Prevenção do consumo de álcool em manuais escolares de Ciências Naturais portugueses

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a serious problem, very prevalent and growing among schooled adolescents. For that reason, the prevention of alcohol consumption should be carried out at school. School textbooks are a resource to be used in preventive processes. The objective of the present investigation is to analyze the approaches to contents concerning alcohol consumption proposed in 9th grade Portuguese Natural Sciences’ school textbooks. For that, one has proceeded to the contents analysis of the seven school books in Portugal for the school year of 2008/2009. These textbooks will be used until 2014. School textbooks approach the alcohol consumption problem in a very incomplete and superficial way. None suggests activities to develop students’ competences to resist to pressures leading to consumption. School textbook authors should take into account the need to discuss this topic.