p Q32P Trying inhalants once/twice ESP33p Q34a Q33A Smoke cigarettes occasionally ESP34a Q34b Q33B Smoke 1 pack cig or more daily ESP34b Q34c Q33C Have 1-2 drinks nearly every day ESP34c Q34d Q33D Have 4-5 drinks or more each ESP34d weekend Q34e Q33E Have 5 drinks or more each ESP34e weekend Q34f Q33F Try marijuana/hashish once/twice ESP34f Q34g Q33G Smoke marijuana/hashish ESP34g occasionally Q34h Q33H Smoke marijuana/hashish ESP34h regularly Q34i Q33I Try LSD once/twice ESP34i Q34j Q33J Take LSD regularly ESP34j Q34k Q33K Try an amphetamine once/twice ESP34k Q34l Q33L Try cocaine/crack once/twice ESP34l Q34m Q33M Try cocaine/crack once/twice ESP34m Q34n Q33N Take cocaine/crack regularly ESP34n Q34o Q33O Try ecstasy once/twice ESP34o Q34p Q33P Take ecstasy regularly ESP34p Q34q Q33Q Try inhalants once/twice ESP34q Q34r Q33R Take inhalants regularly ESP34r Q35a Q34A Cigarettes ESP35a Q35b Q34B Beer ESP35b Q35c Q34C Wine ESP35c Q35d Q34D Spirits ESP35d Q35e Q34E Marijuana/hashish ESP35e Q35f Q34F LSD/other hallucinogens ESP35f Q35g Q34G Amphetamines ESP35g ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Q35h Q34H Tranquilizers/sedatives ESP35h Q35i Q34I Crack ESP35i Q35j Q34J Cocaine ESP35j Q35k Q34K Ecstasy ESP35k Q35l Q34L Heroin ESP35l Q35m Q34M Magic mushrooms ESP35m Q35n Q34N Inhalants ESP35n Q35o Q34O Anabolic steroids ESP35o Q36a Q35A Smoke cigarettes ESP36a Q36b Q35B Drink alcoholic beverages ESP36b Q36c Q35C Get drunk at least once a week ESP36c Q36d Q35D Smoke marijuana/hashish ESP36d Q36e Q35E Take LSD/other hallucinogens ESP36e Q36f Q35F Take amphetamines ESP36f Q36g Q35G Take tranquilizers/sedatives ESP36g Q36h Q35H Take cocaine/crack ESP36h Q36i Q35I Take ecstasy ESP36i Q36j Q35J Take heroin ESP36j Q36k Q35K Take inhalants ESP36k Q36l Q35L Take magic mushrooms ESP36l Q36m Q35M Take alcohol with pills ESP36m Q36n Q35N Take anabolic steroids ESP36n Q37a1 Q36A1 Never: Quarrel/argument ESP37a1 Q37b1 Q36B1 Never: Scuffle/fight ESP37b1 Q37c1 Q36C1 Never: Accident/injury ESP37c1 Q37d1 Q36D1 Never: Loss of money/other ESP37d1 valuables Q37e1 Q36E1 Never: Damage to ESP37e1 objects/clothing Q37f1 Q36F1 Never: Problems rel. to parents ESP37f1 Q37g1 Q36G1 Never: Problems rel. to friends ESP37g1 Q37h1 Q36H1 Never: Problems rel. to teachers ESP37h1 Q37i1 Q36I1 Never: Performed poorly at ESP37i1 school/work Q37j1 Q36J1 Never: Victimized by ESP37j1 robbery/theft Q37k1 Q36K1 Never: Trouble with police ESP37k1 Q37l1 Q36L1 Never: Hospitalised/adm. to ESP37l1 emergency Q37m1 Q36M1 Never: Engaged in sex regretted ESP37m1 next day Q37n1 Q36N1 Never: Engaged in unprotected ESP37n1 sex Q37a2 Q36A2 Alcohol: Quarrel/argument ESP37a2 Q37b2 Q36B2 Alcohol: Scuffle/fight ESP37b2 ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Q37c2 Q36C2 Alcohol: Accident/injury ESP37c2 Q37d2 Q36D2 Alcohol: Loss of money/other ESP37d2 valuables Q37e2 Q36E2 Alcohol: Damage to ESP37e2 objects/clothing Q37f2 Q36F2 Alcohol: Problems rel. to parents ESP37f2 Q37g2 Q36G2 Alcohol: Problems rel. to friends ESP37g2 Q37h2 Q36H2 Alcohol: Problems rel. to ESP37h2 teachers Q37i2 Q36I2 Alcohol: Performed poorly at ESP37i2 school/work Q37j2 Q36J2 Alcohol: Victimized by ESP37j2 robbery/theft Q37k2 Q36K2 Alcohol: Trouble with police ESP37k2 Q37l2 Q36L2 Alcohol: Hospitalised/adm. to ESP37l2 emergency Q37m2 Q36M2 Alcohol: Engaged in sex ESP37m2 regretted next day Q37n2 Q36N2 Alcohol: Engaged in unprotected ESP37n2 sex Q37a3 Q36A3 Drugs: Quarrel/argument ESP37a3 Q37b3 Q36B3 Drugs: Scuffle/fight ESP37b3 Q37c3 Q36C3 Drugs: Accident/injury ESP37c3 Q37d3 Q36D3 Drugs: Loss of money/other ESP37d3 valuables Q37e3 Q36E3 Drugs: Damage to ESP37e3 objects/clothing Q37f3 Q36F3 Drugs: Problems rel. to parents ESP37f3 Q37g3 Q36G3 Drugs: Problems rel. to friends ESP37g3 Q37h3 Q36H3 Drugs: Problems rel. to teachers ESP37h3 Q37i3 Q36I3 Drugs: Performed poorly at ESP37i3 school/work Q37j3 Q36J3 Drugs: Victimized by ESP37j3 robbery/theft Q37k3 Q36K3 Drugs: Trouble with police ESP37k3 Q37l3 Q36L3 Drugs: Hospitalised/adm. to ESP37l3 emergency Q37m3 Q36M3 Drugs: Engaged in sex regretted ESP37m3 next day Q37n3 Q36N3 Drugs: Engaged in unprotected ESP37n3 sex Q37a4 Q36A4 Other: Quarrel/argument ESP37a4 Q37b4 Q36B4 Other: Scuffle/fight ESP37b4 Q37c4 Q36C4 Other: Accident/injury ESP37c4 Q37d4 Q36D4 Other: Loss of money/other ESP37d4 ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

valuables Q37e4 Q36E4 Other: Damage to ESP37e4 objects/clothing Q37f4 Q36F4 Other: Problems rel. to parents ESP37f4 Q37g4 Q36G4 Other: Problems rel. to friends ESP37g4 Q37h4 Q36H4 Other: Problems rel. to teachers ESP37h4 Q37i4 Q36I4 Other: Performed poorly at ESP37i4 school/work Q37j4 Q36J4 Other: Victimized by ESP37j4 robbery/theft Q37k4 Q36K4 Other: Trouble with police ESP37k4 Q37l4 Q36L4 Other: Hospitalised/adm. to ESP37l4 emergency Q37m4 Q36M4 Other: Engaged in sex regretted ESP37m4 next day Q37n4 Q36N4 Other: Engaged in unprotected ESP37n sex Q38a Q37A Smoke cigarettes ESP38a Q38b Q37B Drink alcoholic beverages ESP38b Q38c Q37C Get drunk ESP38c Q38d Q37D Smoke marijuana/hashish ESP38d Q38e Q37E Take tranquilizers/sedatives ESP38e Q38f Q37F Take ecstasy ESP38f Q39 Q38 Fathers education ESP39 Q40 Q39 Mothers education ESP40 Q41 Q40 Own family compared to others ESP41 Q42a Q41A Live alone ESP42a Q42b Q41B Father ESP42b Q42c Q41C Stepfather ESP42c Q42d Q41D Mother ESP42d Q42e Q41E Stepmother ESP42e Q42f Q41F Brother(s)/sister(s) ESP42f Q42g Q41G Grandparents ESP42g Q42h Q41H Other relative(s) ESP42h Q42i Q41I Non-relative(s) ESP42i Q43a Q42A Relationship to mother ESP43a Q43b Q42B Relationship to father ESP43b Q43c Q42C Relationship to friends ESP43c Q44 Q43 Parents’ knowledge Saturday ESP44 evening Q45 Q44 Admit marijuana/hashish use ESP45 Q46 Q45 Admit heroin use ESP46 Module A A1a Father ESPa1a A1b Mother ESPa1b ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

