The research has as starting point a community planning to discuss the health status of one of the key risk areas of Fortaleza, Ceará state, in which the theme of drugs was highlighted. It was intended to get in touch with what young people perceive as factors of risk and protection for drug abuse in their community. It is a qualitative study in which the focus group was used as technique for obtaining information. Data processing systematized common themes, dividing them into two categories of analysis: risk factors and protection factors for involvement with drugs. In the speech of adolescents, it was noted that multiple related factors coexist, sometimes as aspects of influence, sometimes as protectors, such as: family, social group, school, life in the danger zone and the media. On the other hand, the social support networks appeared essentially as protective. We also realized that some issues were raised transversely to the central theme, as life chances of those young people and the need for public policies that are important in supporting social networks, family and work in hazardous areas. So what is put into question is the impossibility of consensus on the unique factors of risk or protection. From this, we highlight the importance of enhancing the discussion and provoking thoughts about possible ways of life outside the circuit of drugs.
adolescence; drug abuse; risk factors