The research was based on a drug abuse prevent program among 68,210 students in Brazil. Questionnaires were applied in four Brazilian Regions: North (n = 29,386 in 7 cities); Northeast (n = 17,971 in 3 cities); Southeast (n = 4,197 in 4 cities) and South (n = 16,656 in 9 cities). This questionnaire included 25 questions and among then, eight were studied. Similar answers were found in all regions of the country. The main conclusions were: religion and school were pointed as an extreme importance as an educational aspect in the children's own lives. School replaced an educational role, that was a former family privilege. The experience of drug abuse in childhood was measured in: North (2%), Northeast (6%), South and Southeast (5%). The prevailing age of the first drug use was found between 11 and 15 years old in all the regions, during the fundamental school degree. Certain agreement with Althuser's work on ideological apparatus of State was found. Family and religion were important protection factors against drug abuse.
drugs; addiction; work; adolescence; school; public health; epidemiology