A2a Father ESPa2a A2b Mother ESPa2b A3a Get drunk ESPa3a A3b Use marijuana/hashish ESPa3b A3c Use ecstasy ESPa3c A3d Play a slot-machine ESPa3d A4a Financial situation of family ESPa4a A4b Your health ESPa4b A4c Yourself ESPa4c A5a Parents set rules what to do at ESPa5a home A5b Parent set rules what to do ESPa5b outside home A5c Parents know who I spend ESPa5c evenings with A5d Parents know where I am in the ESPa5d evenings

A5e Easily get warmth/caring from ESPa5e parents A5f Easily get mental support from ESPa5f parents A5g Easily borrow money from ESPa5g parents A5h Easily get money as gift from ESPa5h parents A5i Easily get warmth/caring from ESPa5i best friend A5j Easily get mental support from ESPa5j best friend A6a Paid job ESPa6a A6b Parents/other relatives ESPa6b A6c Other sources ESPa6c Module B B1a Paid job ESPb1a B1b Parents/other relatives ESPb1b B1c Other sources ESPb1c B2a Do school home work well ESPb2a B2b Do shopping ESPb2b B2c Take care of younger siblings ESPb2c B2d Take care of pets ESPb2d B2e Cook ESPb2e B2f Clean the house/apartment ESPb2f B2g Do laundry ESPb2g B2h Wash dishes ESPb2h ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

B2i Garden/take care of farm animals ESPb2i B2j Care about elder family members ESPb2j B2k Earn money ESPb2k B2l Do sports ESPb2l B2m Take out the trash ESPb2m B2n None of these obligations ESPb2n B3 TV/video average weekday ESPb3 B4 Compared school-performance ESPb4 Module C C1a Q46A On the whole, satisfied with ESPc1a myself C1b Q46B At times, think I’m no good at all ESPc1b C1c Q46C Feel I have a number of good ESPc1c qualities C1d Q46D Able to do things as well as most ESPc1d other people C1e Q46E Feel I don’t have much to be ESPc1e proud of C1f Q46F Certainly feel useless at times ESPc1f C1g Q46G I feel that I’m a person of worth ESPc1g C1h Q46H I wish I could have more respect ESPc1h for myself C1i Q46I I’m inclined to feel I am a failure ESPc1i C1j Q46J I take a positive attitude toward ESPc1j myself C2a Q47A Lost appetite/didn’t want to eat ESPc2a C2b Q47B Difficulty in concentrating ESPc2b C2c Q47C Felt depressed ESPc2c C2d Q47D Put great effort/pressure to get ESPc2d things done C2e Q47E Felt sad ESPc2e C2f Q47F Could not do your work ESPc2f C3a Q48A Can break most rules ESPc3a C3b Q48B Follow whatever rules I want ESPc3b C3c Q48C Are a few rules absolute in life ESPc3c C3d Q48D Difficult to trust anything, ESPc3d everything changes C3e Q48E Nobody knows what is expected ESPc3e C3f Q48F Can never be certain of anything ESPc3f in life C4a Q49A Hit a teacher ESPc4a C4b Q49B Got mixed in a fight at ESPc4b school/work C4c Q49C Taken part in a fight ESPc4c C4d Q49D Hurt someone badly enough to ESPc4d ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

need care C4e Q49E Used weapon to get something ESPc4e from a person C4f Q49F Taken something, worth over $10 ESPc4f C4g Q49G Taken something from shop ESPc4g C4h Q49H Set fire to somebody else’s ESPc4h property C4i Q49I Damaged school property ESPc4i C4j Q49J Got into trouble with police ESPc4j Module D D1a Q50A Participated in bullying an ESPd1a individual D1b Q50B Participated in physically hurting ESPd1b an individual D1c Q50C Participated in starting a fight ESPd1c with another group D1d Q50D Started a fight with another ESPd1d individual D1e Q50E Stolen something worth £10 or ESPd1e more D1f Q50F Broken into a place to steal ESPd1f D1g Q50G Damaged public/private goods on ESPd1g purpose D1h Q50H Sold stolen goods ESPd1h D2a Q51A Been bullied by a group ESPd2a D2b Q51B Been physically hurt by a group ESPd2b D2c Q51C Been in a group attacked by ESPd2c another group D2d Q51D Had someone start a fight with ESPd2d you D2e Q51E Had something stolen worth £10 ESPd2e or more D2f Q51F Had someone break into your ESPd2f home to steal D2g Q51G Had someone damage your ESPd2g belongings on purpose D2h Q51H Bought stolen goods ESPd2h Optional E E1a Home made beer ESPe1a E1b Home made wine ESPe1b E1c Home made spirits ESPe1c E1d Smuggled beer ESPe1d E1e Smuggled wine ESPe1e E1f Smuggled spirits ESPe1f E2a Bad for one’s health ESPe2a ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

E2b Costs too much ESPe2b E2c Religious reasons ESPe2c E2d Not to lose control in unpleasant ESPe2d way E2e Hard to stop once a habit ESPe2e E2f Parents disapproval ESPe2f E2g Makes you put on weight ESPe2g E2h May have destroyed someone ESPe2h close E2i Tastes horrible ESPe2i E2j May cause negative effects ESPe2j E2k Is too likely to lead to ESPe2k crime/violence E2l Might be against one’s principles ESPe2l E2m Is too likely to lead to serious ESPe2m accidents E2n Is too likely to have bad effects ESPe2n on family life E3a Run away from home>1 day ESPe3a E3b Thought of harming yourself ESPe3b E3c Attempted suicide ESPe3c

Table 3. Did you notice any disturbances during completion of the forms?

Absolute numbers No* 61 Yes, from a few students* Yes, from less than half of students Yes, from about half of the students Yes, from more than half of the students

* The answer was “yes or no”

Table 4. What kind of disturbances?

Absolute numbers Giggles or eye making to the class 51 mates Loud comments 15 Other kinds of comments 18

Table 5. Did you find the students interested in the survey?

Absolute numbers ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Yes, all of them 44 Nearly all of them 38 A majority of them 34 About half of them 9 Less than half of them 3 Nearly no one of them 0 No one 0

Table 6. Did you find that the students worked seriously?

Absolute numbers Yes, all of them 56 Nearly all of them 42 A majority of them 25 About half of them 1 Less than half of them 0 Nearly no one of them 0 No one 0 Missing answer 4

Table 7. Average time for the class to complete the questionnaires

Average time ……………42,56*………………….. minutes

* Data for 5 classes are missing

Appendix 1 List of institutions and individuals whose support for the 1999 ESPAD survey we wish to acknowledge

1. Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, prim. Metka Macarol Hiti, dr. med., Director 2. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia, prim. Dunja Piškur Kosmač, dr. med., state depute 3. The Institute of Health Insurance of Slovenia 4. Urad za preprečevanja zasvojenosti, Mestna občina Ljubljana, Mrs Nada Glušič 5. Bureau of Census of the Republic of Slovenia, Mrs Jadranka Tuš

Appendix 2 List of researchers whose involvement in the 1999 ESPAD survey you wish to acknowledge 1. Vesna Pucelj, Professor of Health Education 2. Polona Brcar Štrukelj, MSc, MD 3. Silva Pečar - Čad, B.Sc, pharm. 4. Vili Prodan, SPSS computing advisor ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

5. Miljana Vegnuti, sociologist, SPSS computing advisor 6. Alenka Hafner, MD 7. Olivera Stanojevič, MD, spec. soc. med. 8. Sonja Valič, MD 9. Ingrid Markočič, sociologist 10. Maja Dolanc, MA (translation of the ESPAD questionnaire and text).

Results

A. Evidence of reliability

A2 Reliability within a single administration

In this study, the reliability of the collected data was not determined by retesting the results, but rather by assessing the consistency of responses to different questions about the same issue within a single administration. The responses were assigned to three groups: a) students responding negatively to both questions about substance use; b) students responding affirmatively to both questions about substance use, and c) students who responded affirmatively to one question and negatively to another.

