logo of the EU drugs agency

You are viewing archived content

Please note that this page is a static copy of a previously published web page and is no longer actively maintained.
Be aware that the information contained here may be out-of-date.
For the most recent information, we recommend visiting the main website of the EMCDDA.

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

CountryYearReferenceProject Sample all agesSample 15–16 yearsCannabisInhalants/ volatile substancesAmphet aminesEcstasyLSD and other hallucinogensCocaineHeroin
Belgium (Flemish)1998HBSC(WHO)866719435211
Belgium (Flemish)(19)1999(1)VAD4765724474421
Belgium (Flemish)2000HBSC(WHO)498921433311
Belgium (Flemish)(19)2000(2)VAD8237524454421
Belgium (Flemish)(19)2001-2002(3)VAD3511432866634
Belgium (Flemish)2002HBSC(WHO)Ext6289203025334311
Belgium (Flemish)2002-2003(4)VAD157651224733332
Belgium (Flemish)2003-2004(5)VAD149846031546422
Belgium (Flemish)2004-2005(6)VAD150046725434322
Belgium (Flemish)2006HBSC(WHO)Ext10404157826334231
Belgium (french speaking )1997-98HBSC(WHO)1298726555212
Belgium (french speaking )2002HBSC(WHO)Ext4323138126414621
Belgium (french speaking )2006HBSC(WHO)Ext1375
Belgium2003ESPAD232032724331
Belgium(16)2007ESPAD188924855341
Bulgaria1999ESPAD539112311113
Bulgaria2003ESPAD274021323221
Bulgaria2007ESPAD235322366332
Czech Republic1995ESPAD296222820311
Czech Republic1999ESPAD357935754513
Czech Republic(1)2002HBSC(WHO)Ext501216603172531
Czech Republic2003ESPAD319544948611
Czech Republic2006HBSC(WHO)Ext166525922
Czech Republic2007ESPAD390145735511
Denmark1995ESPAD243917621002
Denmark1999ESPAD179024743111
Denmark2002HBSC(WHO)4672138023
Denmark2003ESPAD297823842121
Denmark(22)2007ESPAD87725655132
Germany(2)2002HBSC(WHO)5650174924
Germany(16)2003ESPAD5110271153321
Germany(16)2007ESPAD5011201153231
Estonia1995ESPAD31187800100
Estonia1999ESPAD325413773221
Estonia(3)2002HBSC(WHO)3979126717
Estonia2003ESPAD246323875211
Estonia2007ESPAD237226946321
Ireland1995ESPAD184937391322
Ireland1998(1)8497221343322
Ireland1999ESPAD2277322235522
Ireland2002HBSC(WHO)Short287591920
Ireland2003ESPAD2407391815231
Ireland2007ESPAD2221201534341
Greece(4)1995(1)2617264100
Greece1998(2)8557101442321
Greece1999ESPAD225991412212
Greece2002HBSC(WHO)Short38071324562
Greece2003ESPAD190661502111
Greece2007ESPAD30606932211
Spain(5)(19)1996(1)PNSD1919125344531
Spain(5)(19)1998(1)PNSD1834628443541
Spain(5)(19)2000(1)PNSD1834830435541
Spain(5)(19)2002(1)PNSD2577036345461
Spain2002HBSC(WHO)5827175635
Spain(19)2004(1)PNSD 41433361
Spain(19)2006(1)PNSD36333441
Spain(23)2007PNSD37333441
France(4)1995(1)1262111
France(6)1997(2)99192362321
France1999ESPAD121132284351123121
France2002HBSC(WHO)Ext8185261430
France(1)2003ESPAD2199381123132
France2007ESPAD2916311244253
Italy1995ESPAD155519834532
Italy1999ESPAD410625622224
Italy(14)(19)2000(1)21933458728513335
