Aspects regarding the level of awareness of parents and teachers on drug use

The objective of this paper is to present certain aspects related to the level of knowledge among parents and teachers regarding illegal drug use among children and adolescents. Material and methods. This quantitative study was conducted in 2024 with the participation of 809 individuals of both genders from various localities across Romania. Participation was voluntary, based on freely given written consent, while respecting anonymity and allowing withdrawal at any stage of the study. An omnibus questionnaire consisting of 26 items was applied. For this paper, items related to parents’ and teachers’ knowledge regarding signs and interventions associated with children's and adolescents' illegal drug use were selected. Results were statistically processed using Spearman's correlation. Results. The following correlations were identified: a very weak correlation between children's illegal drug use and recognizing the signs of illegal drug use; a moderate correlation between knowledge of children's peer groups and awareness of the places where children spend their free time; a moderate correlation between knowledge of how to obtain tests for illegal drugs and knowledge of where to report illegal drug use; and a weak to moderate correlation between appreciation of information sources on illegal drugs and assessing the accessibility of information about illegal drugs. Discussions and conclusions. Most respondents assessed the accessibility of information sources on illegal drugs as limited. Therefore, it is necessary to implement informational campaigns targeting adults—particularly parents and teachers—and not solely young people, focusing on the harmful effects associated with illegal drug consumption