Table 2 indicates that the proportion of inconsistent responses ranged from 9.1% for lifetime drunkenness episodes to 0.3% for lifetime use of a dummy drug. Statistically significant gender differences were found. Girls showed a higher consistency of responses concerning cigarette smoking, drunkenness, use of inhalants and marijuana/ hashish, while boys gave a higher rate of consistent responses to the issues of LSD and sedative use. There were no significant differences between male and female respondents as concerns the consistency of responses for the use of amphetamine, crack, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, anabolic steroids and dummy drug.

The proportion of inconsistent responses was the highest for the frequency of drunkenness episodes (total - 9.1%, boys -10.8% , girls - 6.9%). There followed responses to answers about the use of sedatives without a doctor's prescription (total - 4.8%, boys - 5%, girls - 4.6%), tobacco use (total - 4.1%, boys - 5.1%, girls 3.0%), inhalants use (total 3.6%, boys 4.9%, girls 2.1%), and marijuana/hashish use (total 2.1%, boys - 2.4%, girls –2.1%), heroin use (total 1.9%). The proportion of inconsistent responses concerning other illicit drugs was less than 0.

There were statistically significant differences in the response consistency between students of different schools. Students attending vocational schools gave a higher number of inconsistent responses to issues of alcohol consumption, drunkenness episodes, use of sedatives and inhalant use. As concerns the issue of cigarette smoking, grammar school students and vocational students responded more inconsistently than their peers from technical schools. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

In conclusion, the data collected showed a sufficient degree of reliability. The only exception were data on the frequency of drunkenness episodes: inconsistent information was obtained from every tenth respondent.

B. Evidence of validity B1 Missing data rates on drug questions (compared to preceding questions) (Table 3).

The highest rate of missing data was found for questions about alcohol drinking and drunkenness (approx. 5%), marijuana/hashish use (<4%) and inhalant use (<4%) within last 12 months and last 30 days. It may be that after marking "0" for "lifetime use", some responders skipped the other two questions although they had been asked to answer all questions.

Missing data rates on other drug questions were less than 1.0%, except for amphetamines (total - 1.6%, boys - 1.5%, girls - 1.8%).

B2 Average number of unanswered questions (Table 4)

The overall number of unanswered questions was 1.0% (boys - 1.2%, girls - 0.7%). There were 0.8% of unanswered core questions (boys - 0.9%, girls 0.6%) and 1.9% of module questions (boys - 2.6% boys, girls -1.1%). Questions about nicotine addiction were answered only by students smoking on a daily basis.

B3 Inconsistency ratesb) (Table 5)

The proportion of inconsistent responses to answers about alcohol consumption, intoxication episodes, and marijuana and inhalants use in a lifetime, during the last 12 months and during the last 30 day period ranged from 4.9% for the use of any alcoholic beverage to 0.4 for the use of marijuana. Gender differences were not statistically significant.

B4 Results on "honesty" questions (Table 6)

"Honesty "of respondents (willingness to answer truthfully questions about drug use) was tested directly and indirectly. The questionnaire included two questions asking students if they would admit marijuana or heroin use, and several questions about their knowledge and use of a dummy drug.

A total of 22% of students responded to the direct question that they had previously acknowledged marijuana/hashish use; more than one half responded they would definitely acknowledge it; 22% would probably admit drug use, and 5% approx. would (probably) not admit it. When asked about heroin use in a direct way, 2.5% of the students responded affirmatively, 60% said they would certainly admit heroin use, one third would probably admit it, 4% would probably deny it and 3% would definitely deny it. Boys and girls differed significantly in their responses to these two questions, the ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA results speaking for greater "honesty" of girls. The latter would admit drug use more frequently than expected on the basis of independence.

B5 Proportion reporting lifetime use of a dummy drug (Tables 9,11 and 13) Three boys and one girl ( 0.2% of respondents) reported lifetime use of a dummy drug.

B6 Data collection leaders judgement about the validity (See Classroom reports) (Table 3 in Report 1)

Disturbances during completion of questionnaires were reported for 66 classes (for one class no data were available). These disturbances included giggling (at the beginning of the survey in 11 classes, and after the completion of the questionnaire in one class), exchanging glances in 51 cases, making remarks in 15, and other in 18 cases. The reported disturbances were mostly transient and restricted to the beginning of the survey, and did not interfere with answering.

As indicated by the classroom reports, the surveyed students were very cooperative: in more than three-fourths of classes the task was taken seriously by all, or nearly all students.

The high level of their cooperativeness was confirmed by a relatively small number of excluded questionnaires. Disturbances occurred mostly at the beginning of the survey or later on after the fastest students had completed the questionnaire.

B7 Construct validity, i.e. possible comparisons between criterion groups (i.e. comparison of drug use rates between schools predicted in advance to have higher or lower drug use).

Construct validity was not determined.

B8 Other evidence of validity

Not available.

B9 Other comments about the validity (e.g. if the validity may differ between subgroups, different kinds of schools, geographically or otherwise)

None.

C. Problems and solutions

C1 Describe specific methodological problems and how they were solved

No specific methodological problems were encountered.

D. Conclusions ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

D1 Comment briefly each of the above headings (i.e. A to C)

In the school year 1998/99, 83.1% of children born in 1983 were enrolled in the first grade of secondary schools. A stratified random sample of students was selected from four strata of secondary school students attending grammar schools, technical schools, 3- year vocational schools and 2.5-year vocational schools. All schools and classes selected for the survey confirmed their participation.

A total of 91.1% of the selected students participated in the survey: 94% students from grammar schools, 93% from technical schools, 88% from 3-year vocational schools and 86% from lower vocational schools. Among those who refused to participate in the study, 12 refused it directly and 48 indirectly. Approx. 10% of students failed to attend, most of them because they were ill on the day of data collection. In general, the students chosen for the survey were willing to participate.

The collected data were reliable, with the exception of data on drunkenness: 5% to 9% of responses to this question were inconsistent. Data on illicit drug use were more reliable than those for alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, the proportion of inconsistent responses being 5% or less.

D2 Conclusions about possible complications in the national analysis

No important complications are anticipated.

D3 Conclusions about possible complications when comparing the results from your country with the results from other countries in the international report

These comparisons should pose no special problems either.

D. Section II: Substantive results

A. Frequency of self-reported lifetime drug use

The students were asked about the use of various drugs in their lives, i.e. until the end of March/beginning of April 1999.

Cigarettes

Nearly two-thirds of the students (64%) taking part in the survey had smoked cigarette: one fourth (26%) 40 times or more often, less than one fourth (24%) 5 times or less, one tenth (11%) 6 to 19 times and 5% 20 - 39 times in their lives. There was no statistically significant gender difference concerning the lifetime prevalence of cigarette smoking.

Alcohol ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Lifetime use of alcohol was reported by 91% of the respondents (92% of boys and 91% of girls). One fourth had drunk alcohol 40 times or more, slightly less than one tenth (9%) had reportedly never drunk alcohol, 28% had drunk it once to 5 times in their lives, 29% 6 to 19 times, and slightly more than one tenth (11%) 20 to 39 times in their lives.

The observed differences between the sexes were statistically significant (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.17). A greater proportion of girls denied the use of alcohol, or acknowledged the use of alcohol once to twice, 3 to 5 times, 6 to 9 times and 10 to 19 times. A greater proportion of boys had drunk alcohol 20 to 39 times and 40 times or more.

Two-thirds of the surveyed students ( 72% of boys and 61% of girls) reported lifetime experience of drunkenness. Slightly more than one fifth reported one to 2 episodes of drunkenness, nearly one fourth (24%) 3 to 9, nearly one tenth 10 to 19, and 21% of the respondents 20 or more episodes of drunkenness.

There were statistically significant differences between boys and girls (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.16). More girls had never experienced drunkenness or had been drunk once or twice. A greater proportion of boys had been drunk 6 times or more in their lives.

Other drug use

As indicated by Table 7, the prevalence of "legal" drug use exceeded that of "illegal" substance use.

As for the use of all illicit drugs in a lifetime, nearly three-fourths of the surveyed students (74%) said they had never used any of the listed substances, i.e. marijuana, amphetamines, LSD or other hallucinogenic drugs, crack, cocaine, ecstasy or heroin. Using any of these illicit drugs once to 5 times was reported by 13% of the respondents. Slightly less than 3% had used these substances 6 to 9 times, 10 to 19 times or 20 to 39 times in their lives, and 7% acknowledged the use of illicit drugs 40 times or more.

