The study aimed at verifying the adolescent' s knowledge, resident of a community at Rio de Janeiro, about the licit and illicit drugs, analyzing the knowledge relevance face the preventive actions about this phenomenon. It was developed based on the qualitative approach, data were collected using the focal group technique, followed by the thematic analysis. Project approved by CEP protocol number 047/2010. It was verified before the answers that the adolescents knew how to differentiate licit from the illicit drugs, citing the most used types. The young people also related the use of these substances with social and familiar problems, beyond grievances to the health. It was concluded that preventive politics where the nurse can develop educative activities with the adolescents and relatives with the aim to orient the young people and relatives about the questions of the licit and illicit drugs with a view to eliminate or reduce these drugs consumption has to be prioritized.
Nursing; Adolescent; Knowledge; Drug abuse
