Harsh ways of upbringing on the part of parents, differences and strict disciplining, adult-oriented attitudes, and lack of approval safety and instability are related to poor participation by youths in leisure activities that promote self-development. It is characteristic of such young people to search for a moment’s pleasure from alcohol and early dating, to have zero self control and a short sighted lifestyle. This paper is based on the study in which 14-year-old Finnish, Estonian and Russian youths’ attitudes towards use of intoxicants have been compared. It examines the association between youths’ attitudes towards intoxicants and parents’ values of upbringing. The data were collected using a questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised mainly students' attitudes towards intoxicants and they were asked to evaluate their parents’ ways and values of upbringing and attitudes towards intoxicants. Not in a single one of the three countries was found a correlation between youths’ attitudes towards intoxicants and parents’ negatively-tinged ways of upbringing. A negative attitude towards intoxicants can be best obtained from positive ways of upbringing. In all countries, the ethical values of parents correlated with young people’s attitudes towards intoxicant use.

Questionnaire for 14-years old students in Finland, Estonia and Russia. The sample of the study comprised 2266 Estonian, Finnish and Russian students.

The children whom parents use negative ways of upbringing, tend to have more positive attitudes towards intoxicants. The children whom parents use positive ways of upbringing, tend to have a negative attitudes towards intoxicants. Ethical values of parents correlate with their children’s attitudes towards intoxicant use.