Statistically significant differences between the sexes were found (2 was significant at p<0.005; C=0.09). A larger proportion of girls compared to boys said they had never used illicit drugs. More boys than girls indicated all frequency categories of illicit drug use except the category "10-19 times".

One fourth of the respondents had smoked marijuana/hashish in their lives: 13% once to 5 times, 2% 6 to 9 times, 10 to 19 times or 20 to 39 times, and 5% 40 times or more. Gender differences were statistically significant. More girls denied the use of marijuana/hashish, or admitted to having used this drug 10 to 19 times. A greater proportion of boys marked all other frequency categories of marijuana/hashish use.

When asked about the use of illicit drugs (excluding marijuana), 93% of the surveyed 1st grade students said they had never taken illicit drugs, 5% had used them once to 5 times, ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

1% 6 to 9 times, and 1% 10 times or more. No statistically significant gender difference was found.

A combined use of alcohol and marijuana/hashish was reported by 16% of the students surveyed: 10% acknowledged the use of both drugs once to 5 times in their lives, 3% had used them 6 to 19 times, and 2% 20 times or more. Statistically significant differences were found between male and female respondents. A greater proportion of girls had not used alcohol and marijuana at the same time, or had used these drugs 6 to 9 times or 10 to 19 in their lives.

Inhalants use was reported by 15% of the surveyed students: using inhalants once to 5 times in a lifetime was reported by 12%, 6-19 times by 2% and 20 times or more by 1% of the respondents. There were no statistically significant differences between the surveyed boys and girls concerning the frequency of inhalants use in a lifetime.

Taking pills with alcohol was reported by 9% of the surveyed students: using them once to 5 times by 8%, 6 to 19 times by 1% and 20 times or more by less than 0.5% of the respondents. A statistically significant difference between boys and girls emerged (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.12). A greater proportion of boys said they had never taken medicaments with alcohol, or had done so 20 times or more.

Using sedatives not prescribed by a doctor was reported by 8% of the students (7% of boys and 9% of girls). A significantly higher proportion of boys had never used them, or had taken them 20 times or more in their lives.

Ecstasy was used by 4% of the students: 3% of them had used it on one or 2 occasions in their lives.

Using other drugs was reported by 2% of the surveyed or less.

Medically supervised use

Use of medically supervised medication with tranquillisers or sedatives was reported by 8% of the surveyed: 1% had been taking drugs for more than 3 weeks, and slightly more than 6% for less than 3 weeks. There were no statistically significant gender differences.

Frequency of abstinence

The following drug groups were considered to determine the proportion of abstinents : tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs (marijuana/hashish, amphetamines, LSD and other hallucinogens, crack, cocaine, heroin and ecstasy), tranquillisers or sedatives and inhalants.

The proportion of abstinents varied considerably from one group of drugs to another; the highest abstinence figures were found for tranquillisers or sedatives (92%), followed by ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA inhalants (86%) and any illicit drug (74%). The percentage of students who had never smoked was 36%. The proportion of abstinents was the lowest for alcohol (9%).

As for polydrug use, the proportion of abstainers decreases with every new drug or drug group and is as low as 7% (6% for boys and 7% for girls), considering all students who had never in their lives used alcohol, illicit drugs, sedatives, tobacco or inhalants.

B. Frequency of self-reported drug use in last 12 months

The questionnaire included several questions about alcohol drinking, drunkenness and marijuana/hashish smoking and inhalants use during the last 12 months before the survey was conducted, i.e. from March 1998 to March 1999.

Alcohol

Abstinence from alcohol in the last 12 months was reported by only 17% of the surveyed students, while 83% of the respondents (84% of boys and 82% of girls) acknowledged the use of alcohol during that period. Among those who reported alcohol consumption, nearly one half (46%) had drunk alcohol 5 times or less, 17% 6 to 9 times, 16% 10 to 19 times, 11% 20 to 39 times and 10% 40 times or more. Statistically significant differences were found between boys and girls (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.16). A greater proportion of girls responded that they had not drunk alcohol, or had used alcohol once to twice and 3 to 5 times in the last 12 months prior to the survey. More boys had drunk alcoholic beverages 10 times or more.

A total of 44% of the surveyed had not experienced drunkenness in the last 12 months. Among those who had drunk to the point of intoxication in the past year, 43% had been drunk once to twice, 23% 3 to 5 times, 13% 6 to 9 times, 12% 10 to 19 times, and 9% 20 times or more. The results indicated that during the 12 months before the survey 12 % of the students had been drunk at least once per month, or more often. Gender differences for the issue of drunkenness episodes in the last year were statistically significant (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.13). More girls responded that they experienced no intoxication in the last year. When asked about the frequency of drunkenness in the last year a higher proportion of boys indicated the following cathegories:"3-5times", "6-9 times", "10-19 times", "20-39 times" and "40 times or more".

Other drug use

The responses showed that 79% of the surveyed (77% of boys and 81% of girls) had not smoked marijuana/hashish in the last year. Among the students who had used the drug, 37% had done so once to twice, 21% 3 to 5 times, and 11% 6 to 9 times, 10 to 19 times, 20 to 39 times and 40 times or more. There were statistically significant differences between boys and girls as concerns their use of marijuana/hashish in the last 12 months (2 was significant at p<0.04; C=0.08). There was a higher proportion of those who had not smoked marijuana, or had smoked it ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA once to twice or 10 to 19 times among girls compared to the boys. When asked about inhalants used in the last year in order to get "high", 93% of the surveyed students marked the category "0". Five percent used inhalants once to twice, 1% 3 to 5 times and 2% more frequently. The observed gender differences were not statistically significant.

Frequency of abstinence

There are considerable differences between the proportions of students abstaining from alcohol, marijuana and inhalants in last 12 months. The highest proportion (93%) abstained from inhalants, 79% abstained from marijuana and the lowest proportion (17%) from alcohol. Girls showed significantly higher rates of abstinence for all these drugs – except for inhalants – compared to the boys.

As concerns polydrug use, the proportion of self-reported abstainers in last 12 months dropped to a total of 15% (boys-14%, girls - 17%).

C. Frequency of self-reported drug use in last 30 days

The students surveyed were asked a few questions about their use of drugs during the last month before the survey was conducted, i.e. from end-February 1999 to end-March 1999. There were no school holidays or any festivities in Slovenia during that period.

Alcohol

In the last month prior to the survey, 38% of the surveyed students had not used alcohol; slightly less than one third (31%) had drunk alcohol on one to two occasions, nearly one fourth (24%) 3 to 5 times, 8% 6 to 9 times, and 7% 10 times or more. Among those who reported the use of alcohol in the last month, one half had drunk alcoholic beverages once or twice, one fourth (26%) 3 to 5 times, 13% 6 to 9 times, 7% 10 to 19 times, 2% 20 to 39 times and 2% 30 times and more. Male and female students differed significantly as concerns the frequency of self-reported drinking of any alcoholic beverage (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.14). A greater proportion of girls ticked the category "0" or "1-2".

When asked about the frequency of their consumption of beer, wine and spirits, half of the respondents said they had not drunk these beverages, in the last month; approx. one fourth had drunk them once or twice, one tenth 3 to 5 times, 5% 6 to 9 times, 3% 10 to 19 times, 1% 20 to 39 times and 1% 40 times or more.

The following figures indicate the frequency of individual alcoholic beverage use among those respondents who acknowledge the use of alcohol in the last month prior to the survey:

Beer: once or twice - 48%, 3 to 5 times - 24%, 6 to 9 times - 12%, 10 to 19 times - 9%, 20 to 39 times - 3% and 40 times or more - 4%. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Wine: once or twice - 54%, 3 to 5 times - 26%, 6 to 9 times - 9%, 10 to 19 times - 6%, 20 to 39 times - 3%, and 40 times or more - 3%.

Spirits: once or twice - 56%, 3 to 5 times - 22%, 6 to 9 times - 11%, 10 to 19 times - 6%, 20 to 39 times - 2% and 40 times or more - 3%.

As shown by these figures, 5 to 7% of the surveyed had drunk alcohol nearly every day, and one tenth every other day in the past month.

