Table EYE-11. School surveys: percentage lifetime prevalence of psychoactive substance use among students aged 15–16 years

Notes:

This table presents data on 15- to 16-year-old school students obtained from national surveys. Exceptionally, some relevant regional surveys are presented. In all of the school surveys the method for data collection was classroom-based, anonymous, self-completion questionnaires in written test conditions.

Figures from surveys with small sample sizes should be interpreted with caution.

Previously published figures may have been revised and therefore are not necessarily comparable with those in previous EMCDDA publications.

Caution is required comparing figures due to methodological limitations. For methods and definitions see Methods and definitions: youth and the schools population.

ESPAD

ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other drugs) is coordinated by the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other drugs (CAN). ESPAD prevalence figures are taken from published ESPAD reports and may differ sometimes from those reported directly by Member States. The sample sizes given refer to the number of participating 15- to 16-year-old students who filled in the questionnaire.

HBSC (WHO)

HBSC (Health behaviour in school-aged children) introduced mandatory cannabis questions for the first time in 2001/02. Two optional extended questionnaires (Ext and Short) include other drugs. These questions are based on the ESPAD questionnaire.

(1) LSD and other hallucinogens: includes LSD only.

(2) HBSC German figures are based on regional samples only (Berlin, Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony).

(3) Heroin: excludes heroin smoking.

(4) Data included in 1995 ESPAD report but not strictly comparable (based on an earlier survey).

(5) Ecstasy: includes other synthetic drugs. LSD and other hallucinogens: includes poppers/amyl nitrate.

(6) Ecstasy: includes LSD.

(7) Cocaine: includes cocaine powder only. Heroin: includes only by smoking heroin.

(8) LSD and other hallucinogens: includes LSD only. Cocaine: includes cocaine powder only. Heroin: includes only by smoking heroin.

(9) Interpret with caution as sample size is small.

(10) Figures included in 1999 ESPAD report but not strictly comparable, as the sample was not drawn according to ESPAD guidelines.

(11) Cocaine: includes 'hard' drugs.

(12) Caution is required comparing figures from Portugal as the mean age of the sample is higher than in any other EU Member State.

(13) Cocaine: includes cocaine powder only.

(14) ESPAD methods are adopted to varying degrees.

(15) Only 15 year-old students are included in UK ONS and Scottish Executive school surveys.

(16) ESPAD 2003 Germany figures are based on six regions only (Bavaria, Brandenburg, Berlin, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Thuringia). ESPAD 2007 Germany figures are based on these plus Saarland. ESPAD 2011 Germany figures are based in only five out of sixteen federal states (Bundesländer). ESPAD 2003 Turkey figures are based on one major city in each of six different regions (Adana, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Istanbul, Izmir and Samsun). ESPAD 2007 and 2011 Belgium figures are based on Flanders only.

(17) Interpret with caution as sample size is small and private and vocational schools are excluded.

(18) Inhalants excludes poppers/amyl nitrate which are included in 'other' drugs.

(19) The sample size given for these surveys is for a wider age range than 15 to 16 years.

(20) Inhalants are adjusted for under-reporting of butyl nitrites.

(21) Amphetamines includes only drug use not under a doctor's order.

(22) ESPAD 2007 data for Denmark has limited comparability.

(23) Spain did not participate in the ESPAD survey. The data included here is based on a Spanish survey conducted in 2006/2007. Drug prevalence questions may be considered comparable to the ESPAD questions but other aspects of the method mean that the Spanish data is not strictly comparable.

(24) The prevalence rate of amphetamine use in Austria has to be interpreted very cautiously because there are problems with data quality. A validation study found out, that the pupils mixed up amphetamines with energy drinks in several cases.

Sources:

See Table EYE-0 for further information on sources. School surveys: sources.

Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC), International Coordinating Centre, Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU) School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, Medical and Biological Sciences Building, ST ANDREWS, Fife KY16 9TF HBSC