Aim of the study:
To determine whether the following symptoms: depressive symptoms, eating disorder symptoms among adolescents in Cracow secondary schools are associated with an increased risk of psychoactive substance use.

Subject or material and methods:
A representative sample of the population of Krakow secondary school pupils was tested. A two-stage draw method identified a group of 2034 2nd form pupils of all types of secondary schools: grammar schools, technical schools and vocational schools (17-year olds). They were tested using the following screening questionnaires: Beck Depression Scale, EAT-26 eating disorders scale and author’s drug questionnaire.

Results:
The prevalence of depressive symptoms among boys and girls is associated with an increased alcohol use, cigarette smoking and drug use. All of the relationships are statistically significant in both sexes. 41.7% of depressive boys admit to smoking, versus. only 32.6% in the non-depressive group. The relationships are statistically significant in both sexes. The prevalence of eating disorder symptoms among boys and girls is associated with a higher alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and drug use. Compared with a group of young people without eating disorder symptoms, the relationships are of statistical significance.

Discussion:
Comorbidity of the following symptoms was found: depressive symptoms, eating disorder symptoms and symptoms of psychoactive substance use.

Conclusions:
The presence of depressive symptoms increases the risk of the use of psychoactive substances, especially alcohol and tobacco, to a lesser extent – drugs, both in the boys and in the girls. The presence of eating disorder symptoms increases the risk of smoking and drug use among both boys and girls.