There were statistically significant differences between male and female respondents concerning their responses on the use of various alcoholic beverages. More girls had not drunk beer or wine in the past month, and had consumed spirits once or twice, or 3 to 5 times during that period. A greater proportion of male respondents marked answers indicating higher rates of consumption of all kinds of alcoholic beverages.

The proportion of students who had not been drunk in the past 30 days was 65%; nearly one fourth (24%) had experienced drunkenness once or twice, 7% 3 to 5 times, 3% 6 to 9 times, 1% 10 to 19 times, and 1% 20 times or more. Among those who reported drunkenness experience in the past month, more than two-thirds had been drunk once or twice, one fifth 3 to 5 times, 8% 6 to 9 times, 3% 10 to 19 times, and 2% 20 times or more. Boys and girls differed significantly in the reported drunkenness rates in the past month (2 was significant at p< 0.0001; C= 0.11). A higher proportion of girls had not been drunk during that period, and a greater percentage of boys marked all categories indicating frequencies of intoxication episodes in the past 30 days.

More than one half of the respondents (53%) said they had not consumed more than 5 drinks or more in a row in the past 30 days. Of those who reported consuming 5 drinks or more in a row, 48% reported doing so once, 22% twice, 21% 3 to 5 times, 5% 6 to 9 times, and 3% 10 times or more. Gender differences were statistically significant (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.14). A higher proportion of girls denied consuming 5 drinks or more in a row, or had done so only once in the past month. Boys marked more frequently all categories for drinking in a row, from the category "2 times" on.

Other drug use

Among the students surveyed, 87% (86 % of boys and 89 % of girls) had not smoked marijuana/hashish in the past 30 days. Among those who reported using marijuana/hashish (total - 13%, boys - 14%, girls - 11%), 48% had smoked the drug once or twice, 18% 3 to 5 times, 14% 6 to 9 times, 11% 10 to 19 times, 5% 20 to 39 times, and 4% 40 times or more. It is estimated that two-thirds had been experimenting with marijuana, 14% had smoked it once or twice a week, one tenth every other day, and one tenth on a daily basis. The responses of male students differed significantly from those of their female counterparts (2 was significant at p<0.02; C=0.08). Using no marijuana in the last ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA month, or using it on 3 to 5 occasions was reported by more girls than boys. The latter indicated more frequently the responses indicating frequent use of marijuana in the last 30 days.

When asked about the use of inhalants to get "high", 97% of the surveyed responded they had not used them in the last 30 days. Among the 62 students who reported inhalants use, 43 had used inhalants once to twice. Using inhalants 40 times or more was reported by one student. The rate of inhalants use in the past 30 days was not associated with the sex of the respondents.

Cigarettes

A total of 71% of the respondents said they had not smoked cigarettes on a daily basis in the last month. This group included all students who reported complete abstinence (64%), as well as those who reported smoking less than one cigarette a week (7%). In the group of students who had smoked on a daily basis, 15% had smoked less than 1 cigarette per day, 38% 1 to 5 cigarettes, 25% 6 to 10 cigarettes, 15% 11 to 20 cigarettes and 6% more than 20 cigarettes a day. There was no statistically significant relationship between sex and daily consumption of cigarettes.

D. Age at first use

Cigarettes

One fourth of the surveyed students (25%) who acknowledged smoking cigarettes, had smoked their first cigarettes at the age of 11 years or earlier, 13% reported first use at the age of 12 years, 19% at age 13, nearly one fourth (24%) at age 14, 19% at age 15, and 1% at the age of 16 years. Significant gender differences were found (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.14). A significantly higher proportion of boys smoked their first cigarette at age 11 years or earlier, or at age 12 years. More girls had never smoked or had smoked their first cigarette at the age of 13, 14 or 15 years.

Current smoking was reported by 27% of the surveyed students. Among current smokers, 7% began smoking cigarettes at age 12 or earlier, 11% at age 13, 29% at age 14, slightly less than one half (46%) at age 15, and 6% at 16 years of age. There were no statistically significant differences between boys and girls as concerns the debut age of cigarette smoking.

Alcohol

The surveyed students were asked at what age they had their first glass of beer, wine or spirits, and at what age they experienced their first drunkenness episode.

Sixteen percent of the respondents had not drunk beer in their lives. Among those who had tried beer, 35% had done so at age 11 or earlier. Nearly one fifth had their first glass ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA of beer at age 12, 13 and 14, respectively, and one tenth had drunk beer for the first time when 15 years old.

The figures for age at first wine use are very similar to those for beer: 16% of the respondents (15% of boys and 17% of girls) had not drunk wine in their lives. Of those who reported wine use, one third had drunk their first glass of wine at the age of 11 years or earlier. In nearly one fifth the age of onset of first wine use was 12, 13 and 14, respectively. One tenth of the respondents began drinking wine at age 15 years.

Thirty-one percent of the surveyed had not drunk a whole glass of spirit in their lives. Of those who reported spirit use, 13% had drunk their first glass of spirit at age 11 years or earlier, one tenth (11%) at age 12 years, one fifth at age 13, 30% at age 14, nearly one fourth at age 15 and 2% at age 16 years.

The observed gender differences were statistically significant: a larger proportion of girls than boys responded they had never drunk beer, wine or spirits. Boys were younger than girls when they started drinking alcohol, and more girls than boys reported age 14 years as the debut age of drinking alcohol.

Drunkenness had not been experienced by 31% of the surveyed students. Of those who acknowledged drunkenness episodes, 6% had been drunk for the first time at the age of 11 years or earlier, 6% at age 12 years, 16% at age 13, one third at age 14, one third at age 15, and 4% at age 16 years. There were statistically significant differences between the sexes as concerns their age at first drunkenness. Drunkenness at earlier ages was reported more frequently by boys; a greater proportion of girls responded that they had not been drunk in their lives, or that they had experienced drunkenness for the first time when 15 years old.

Other drugs

Marijuana use was denied by 76% of the surveyed. Of those who had tried it, 3% had done so at age 12 or earlier, 12% at age 13, 35% at age 14 and as many as 45% at age 15.

Eighty-eight percent of the respondents had not used inhalants in their lives. Twelve percent of those who had, had used it for the first time at age 11 or earlier, 9% at age 12, nearly one fourth (24%) at age 13, 33% at age 14 and one in five students (21%) at age 15. Boys did not differ significantly from girls as concerns the self-reported age at first inhalant use.

The use of alcohol together with pills in a lifetime was denied by 91% of the surveyed students. The majority of those who had tried these combinations had done so for the first time at the age of 13 years or more. There was a statistically significant association between sex and age at first use of alcohol together with pills (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.09). More boys had reportedly never used these drug combinations. A higher proportion of boys than girls who had ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA taken tablets with alcohol, had done so for the first time at age 12 or earlier, while for more girls the debut age was 13 years or more.

Sedatives without a doctor's prescription had never been taken by 94% of the surveyed. The highest proportion of self-reported users of sedatives not prescribed by a doctor began using them at age 14 or 15.

Four percent of the respondents acknowledged the use of ecstasy. They mostly began taking it at age 14.

The use of other drugs was acknowledged by 1 to 2 % of the surveyed students. The most frequently reported age at first use was 14 years or more. For younger age groups, only occasional use of other drugs was reported.

E. Alcohol consumption

Quantities

The students were asked whether on the last drinking occasion they had drunk beer, and if they had drunk it, what was the quantity consumed. The responses showed that beer was never used by one third (34%) of the respondents, and that one fifth (21%) had not had beer on their last drinking occasion. Hence, on the last drinking occasion beer had been drunk by 45% of the students (27% of girls and 60% of boys). Of those, nearly one half (48%) had drunk less than one bottle of beer, one third 1 to 2 bottles or cans, one tenth (11%) 3 to 4 bottles or cans and 8% 5 bottles or cans and more. Boys differed significantly from girls as concerns the use of beer on the last drinking occasion (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.34). A greater proportion of girls said they never drank beer and that they had not drunk beer on their last drinking occasion. Using beer in varying quantities was more frequently reported by boys.

When asked about the use of alcopops (sweetened drinks containing 2% or less of alcohol), 52% of the respondents said they had never drunk them. On the last drinking occasion alcopop drinks had not been drunk by one fourth of the surveyed students. The majority (72%) of self-reported alcopop users had consumed less than half a litre, one fifth half a litre to one litre and 7% more than one litre. There was a statistically significant relationship between sex and quantities of alcopops drunk on the last drinking occasion (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.14). A greater percentage of girls said they had never used alcopop drinks and that they had not drunk them on their last drinking occasion. Drinking less than half a litre or up to one litre of alcopops was reported by more boys.

