Costa youngsters' bad habits

Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use on the rise amongst teenagers in Spain

The latest study carried out by the Ministry of Health amongst 14-18 year-old students, Secondary School Students Survey on Drugs (ESTUDES) revealed that binge drinking in Alicante had dropped in comparison to the rest of Spain, although Alicante youngsters were more inclined to smoke cigarettes or cannabis.

ESTUDES is carried out every 2 years among 14 to 18year-old students in schools in Spain.

During 2016/2017 35,369 students aged 14-18 from 863 public and private schools in 1,726 classrooms were interviewed/ completed questionnaires, of these 3,502 students were interviewed in the Valencia region.

Most commonly used drugs are alcohol and tobacco (both licit), followed by cannabis. There are differences in the use of substances between males and females. The use of legal drugs (tobacco, alcohol and hypnosedatives) is more widespread among females while the use of illegal drugs is more widespread among males. The average age of onset of drug use is between 13 and 16 years of age. For all substances, prevalence of use increases with age.

Use of alcoholic beverages

In 2014, 286,000 students aged 14-18 started to drink alcohol. In 2016, 323,900 students aged 14-18 started drinking alcoholic beverages. Again there is no real difference between the sexes, 52% are male and 48% female. The number of students who consumed alcohol in 2106 came to 1,160,200

Intensive use, drunkenness and binge drinking, despite showing a global downward trend, continue to show high prevalence, and are associated with a greater prevalence of use of illegal drugs (poly-drug use). In 2016/17, 58.9% of 18year-old of male students admitted binge drinking, more worryingly 13.2% of 14-yearolds youths also binged on alcohol. The percentage in females was 54% in 18-year-olds, 14.6% in 14-year-olds and 27.3% in 15-year-olds.

Binge drinking is more common as the age increases. At 14 and 15 years of age, the percentage of females who binge drink is greater than that of males. Around 34.9% of minors obtain alcohol easily. Bars/pubs are where the highest percentage of minors are obtaining alcoholic beverages from (64.8%), followed by local shops (Chinese) 63.4% and supermarkets (58.8%).

With regard to the type of alcoholic beverages, beer use seems to be more extended during weekdays and mixed drinks (soft drinks + spirits) reach the highest figures on the weekend. Alcohol is ranking last in the associated risk perception list of substances, proof of which is the fact that only 50% of 14 to 18-year-olds consider that drinking 5 or 6 beers/drinks on the weekend can cause many/quite a few problems.

Tobacco use

In 2014, 137,200 students started smoking, this figure increased to 184,600 in 2016. There is no apparent difference between sexes when it comes to starting to smoke. 95% were minors when they started, 47% males, and 53% females. In all 534,900 students had smoke over the past 12 months. 20.1% of students had also used electronic cigarettes.

Cannabis use

Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug by young people.

In 2014, 146,300 students starting to consume cannabis. In 2016, 170,000 students started to use it. 52% were male, and 48% female. 398,600 students have used the substance in the past 12 months.

It is estimated that 61,180 of 14 to 18-year-olds may have a problematic cannabis use (65,8% of males). Some of the signs include failing subjects at school (19.7%), returning home later (55.2%), bad relationship with parents (13.4%).

Young people have a relatively low perception of the risk associated with cannabis use, despite the available evidence about its physical, psychological and social consequences.

After alcohol and tobacco, cannabis is the most available psychoactive substance. When asked if they would consume cannabis if it were legal, 12.5% said yes, and 87.5% said no.

Cocaine use

In 2014, 14,300 students started to consume cocaine (powder and/or base. In 2016, 17,700 started to use the substance. The majority of those who use it are male (62%), while 38% are female. 32,300 students consume cocaine in the past 12 months.

Stimulating substances

27.2% of students have used stimulating substances to improve studying, without having a doctor prescribe them. 54.5% are male. 91% are minors. 36.1% failed the previous year’s school exams. 24.9% declared they had problems concentrating.

Amongst the substances consumed were energy drinks (82.6%), others (12,3%), vitamin complex (9.5%), Gingko Biloba (9.2%), cocaine (4.2%), metilphenidate (3.1%), amphetamines (2.7%). 3.6% had purchased via internet, 20.7% of a drug dealer, 29.3% from a pharmacy and 57.5% had obtained the substances from a friend or family member.

Use of new psychoactive substances

4.5% of students had consumed new psychoactive substances at some time in their life; the most used was spice, followed by ketamine. Obtained usually from friends (53.7%) or dealers (34.5%) or at a bar or pub (27.3%).

Internet use amongst students aged 14-17 during 2016/2017: 99.6% use WhatsApp, emails, etc. 98.5% download music, films, TV series, etc. 97.9% use social networks. 69.4% make online purchases. 66.95% play online games. 58.3% visit ‘adult’ sites. 6.4% gamble online.

323,807 students between 14 and 18 are compulsive internet users, the worst age being 16 (22.3%), followed by 18 (22%).

The compulsive use of internet has evolved from 2014/2015 from 244,3355 to the current 323,807 users.

Gambling amongst 14-18 year olds

Online gambling has dropped from 10.2% in 2014 to 6.4% 2016/2017, gambling in general has dropped from 20.6% in 2014 to 13.6% in 2016/2017.

Secondary school teachers were asked for their opinion about internet use in students.

77.5% said that uncontrolled internet used can negatively affect students’ studies, and 63.7% said it affected their behaviour.

68.6% of teachers said that pupils used their smartphones during breaks instead of socialising with classmates, and 38.4% said that pupils were paying more attention to their phones during class, then to their teachers.

38.6% of teachers consider it vital that misuse of new technologies should be discussed in the classroom.

54.2% of teachers had received information on how to prevent abuse of new technologies (smartphones, internet, social networks), etc.

68.9% of students said that they had received instruction about the effects and problems associated with the misuse of new technologies, while 26.9% declared they were taught in the classroom about the problems associated with online gambling and betting.