Students Who Use Drugs: What Teachers Think and How They Handle the Situation

Abstract

In order to describe and analyze teachers’ perceptions and attitudes regarding the use of alcohol/drugs (AD) by High School students from public schools in Águas Lindas-GO/Brazil, this mixed study was carried out in 11 schools, with 91 teachers, using a sociodemographic questionnaire, a semi-structured interview about the perception of AD use by students, and questions about the judgment of those who use it. Most (57%) were male, average age 37.2 years; most participants believed that students who use AD are morally weak (51%), a danger to society (47%), and may commit crimes in their own families (98%); on the other hand, they consider them as important as anyone else (98%). They claim that they do not feel qualified to address the DA theme, nor to deal with students who use it. The study reveals and reinforces that health education should form part of teacher training for a preventive and welcoming approach.