The survey showed that 31% of the respondents (29% of girls and 32% of boys) did not drink wine. Slightly more than one tenth (13%; 13% of boys and 12% of girls) said they had not drunk wine on their last drinking occasion. Of those who reported wine use on their last drinking occasion, 45% had drunk less than one decilitre, one third 1 to 2 glasses (1-2 dcl), 14% half a bottle (3.5 dcl), and 8% one bottle or more. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Statistically significant gender differences were found (2 was significant at p<0.001; C=0.09). More girls than boys reported drinking less than 1 dcl to half a bottle of wine, and more boys than girls said they did not drink wine or had not drunk it on their last drinking occasion; but those who had, had consumed larger quantities, i.e. one bottle or more.

As indicated by their responses, 38% of the surveyed students (42% of boys and 33% of girls) had never drunk spirits. The proportion of students who had not drunk spirits on their last drinking occasion was 18% (19% of boys and 17% of girls). Of those who acknowledged drinking spirits, 45% had taken less than one drink, one third one to 2 drinks, 14% 3 to 5 drinks and 8% 6 drinks or more. The following relationship between sex and spirit use was found: (2 was significant at p<0.0001;C=0.12): medium quantities of spirits (less than one to 5 drinks) were most frequently indicated by girls. A greater proportion of boys did not drink spirits, and had not drunk them on their last drinking occasion. Those who reported drinking spirits had consumed large quantities i.e. 6 drinks or more on their last drinking day.

Drinking places

When asked about the place where they were drinking alcohol on their last drinking day, one tenth reported abstinence from alcoholic beverages. Among the listed drinking places, the category "at a bar or a pub" was ticked by the highest proportion of the surveyed (32%), "in a disco" by 19%, "at home" by 18%, "in someone else's home" by 12%. Fourteen percent said they had been drinking in the street, in a park, on the beach or somewhere else in the open. Other drinking places were reported by 11% of the respondents. Statistically significant gender differences were found only for the category "at a bar or a pub", which was ticked by a higher proportion of boys (2 was significant at p<0.005; C=0.06).

Drunkenness

The students were asked to indicate the degree of their last drunkenness on a 10-point scale, from 1 - "just a trifle tipsy" to 10 - "so drunk that I could no longer stand". Twenty- nine % of students responded they had never been drunk in their lives. Of those who had experienced drunkenness, 12% rated their intoxication episode “1”, 7% rated “2”, 9% “3”, 8% “4” 9% “5”, 7% “6”, 7% “7”, 6% “8”and 3% and 4% rated it 9 and 10, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between male and female respondents (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.16). Girls more frequently indicated degrees 1 and 2, while degrees 4 to 7, and 9 were more often ticked by boys.

When asked about the quantity of alcohol they needed to get drunk, nearly one third responded they had never drunk alcohol or had not yet experienced drunkenness. Of those students who reported drunkenness experience, one tenth needed one to 2 drinks to get drunk, one third (37%) had to take 3 to 4 drinks, slightly more than one fourth (28%) 5 to 6 drinks, 12% 7 to 8 drinks, and one tenth 9 drinks or more. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

There was a statistically significant association between sex and amount of alcohol needed to get drunk (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.19). A higher proportion of girls responded that they did not drink alcohol and that they had not experienced drunkenness. Girls more frequently needed lesser quantities of alcohol to get drunk. More boys said they had to take 7 drinks or more to get drunk.

Possible personal effects

Possible personal effects of alcohol use were grouped in two categories: presumed positive ("positive") and presumed negative ("negative") consequences. "Positive" consequences of alcohol consumption included: "would feel relaxed", " would feel happy", "would be friendly and outgoing", "would have a lot of fun" and "would escape my problems". "Negative" consequences of alcohol drinking were the following: "would feel sick", "would get a hangover", "may lose control over drinking", "would harm my health", "would do something I would regret", "would have problems with the police".

"Positive" consequences

Nearly half of the sample responded that drinking alcohol would affect them in a "positive" way: 61% would have a lot of fun, 57% would become friendly and outgoing, and 52% felt that drinking would help them escape their problems. A statistically significant association with sex was found only for the category " would feel more relaxed ".

Interestingly, the proportion of indeterminate responses ranged from 33% for the feeling of happiness to 22% for "alcohol would help me escape my problems".

"Negative" consequences

The highest rate of "very likely " and " likely" responses (female preponderance - 73%) was recorded for the cathegories:"drinking might be harmful to my health", "I would get a hangover" (female preponderance – 57%) , "would feel sick" (female preponderance - 54%) and " would do something I would regret" (female preponderance - 41%). One fourth (24%) thought it (very) likely they "would have problems with the police" (male preponderance). The proportion of indeterminate responses ranged from 14% for "might be harmful to my health" to 28% for "would do something I would regret".

Experienced problems

The proportion of students who experienced drinking-related problems ranged from 13% (damage to objects and clothes) to 1% (being victimised by robbery or taken to a hospital or an emergency centre in an ambulance).

Personal problems ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

The proportion of students reporting alcohol-related personal problems, including reduced academic performance, damage to objects and clothes, loss of money or valuable items, accident or injury, being taken to a hospital or an emergency centre, ranged from 13% (damage to objects or clothing) to 1% ( being taken to a hospital or emergency centre). Statistically significant gender differences were found for all items, except for the categories "loss of money or a valuable item", and "being taken to a hospital or emergency centre". These negative consequences of alcohol use were experienced by a greater proportion of boys.

Relationship problems

The percentage of students reporting alcohol-related problems in the relationships with their parents, friends and teachers ranged from 13% (quarrelling) to 2% (problems in relationships with teachers). A statistically significant association with sex was noted for all categories, with the exception of problems in the relationships with friends. More boys reported drinking-related problems manifested as quarrelling or as problems in the relationship with parents and teachers.

Sexual experience

Unwanted sex and unprotected sexual intercourse as a result of drinking alcohol was reported by 3% and 2% of the respondents, respectively. There was no statistically significant gender difference.

Criminal problems

The most frequently reported criminal offences as a result of alcohol use included jostling and fighting (6%) and problems with the police (3%). Being victimised by robbery was the least frequently reported criminal problem associated with drinking (1%). A statistically significant male preponderance was found for all the listed criminal problems due to alcohol drinking.

F. Attitudes towards alcohol consumption

Reasons for drinking

This optional question was not included in the questionnaire.

Anticipated drinking behaviour

Slightly more than one fourth of the sample (27%), more boys than girls, anticipated the use of alcohol at the age of 25 years. One fourth (24%) (female preponderance) responded that they would not drink alcohol at this age. Half of the respondents (49%) (female preponderance) did not know if they would be drinking alcohol when 25 years old. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Anticipated alcohol drinking at age 25 was positively correlated with the frequency of alcohol use in a lifetime, past year and past month. The greatest proportion of students who did not anticipate the use of alcohol at age 25 belonged to the group who had abstained from alcohol in the past month prior to the survey (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.40). Those students who reported no alcohol use in the past year, or had drunk on one or two occasions, more frequently responded they would not drink alcohol at the age of 25 years (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.43). Self-reported lifetime abstainers and those who reported drinking alcohol only 3 to 5 times or less, were more convinced they would not use alcohol when 25 years old (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.42).

F. Knowledge of drugs

Heard of different drugs

Marijuana/hashish was reportedly the most known drug (known by 95% of the respondents). There followed heroin (94%) and cocaine (93%). The lowest proportion of students (6%) said they had heard of the dummy drug. Amphetamines and magic mushrooms were not very well known either; only one fifth (22%) said they had heard of these drugs. Fairly large proportions of respondents had heard of ecstasy (88%) and LSD (74%). 60% of respondents heard of crack, 55% of Methadone and a half of sedatives. Significant differences emerged between boys and girls concerning their knowledge of drugs: there was a female preponderance for sedatives, marijuana, LSD, cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, and male preponderance for a dummy drug.

