In the period of March April 2004 a research among children and youth was conducted. Its main goal was to ascertain the extent of drug distribution among school children in Dobrich. The research covered 1133 school children from different schools of Dobrich. The research was carried out by using standard inquiry methods.

Few youngsters state that they do not have information or that they are not interested in effect of alcohol, tobacco and drugs on human body. Most of them (33.2%) state that they are informed about the issue by observing other people s behavior. 11.5% state that they are aware of the issue by experience. By comparing results with those of other researches made in Sofia and Plovdiv, we considered that the extent of interested in alcohol and drug consumption people is larger than that in Sofia and Plovdiv. 70% of interviewees think that smoking, alcohol and drug abuse are issues that have to be discussed in school.

60% of interviewees consider their schoolmates as their best friends, which points to the fact that school plays the role of social environment for children. The same percentage of interviewed children tried some kinds of narcotic.

It is disturbing that 30% of interviewees visited parties, where drug was consumed, in most cases marihuana, but such environment also predisposes on hard drug consumption. 14% of youngsters state that they would try drugs if they had a chance. This fact is even more disturbing because the same percentage of youngsters would try drugs if they appeared in a difficult situation to cope with.

When asked about the reason for their first experience with drug consumption, 31.5% of interviewees state indirectly that they tried drugs and point that the main reasons were curiosity, pleasure and desire to be accepted by the group. According to research data students from 9^th to 12^th grade are the most vulnerable target group, exposed to negative effects of narcotic substances.

Not all of the narcotic substances are considered as dangerous. Interviewees consider some drugs as something interesting, different and thus desirable. On the one hand, youngsters consider some drugs as acceptable because they are easy to find and are part of their world and circle of friends. On the other hand, when speaking of drug addicted, most of interviewees demonstrate their negative attitude.

Desire of escaping reality world and overcoming daily stress appears to be an issue and results in illogical decisions, for example, belief that drugs can replace reality and help in difficult situations. Children grow fast and soon it becomes obvious that they are not ready for the real world. Some of them find solution in drugs, alcohol and smoking. It is very likely that 30 % of interviewees have several drinks per day and smoke more than 5 cigarettes per day, which means at least 3000 people.

When speaking of youngsters, alcohol consumption and smoking are more a rule than an exception. 50% of interviewees smoke, they started in the age between 10 and 13, 6 to 10 cigarettes are average per day.

The same situation is with alcohol consumption. 17.7% have never tried alcohol, but these are the youngest children. Youngsters have their first drink in the age between 10 and 14. 60% of interviewees state that it occurred to get drunk once in a while, 10 % get drunk very often.

Each eighth of interviewees is willing to try drugs. At the same time only 1.7% of interviewees consider narcotic consumption without reservations. 14 % would try drugs if a friend offered.

According to youngsters narcotic substances are drug pills, ecstasy, soporific, marihuana, and hard drug. Many think that marihuana is not dangerous for health and one does not get addicted to it. About 30 % of interviewees state that they have tried and continue to smoke marihuana, hashish etc. Tranquillizers, soporific, ecstasy, LSD etc. are used by 2 to 5 % of interviewees. Hard drugs are used by 2 % of interviewees. We can assume that this percentage is three times higher. Finally to conclude, each seventh student from 6 ^th to 12 ^th grade tried illegal drugs and the number is increasing. Also we can state that drug consumption in technical and elite schools is higher than in common ones.

• Yearly inquiry research, estimating drug distribution and consumption among youngsters, characteristics and behavior models of consumer groups.
• Publication of yearly report on narcotic consumption and related issues.
• Publication of research indexes of ЕМС DD АР.
• Yearly analysis of target groups expectations urban population, ethnic groups, youth and families, drug addicted people, subgroups with special needs. Planning and introduction of evaluation tools.
• Yearly analysis of available resources. Planning of required resources.
• Control and evaluation of results and effectiveness of preventive health and social activities. Planning and introduction of evaluation tools.