Objective: Introduction: The urgency of the topic is due to the fact that in recent years in Ukraine a part of youth who use narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances is growing. Today there are more than a quarter of billion drug addicts in the world. This number includes those who have tried drugs at least once. Among them - about 27 million drug addicts that are in need of treatment. The aim: to analyze the knowledge of the students of higher educational institutions of Poltava about various issues related to drug addiction.
Patients and methods: Materials and method: 600 questionnaires of students who study at the universities (Poltava). The following methods were used: historical - analytical and bibliosemantic, medico-statistical, sociological, system approach and system analysis.
Results: Results: Student youth responded to various questions that were presented in the questionnaire, about various issues related to drug addiction. 26 % of respondents indicated that they know places where drugs can be purchased. To the question «Do you know what drugs are?» оnly 7 % answered «No». 2, 5 % of those surveyed met with drug users on the street. 13 ± 1, 51 % (р<0, 05) of the respondents admitted that they were irritated when they were criticized for using narcotic drugs and only 9 ± 1, 25 % (р<0, 05) felt guilty about abuse.
Conclusion: Сonclusions: Students should be aware of the problem of the use of psychoactive substances, be aware of the legislative framework for the prevention of consumption, turnover and any manipulations with psychoactive substances.
Keywords: Poltava; analyze; harmfulness; students; drug addiction.