Wanted to try

Twenty-eight percent of the surveyed wanted to try any of the listed illegal drugs: sedatives without a prescription, marijuana/hashish, LSD, amphetamines, crack, cocaine, a dummy drug, heroin, ecstasy, Methadone and magic mushrooms. There was a statistically significant association between the reported lifetime use of any drug and the expressed wish to try a drug (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.60). Four-fifths of the students who said they wanted to try a drug, and by 6% of those who reported no such wish had taken drugs.

H. Perceived availability of drugs

The students were asked about the availability and accessibility of various drugs.

Cigarettes

Cigarettes were reported as very easy or fairly easy to get by 93% of the students. The difference between the sexes was statistically significant (2 was significant at p<0.01; C=0.08), with a greater proportion of girls than boys responding that they would very easily or fairly easily get cigarettes if they wanted to smoke. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Alcohol

More than 90% of the surveyed responded they would very easily , or fairly easily get beer (93%), wine (92%) or spirits (85%) if they wished to drink alcohol. There were no statistically significant differences between the sexes concerning their responses on the accessibility of alcohol beverages.

Other drugs

As for other drugs, 66% of the students surveyed said they would have no difficulty getting inhalants. The calculated gender difference was statistically significant (2 was significant at p<0.004; C=0.09), with a significantly greater number of boys indicating the extreme categories: "very easy to get" or "almost impossible to get", or responding they did not know. More girls than boys thought that inhalants were rather difficult or fairly easy to get.

Marijuana and sedatives were reported as readily available by nearly one half (47%) and one third of the respondents, respectively. There were no significant differences between males and females as concerns their responses on the availability of marijuana, but significant gender differences emerged for the estimated access to sedatives without a doctor’s prescription (2 was significant at p<0.008; C=0.08). More boys responded they did not know how difficult or how easy it would be to get drugs if they wanted to. A higher proportion of girls considered access to sedatives as very easy or fairly easy.

Getting ecstasy was perceived as very easy and fairly easy by 30% of the sample, one fourth (24%) found it very easy or fairly easy to get LSD or other hallucinogens. No significant gender differences emerged for this issue.

When asked about the availability of other drugs, 16 to 17% of the students responded they were very easy to get. No significant gender differences emerged, except for the issue of perceived availability of anabolic steroids (male preponderance, 2 significant at p<0.016; C=0.08).

I. Disapproving of drug use

The surveyed students were asked whether, and/or to what extent they disapproved of drug use. We were mainly interested in their attitude towards:

- occasional, weekly and daily alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking; - trying marijuana, and occasional and regular smoking of marijuana/hashish, and - trying all other drugs.

Cigarettes ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Eleven percent of the surveyed (significant male preponderance; 2 was significant at p<0.02; C=0.07) disapproved of occasional smoking and 32% of regular smoking (no significant gender differences).

Alcohol

Similarly to cigarette smoking, the percentage of respondents disapproving of alcohol use increased with the increasing frequency of use. Drinking one to 2 alcoholic drinks per year was disapproved of by 7% of the respondents (no statistically significant gender differences), drinking one to 2 drinks several times per week by 24% (female preponderance; 2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.12), and getting drunk once weekly by 44% of the surveyed (female preponderance; 2 was significant at p<0.001; C=0.08).

Other drugs

The use of other drugs was disapproved by a greater number of students, the proportions ranging from 44% for trying marijuana once or twice, to 65% for smoking marijuana on a regular basis. There was a weak correlation between sex and responses; a higher proportion of male students had a negative attitude towards drug use.

J. Perceived risk of drugs

The surveyed students were asked about the perceived health hazards associated with : - smoking occasionally and smoking 20 to 40 cigarettes per day; - taking one to 2 drinks nearly every day, 4 to 5, and 5 drinks or more every weekend; - trying marijuana/hashish, smoking it occasionally and regularly, and - trying other drugs once or twice, and using them regularly.

Cigarettes

Nearly three-thirds (73%) of the respondents thought that occasional cigarette smoking was not harmful to health, or that it represented only a minor health hazard. According to 18% and 4% of the surveyed, occasional smoking was associated with moderate and severe health risks, respectively. Five percent of the students said they did not know whether occasional cigarette smoking may be harmful to health. Statistically significant gender differences were found (2 was significant at p<0.03; C=0.07), with a higher proportion of female responders considering occasional smoking free of health hazards.

One half of the respondents thought that using one to 2 packs of cigarettes exposed the smoker to serious health hazards. According to one third, the risks associated with this smoking pattern were only moderate, and 14% said they were nil. Four percent did not know what effects smoking one to 2 packs daily may have on one's health. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

The established differences between males and females were statistically significant (2 was significant at p<0.001; C=0.08). A greater percentage of girls responded that smoking one to 2 packs of cigarettes daily exposes a person to important health hazards, but more boys said they knew nothing about the risks involved, or responded that the associated health risks were only moderate.

Alcohol

Half of the respondents (49%) said that having one to 2 drinks daily was not hazardous to one's health, one third (32%) thought that it presented moderate hazards, and 14% that it presented great hazards. According to half of the surveyed, taking 4 to 5 drinks every day was very harmful to one's health; 36% of the students thought that 4 to 5 drinks taken every weekend had very harmful effects on one's health, and one third responded that risks associated with this drinking pattern were of moderate degree. There was a statistically significant female preponderance for the response that the use of alcohol is very hazardous to health.

Other drugs

Using regularly other drugs, including cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, amphetamines, marijuana and inhalants, was regarded as an important health hazard by 82% to 63% of the surveyed. A smaller proportion of the surveyed (44 to 25%) thought that even occasional use of these drugs was harmful to health. Statistically significant gender differences emerged: more girls thought that using these drugs regularly was harmful to health; a higher proportion of boys responded that even occasional use was associated with great health hazards and a higher proportion of girls thought that occasional use of these drugs exposed a person to mild or moderate health hazards.

K. Estimated drug use among friends and siblings

The students were asked about the use of various quantities of drugs among their friends (none, a few, some, most of them, all of them) and older siblings.

Cigarettes

In our sample, 45% of the surveyed responded that most or all their friends smoked cigarettes. There were statistically significant differences between the sexes (2 was significant at p<0.001; C=0.09): more girls responded that tobacco was used by the majority of their friends or by all of them. The use of tobacco by older siblings was reported by 43% of the surveyed.

Alcohol ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Half of the students responded that alcohol was consumed by the majority of their friends or by all their friends, and 17% said that most friends or all of them get drunk at least once weekly. There was a statistically significant preponderance of girls among the students who responded that none of their friends, or all their friends get drunk at least once weekly (2 was significant at p<0.006; C=0.08).

Two-thirds of the surveyed students acknowledged the use of alcohol by their older siblings, and 44% had seen them drunk too.

Other drugs

In our survey, 26% of the respondents said that some, most or all their friends smoked marijuana/hashish, and 2 to 10% reported the use of other illicit drugs among some, most or all their friends. Boys and girls differed significantly in the responses concerning their friends' use of most illicit drugs: girls more frequently answered that some or a few friends used LSD, amphetamines, sedatives, cocaine, crack or heroin, or took pills with alcohol. Among male students, two distinct groups were formed: one whose friends had never used drugs, and another acknowledging the use of drugs by the majority or all their friends.

Eight percent of the surveyed had older siblings who smoked marijuana/hashish; 3% and 2% of the students said that their older siblings were taking sedatives without a prescription and used ecstasy, respectively.

L. First drug use occasion

The surveyed students were asked about the illegal drug taken on the first drug use occasion.

First drug used

The overall percentage of students who had never taken any illicit drug was 73% (boys - 72% and girls- 75%). Of those who acknowledged illicit drug use, the majority (88%) had used marijuana/hashish on their first drug use occasion, 6% had taken sedatives without a doctor's prescription, 2% used ecstasy, and 1% heroin and cocaine, respectively. One percent of the students did not know which illicit drug they had used on their first drug use occasion. Statistically significant gender differences emerged for this question (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.10): a greater proportion of female students had never taken any illicit drug, or said that sedatives not prescribed by a doctor were the first illicit drug used. The use of marijuana and other illegal drugs on their first drug use occasion was more frequently reported by male students.

How the substance was obtained ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Three-fourths of the surveyed who acknowledged illicit drug use had obtained their first drug in their peer group or from their older or younger friends (male preponderance).

