[A study on alcohol use among working youth who are continuing apprenticeship training].

OBJECTIVE Considering both burden of entering working life and engaging in adult roles in terms of being employed, working youth forms a specific group to be handled regarding alcohol use problems. In this study it was aimed to investigate prevalence and patterns of alcohol use among youth in apprenticeship schools in central Ankara. METHOD A survey was done to investigate presence of alcohol use problems among students of five apprenticeship schools in Ankara using CAGE Questionnaire and a questionnaire form including more detailed questions about alcohol use. RESULTS Prevalence of life-time use of alcohol was 37.3% and prevalence of alcohol use more than once was 24.3%. Ten per cent of students with a history of alcohol use told that they went on drinking during last year. Proportion of students who continued drinking during the last year and getting at least 2+ score from CAGE was found as 4.5%. CONCLUSION Prevalence of clinically significant alcohol use is quite high among working youth. Thus, in order to plan preventive measures, risk factors for alcohol use problems should be considered in detail in working youth.