GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE PATTERNS IN THE YOUTH ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The article examines the concept of "risky behavior" from the perspective of such a form as the use of psychoactive substances. The goal is to study gender differences in problems caused by risky behavior related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages among students. In the course of the study, it was analyzed how boys and girls interpret a healthy lifestyle, what are the differences in their ideas about healthy behavior, how does this affect the violation of the parameters of a healthy lifestyle, namely the use of psychoactive substances (alcohol). An empirical study of the peculiarities of drinking alcoholic beverages and attitudes towards them among modern Ukrainian students allowed us to conclude that there are differences among the patterns of risky behavior among students of different genders. Quite often, young people consider the abuse of alcoholic beverages to be the norm and do not think about the negative consequences of the habit of regular consumption. Based on the results of our research, we can say that there is a greater tendency to risky behavior among male students. This is confirmed by different opinions about the dose, frequency of consumption of alcoholic beverages, as well as attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. In the future, it is planned to conduct a qualitative sociological study, develop, justify and test a program of psycho-prophylactic work.