Reasons

The most frequently reported reason for taking a drug was " out of curiosity"; this response was indicated by more than two-thirds of the students. There followed "in order to get high" (one fourth of the respondents who acknowledged illicit drug use), and "to escape my problems" (one tenth). Statistically significant gender differences were found only for the issue "to escape my problems", which was indicated by a higher proportion of girls (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.10).

M. Places to buy cannabis

When asked about places where they can easily buy marijuana/hashish, one third of the surveyed students - including some of those who acknowledged the use of cannabis - said they did not know such places, while 38% responded that the drug could be bought in the street, in a park, in a disco or in a bar. One fourth and one fifth of the respondents, respectively indicated the school and the drug dealer's home as places where cannabis was available.

N. Background variables

Leisure time activities

More than three-fourths (78%) of the surveyed students said they actively participated in sports once or several times per month (more boys than girls nearly every day), 70% said they played computer games once monthly or more (male preponderance), or went to a disco, pub or party (female preponderance), 50% pursued their hobbies at least once monthly (girls more frequently than boys), one third enjoyed themselves riding about on their scooter (male preponderance), and only slightly more than one third (36%) said they enjoyed reading a book at least once monthly (female preponderance).

Missed schooldays

In the last 30 days, approx. 43% of students were absent from school because of illness; one fifth (19%) for 1 to 2 days and one fourth for 3 days or longer.

Truancy from school in the past 30 days was reported by one fourth (24% of the respondents: 18% stayed away from school for one to 2 days, and 6% for 3 days or more).

Other reasons for missed school days were reported by slightly more than one fourth of the surveyed, of those 21% for on to 2 days and 7% for 3 days or more. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Average grades

At the end of the last school term, grades from good to satisfactory, or lower, were reported by 22% of the students, and good grades and very good grades or better by 61% and 17% of the respondents, respectively. As concerns the level of achievement, a female preponderance was established for the upper third, and a male preponderance for the lower third (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.13).

Parents' level of schooling

As indicated by the responses, 79% of fathers and 77% of mothers had secondary or higher education. Primary school education or less was reported for 12% of fathers and 15% of mothers; and only a few grades of secondary school had been completed by 6% of fathers and 7% of mothers.

Household composition

Family situation

In our survey, 82% of the students lived in a two-parent family, 4% in a restructured family with a stepparent replacing one of the parents, one tenth with one parent, and 4% in households composed of grand parents or unrelated persons or alone. There was a statistically significant relationship between sex and the reported household composition (2 was significant at p<0.006; C=0.07): there was a significant preponderance of girls among those students who lived with their parents, and a preponderance of boys among the students living with other people.

When asked to compare the life of their family with that of other Slovene families, two- thirds of the students responded that their standard of living was more or less the same as in other families, 6% thought that the quality of their life was inferior and 26% that it was superior to that of other households in Slovenia. Statistically significant gender differences emerged (2 was significant at p<0.016; C=0.08). A greater proportion of boys than girls responded that their life was much better than that of other families, and more girls than boys said it was more or less the same.

Satisfaction with relations

Eighty-five percent of the surveyed students were satisfied with the relationships with their mothers, one tenth were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 5% were not satisfied with these relationships. There were statistically significant differences between the sexes (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.11), with more boys responding that the relationship they had with their mothers was very satisfying. ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

Satisfaction with the relationship with the father was reported by 79% of the surveyed, 11% said they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied and one tenth that they were satisfied. A statistically significant gender difference emerged (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.13). There was a preponderance of boys among those who were very satisfied with their relationship with the father.

Satisfaction with the relations with their friends was reported by 93% of the surveyed students, while 5% said they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 2% that they were not satisfied.

Parents' knowing about Saturday evenings

When asked whether their parents knew where they were spending their Saturday evenings, 61% of the students responded that their parents always knew where they were on Saturday evenings, 23% responded that they nearly always knew, one tenth that they occasionally knew, and 6% that they never knew where they were spending their Saturday evenings. Boys and girls differed significantly in their responses (2 was significant at p<0.02; C=0.06); there was a male preponderance among those who said that their parents knew nothing about their Saturday evenings, and higher proportion of girls responding that their parents knew where they were spending their Saturdays evenings.

Self-destructive behaviour

This optional question was not included.

O. Socio-economic status and drug habits

The respondents' socio-economic status was determined on the basis of the educational attainment of their parents. A possible correlation between the prevalence of individual drug use and socio-economic status was investigated. Significant differences emerged for the issue of alcohol use in the past 30 days prior to the survey: a greater number of boys with parents who had achieved only low levels of education had not drunk alcohol during that period. A similar correlation was found for girls.

There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of illicit drug use among boys and educational attainment of their parents. The use of illicit drugs was more common among boys with highly educated parents. Individual illegal drugs (except inhalants) were not used by students from families with low educational levels.

P. Household composition and drug habits

At the time of the survey, the majority of the respondents (82%) lived in two-parent families. The prevalence of drug consumption was highest among students living in restructured families, except in case of drinking during last 30 days, smoking marijuana and inhaling when students from other types of families had the highest consumption. As ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA for other types of households, the prevalence of drug consumption was higher for single- parent families than for intact families.

Q. Module A

This module was not included in the survey.

R. Module B

The module was not included in the survey.

S. Module C

Using Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, statistically significant gender differences were found in self-feelings of the students surveyed. A higher proportion of male students had a positive self-concept, felt satisfied with themselves and disapproved of the view that they were good -for-nothings or that they sometimes felt useless. More boys believed that they had a number of positive characteristics, and felt they were as worthy and capable as other people. On the other hand, there was a preponderance of males among those who felt they had not much to be proud of. Among the female students, the following two groups emerged: one group with positive self-feelings, moderately satisfied with themselves. Girls in another group were dissatisfied with themselves, felt worthless, believed they had no positive characteristics etc., and had a negative self-concept.

In the last week prior to the survey, 9% of the surveyed had no appetite or refused food. We established that this issue and sex were positively related (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.28). Frequent decreases in appetite and complete loss of appetite were reported by more girls.

Concentration problems experienced occasionally or most of the time in the last week prior to the survey were reported by 15% of the surveyed (female preponderance) (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.20)

During that period 19% of the students felt depressed, either occasionally or most of the time (female preponderance) (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.29).

One fifth of the surveyed complained they had to make great efforts, even to compel themselves to perform their daily tasks; there was a preponderance of girls among those who felt that way quite often or most of the time (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.15).

Feeling sad during the week prior to the survey was reported by 21% of the students, more girls than boys, (2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.28).

One tenth were not capable to carry out their duties (female preponderance; 2 was significant at p<0.0001; C=0.13) ESPAD REPORT 1999 – SLOVENIA

The students were asked to define to what extent they conformed to the established rules and general norms. More than 50% of the respondents (female preponderance) said there were only a few universally applicable rules in life, and that it was difficult to have well- formed attitudes in a world that was changing so quickly. According to more than half of the respondents, significantly more girls than boys, nobody ever knows what is expected from him in life, and one cannot feel sure about anything. Slightly more than one fourth of the students (27%) , a significantly higher proportion of boys, approved of one's breaking rules that do not seem to apply. One fourth of the respondents - a higher proportion of boys than girls - said they conformed only to the rules they wished to obey. Nearly one third of the respondents were indeterminate.

When asked whether they had been involved in any act of violence in the past year, the students reported the following offences: vandalizing of school property and shoplifting (18%), fighting at school or at work (16%), participating in a fight between two groups (13%), problems with the police (10%), hurting someone so badly that they had to seek medical attention (6%), hitting a teacher (5%), stealing from someone an item worth more than five pounds (4%), taking property from someone by force and threatening them by offensive weapon and setting fire to someone else’s property (3%). The prevalence of criminal acts was statistically significantly associated with sex: there was a significant preponderance of boys among self-reported offenders.

T. Module D

The students were asked how frequently in the past year they had experienced violent victimisation. Sixteen percent of the students had experienced deliberate damaging of their personal property; 12% had been bullied by a group, 10% had been mugged and robbed of an item worth approx. ten pounds, 9% had been in a group that was attacked by another group, 6% had bought a stolen object, 4% had been hurt by a group of people and 2% had been victims of burglary. Statistically significant gender differences emerged: a higher proportion of boys than girls were victimised by acts of violence

U. Optional questions

Optional questions were not included in the survey.

V. Results among students born in 1981

Not included in the survey.

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