The aim of this project was to explore the problem of substance misuse among adolescent town dwellers in Kosovo, as a result of lack of a national strategy related to this problem. DESIGN: 261 students from 4 secondary schools took part in cross sectional survey performed in October 2005. The survey was carried out in Gjilan town in south-east of Kosovo. MAIN RESULTS: From all questioned students, 36% smoked cigarettes every day, 12.6% consumed alcohol occasionally and 1.4% consumed all kind of drugs regularly. Girls consumed more cigarettes, whereas boys consumed more alcohol and other drugs. The prevalence of substance misuse was higher among students in their last year of high school attendance. Students in Gjilan continue to smoke, consume alcohol and drugs despite their knowledge about the adverse health consequences of substance misuse, but in the same time, most of them consider information and counselling the best way of substance misuse prevention. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and trends of substance misuse among students in our survey indicates that it is time to start acting. It is assumed that results of survey may be a very useful source of information for policy-makers, government and ministry of health in developing and implementing national strategy that would address the most important issues in connection with addiction among adolescents.

Main Family Medicine Center Gjilan Kosovo

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