A pilot study carried out in Spain to determine the consumption of alcohol and tobacco and possible behavioral addictions in adolescents aged 12 and 13, students in 1st and 2nd year of ESO, has revealed that 34.6% of students of these ages recognize that they already has drank alcohol at least once, although this prevalence decreases as the time period analyzed decreases (30.6% in the last 12 months and 21.5% in the last month).
The use of electronic cigarettes is another relevant data to take into account, since it shows that 25.2% of students aged 12 and 13 – that is, one in four – affirm that they have vaped at some time; 21% have done so in the last year and 11.2% in the last month. Regardless of the time interval analyzed, the prevalence of electronic cigarette consumption is somewhat higher among girls than among boys.
Age is a key factor when analyzing the prevalence of electronic cigarette consumption among the youngest secondary school students. Thus, the data recorded for 13-year-old students practically doubles that of 12-year-old students in the last month (14.5% versus 7.6%).
This study by the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs has been carried out simultaneously with the ESTUDES survey, between February 5 to May 28, 2023, which allows the data to be compared over time. and methodological.
Consumption of alcoholic and energy drinks and tobacco
Boys and girls responded in a similar way about having drunk alcohol at some point in their lives and in the last year, although when asked about the last 30 days, the percentage of boys who had done so was slightly higher (22.3%) than girls (20.6%). This situation is reversed in the 14-18 year old group where alcohol consumption for all time periods is more widespread among girls.
Regarding where minors get alcoholic beverages, the study indicates that they purchase them mainly in neighborhood stores (41.6%), or that they come from other people’s houses (40.8%) or from their own home ( 33.2%). In all time periods and for all types of consumption analyzed, an increase in prevalence among students is generally observed as alcohol consumption among their parents becomes more frequent.
8.5% of students aged 12 to 13 admit having smoked tobacco at some point in their lives.
Energy drinks are quite popular in this age group, since 37.7% of 12 and 13 year old students have consumed one of them, such as Red Bull, Burn, Monster, Coca-Cola Energy, etc., in the last 30 days, and 10.2% have taken them mixed with alcohol.
The intake of these products increases as the age of the students increases, and almost doubles in the 14 to 18 year old group compared to the 12 to 13 year old group; in the case of energy drinks mixed with alcohol (19.5% versus 10.2%). Taking into account sex, the consumption of both energy drinks alone and mixed with alcohol is higher among men in both age groups.
Regarding tobacco, 8.5% of students aged 12 to 13 admit having smoked tobacco at some point in their lives (6.5% in the last year and 4.1% in the last month), and their consumption It is somewhat more widespread among girls than among boys, regardless of the time period analyzed.
The prevalence of consumption of this substance increases as the age of the students increases. Thus, the ESTUDES prevalence results for the 14 to 18 year old group reach five times those recorded among 12-13 year olds for the time period of the last month, going from 4.1% to 21.0%.
Internet abuse in adolescent students
The possible problematic use of the Internet in 1st and 2nd ESO students in the last 12 months stands at 14.5%. Contrary to what happens with the other behaviors analyzed so far in relation to the online world, the prevalence of abuse or inappropriate use of the Internet is higher among girls (18.0%) than among boys (11.0% ).
In the group of students from 14 to 18 years old, it is observed that the presence of students who present possible problematic use of the Internet increases to 20.5%. This increase is more evident in the case of girls, where the figure stands at 25.9%.
Source: Ministry of Health
