Alcohol is the drug most consumed in any age range and its usage has been increasing significantly among teenagers. This qualitative study sought to reflect on how teachers' social representations of abusive use of alcohol and other drugs reverberate on prevention actions in schools. Focal groups were formed among stage II elementary school teachers, in public and private schools in Lages, Santa Catarina, and interviews were conducted with the directors of these institutions. Field observations and document analysis on the pedagogical policy projects of the schools investigated were also performed, in 2008. The research results showed that the educators' social representations were characterized by a stigmatizing vision of adolescence and the use of alcohol and other drugs within this age range. This makes it difficult to have open dialogue on this issue with teenagers and to implement preventive actions in schools.
Social representations; Educators; Teenagers (adolescence); Prevention of abusive use of alcohol and other drugs