Abstract

Objectives: Due to the important roles of social, familial, and economic factors in behavior patterns in individuals, this study aims to determine high risk behavior in adolescent students in the city of Tehran.

Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study 700 guidance school and high school students (326 girls and 374 boys) were examined using a demographic questionnaire containing questions about cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, mental health status and so on. Data were analyzed using c² test.

Results: Mean age of subjects was 14.8(±1.4) years. 629 subjects (88.7%) believed that cigarette smoking is detrimental to health. 84 subjects (12.0%) were cigarette smokers. 210 subjects (30.6%) had experienced smoking hookah. 70 (10.0%) and 14 (2%) of them had consumed alcohol and abused heroin respectively in the previous month.

Conclusion: High risk behaviors such as using cigarettes, alcohol and other substances are prevalent among adolescent students and indicate the necessity for applying appropriate interventions aimed at decreasing their abuse.