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The study cautioned that non-medical use of prescription drugs among teens remains a concern. Image: IStock.com/RapidEye via AFP Relaxnews
Young Europeans drink less alcohol and also smoke less, but are increasingly dabbling in cannabis, a continental study showed Thursday.
“Smoking and alcohol use among 15-16 year old schoolchildren are showing signs of decline, but there are concerns about potentially risky cannabis use and the challenges posed by new addictive behavior,” according to the European School Survey Project on alcohol and other drugs (ESPAD).
ESPAD interviewed nearly 100,000 15- and 16-year-olds in 2019 in 35 countries about adolescent attitudes toward addictive forms of behavior in its seventh study since 1995.
The study, in conjunction with the European Union drug agency EMCDDA, showed a decrease in alcohol consumption as a result of the recent tightening of legislation on the sale of alcohol to minors.
The study found that more than three-quarters of those surveyed had consumed alcohol and 47% had consumed it in the past month, but the trend has dropped from 91% to 63% in 2003.
Only 10% of those surveyed said they smoked daily, a reduction in half compared to 25 years ago in the face of anti-smoking campaigns. One in five admitted to continuing to indulge from time to time, compared to one in three in 1995.
But there were huge disparities between countries, with just 2% of young people in Iceland saying they smoke daily compared to one in four in Bulgaria.
For the first time, the researchers questioned respondents about smoking e-cigarettes.
The study found that 40% of the sample had tried the experience, but only 14% were indulging on a daily basis.
Additionally, 14% of those who had never smoked before indicated that they had tried the electronic version in the past month.
Cannabis on the rise
While smoking and drinking are relatively declining, drug use is on the rise, with 16% of those surveyed admitting to having tried cannabis, compared to 11% in 1995.
Seven percent admitted monthly use, increasing to 15% in Italy.
In France, 24% of those surveyed said they had used illicit drugs on at least one occasion.
Young French people were also, although in a small number (2.8%), the most likely to have tried cocaine among their continental peers.
“Non-medical use of prescription drugs among adolescents remains a concern,” the study warned, noting that 6.6% of the sample had used tranquilizers and sedatives.
The researchers also looked at other addictive forms of behavior, including video games and social media use, with technology readily available to young people who spend up to six hours a day playing games. RGA
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