4. ADOLESCENT AND ADULT LIFE STYLE 4.2 Alcohol The numerous so-called life style risk factors, which are listed below, While small amounts of alcohol protect against heart disease in later life, have been associated with disease, disability and premature death in there is no evidence that encouraging drinking is beneficial for the adult life. They are largely determined by harmful behavioural pattern individual or society as a whole. Chronic alcoh ol misuse is associated which are often acquired during adolescence. Harmful life styles are with impaired liver function and cirrhosis, cardiac disease and disorders inter-related: those who smoke tend to drink more; those who drink are of the central nervous system, including alcohol dessa more likely to use illicit drugs, drop out of school earlier, and engage in more violent behaviour. Parental health behaviour is an important before their fifteenth birthday. The overall impact of alcohol on mortality predictor of the life style that children will adopt is high with approximately 774, 000 deaths annually, many of which occur 4.1 Tobacco use in young adulthood, such as those caused by traffic accidents, injuries, violence and homicides. Alcohol misuse may be the result or cause of a WHO estimates that tobacco causes approximately 4 million deaths each range of social problems including job losses, marital breakdown, and year worldwide, all of which are preventable By 2030 this figure is crime. projected to rise to 10 million deaths a year, of which 70% will occur in developing countries. Studies have shown that the majority of smokers Reducing alcohol problems by began the habit before the age of 19 years. Smoking is the cause of up to providing information about the consequences of alcohol consumption 45%of cancer deaths, and contributes to circulatory diseases, including n health, family and society through educational programmes coronary heart disease and stroke, often at younger age beginning at younger ages Smoking is a major contributor to the development of chronic airflow implementing legislation to ban the sale to and/or consumption of struction, which in turn may greatly reduce quality of life in later years alcohol by teenagers, and limiting availability through taxation and Among those already affected by respiratory disorders, smoking tends to pne ce control worsen lung function controlling advertising of alcoholic beverages, and banning those Preventing tobacco use and treating dependence by addressed at young people providing information about the effects of smoking at school providing access to effective, early treatment for alcohol problems, (incorporating teaching modules into national school curricula) liaising with NGO's and organizations that promote healthy life styles legislation to ban tobacco advertising and the sale of tobacco to 4.3 licit drug use increasing tobacco excise taxes Throughout the world the periods most associated with illicit drug use are adolescence and young adulthood. There is evidence from numerous making smoking-cessation programmes more readily available countries that up to 45% of 16-year-olds have tried illicit drugs at least taking the differential needs of adolescents and adults into account once, and up to 29% were current users Most of these young people are (eg peer pressure) cannabis users, but the use of psychoactive substances, including encouraging health insurers to offer lower premiums for non-smokers, amph ecstasy and solvents is increasing among certain groups and to cover costs for smoking cessation programmes in their policies Health risks, which are associated with amphetamine10 4. ADOLESCENT AND ADULT LIFE STYLE The numerous so-called life style risk factors, which are listed below, have been associated with disease, disability and premature death in adult life. They are largely determined by harmful behavioural patterns, which are often acquired during adolescence. Harmful life styles are inter-related: those who smoke tend to drink more; those who drink are more likely to use illicit drugs, drop out of school earlier, and engage in more violent behaviour. Parental health behaviour is an important predictor of the life style that children will adopt. 4.1 Tobacco use WHO estimates that tobacco causes approximately 4 million deaths each year worldwide, all of which are preventable. By 2030 this figure is projected to rise to 10 million deaths a year, of which 70% will occur in developing countries. Studies have shown that the majority of smokers began the habit before the age of 19 years. Smoking is the cause of up to 45% of cancer deaths, and contributes to circulatory diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke, often at younger age. Smoking is a major contributor to the development of chronic airflow obstruction, which in turn may greatly reduce quality of life in later years. Among those already affected by respiratory disorders, smoking tends to worsen lung function. Preventing tobacco use and treating dependence by l providing information about the effects of smoking at school (incorporating teaching modules into national school curricula) l legislation to ban tobacco advertising and the sale of tobacco to children l increasing tobacco excise taxes l making smoking-cessation programmes more readily available l taking the differential needs of adolescents and adults into account (eg. peer pressure) l encouraging health insurers to offer lower premiums for non-smokers, and to cover costs for smoking cessation programmes in their policies 4.2 Alcohol While small amounts of alcohol protect against heart disease in later life, there is no evidence that encouraging drinking is beneficial for the individual or society as a whole. Chronic alcohol misuse is associated with impaired liver function and cirrhosis, cardiac disease and disorders of the central nervous system, including alcohol dependence. It is estimated that over 50% of those who report excessive drinking started before their fifteenth birthday. The overall impact of alcohol on mortality is high with approximately 774,000 deaths annually, many of which occur in young adulthood, such as those caused by traffic accidents, injuries, violence and homicides. Alcohol misuse may be the result or cause of a range of social problems including job losses, marital breakdown, and crime. Reducing alcohol problems by l providing information about the consequences of alcohol consumption on health, family and society through educational programmes beginning at younger ages l implementing legislation to ban the sale to and/or consumption of alcohol by teenagers, and limiting availability through taxation and price control l controlling advertising of alcoholic beverages, and banning those addressed at young people l providing access to effective, early treatment for alcohol problems, liaising with NGO’s and organizations that promote healthy life styles 4.3 Illicit drug use Throughout the world the periods most associated with illicit drug use are adolescence and young adulthood. There is evidence from numerous countries that up to 45% of 16-year-olds have tried illicit drugs at least once, and up to 29% were current users. Most of these young people are cannabis users, but the use of psychoactive substances, including amphetamines, ‘ecstasy’ and solvents is increasing among certain groups of young people. Health risks, which are associated with amphetamine