Italy(7)(14)(19)2001(2)22358448527511222
Italy(8)(14)(19)2002(3)1693419412120
Italy2002HBSC(WHO)4386122922
Italy2003ESPAD487127633344
Italy(14)(19)2004(4)301721169119411222
Italy (14)(19)2005(5)406621563317411222
Italy2007ESPAD998123543453
Cyprus1995ESPAD6325712222
Cyprus1999ESPAD2095211112
Cyprus2003ESPAD215241800000
Cyprus(17)(19)2004(1)91564
Cyprus2007ESPAD634051633232
Latvia1995ESPAD217951700100
Latvia1999ESPAD228417646327
Latvia2002HBSC(WHO)3481111712
Latvia2003ESPAD284116733111
Latvia2007ESPAD2275181367421
Lithuania1995ESPAD319611600010
Lithuania1999ESPAD5039121024114
Lithuania2002HBSC(WHO)Short564519058
Lithuania2003ESPAD503613552211
Lithuania2007ESPAD241118333221
Luxembourg(9)1999(1)5623766113
Luxembourg2002HBSC(WHO)734728432121
Luxembourg2005/6HBSC(WHO)150723
Hungary1995ESPAD25714600100
Hungary1999ESPAD642111423311
Hungary2002HBSC(WHO)4164133013
Hungary2003ESPAD267716533211
Hungary2007ESPAD281713845321
Malta1995ESPAD283281712221
Malta1999ESPAD432171612111
Malta2002HBSC(WHO)19806676
Malta2003ESPAD3500101611111
Malta2007ESPAD3668131654241
Netherlands1996(1)10455318841
Netherlands(10)1999(2)2615282431
Netherlands2002HBSC(WHO)4269127326
Netherlands2003ESPAD209528615231
Netherlands2007ESPAD209128624331
Austria(11)1994(1)2250102
Austria2002HBSC(WHO)4472129814
Austria2003ESPAD2402211443221
Austria2007ESPAD2571171483231
Poland1995ESPAD89408921211
Poland1999ESPAD14973425
Poland2002HBSC(WHO)Ext6383215218
Poland2003ESPAD596418953222
Poland2005(1)14843221
Poland2007ESPAD212016644222
Portugal1995ESPAD20337321000
Portugal1999ESPAD36098332113
Portugal(12)2002HBSC(WHO)294080220
Portugal2003ESPAD294615834232
Portugal2007ESPAD314113422122
Romania1999ESPAD23931100018
Romania2003ESPAD43713101010
Romania2007ESPAD22894411120
Slovenia1995ESPAD3306131201111
Slovenia1999ESPAD3184251414212
Slovenia2002HBSC(WHO)3956106928
Slovenia2003ESPAD2785281513111
Slovenia2007ESPAD3085221623232
Slovakia1995ESPAD23769610111
Slovakia1999ESPAD244219712302
Slovakia2003ESPAD227627923210
Slovakia2006National survey 3831174525633211
Slovakia2007ESPAD2468321326431
Finland1995ESPAD23005400100
Finland1999ESPAD328610511111
Finland2002HBSC(WHO)5388174510
Finland2003ESPAD354311811101
Finland2007ESPAD498881012111
Sweden1995ESPAD347261211100
Sweden1998(1)CAN54557811111
Sweden1999ESPAD34458811111
Sweden2000(1)CAN60008921111
Sweden2001(1)CAN55007811111
Sweden2002(1)CANapprox50007811111
Sweden2002HBSC(WHO)392612267
Sweden2003(1)CANapprox50006711001
Sweden2003ESPAD32327812111
Sweden2004(1)CAN1200006711111
Sweden2005(1)CAN13000055146811000
Sweden2007ESPAD31797922221
United Kingdom1995ESPAD772241201381432
United Kingdom1997(1)2875638473321
United Kingdom1999ESPAD2641351583533
United Kingdom2003ESPAD2068381235241
United Kingdom2007ESPAD217929924351
UK (England)(13)(15)(19)1998(1)NatCen/NFER475230683331
UK (England)(15)(19)2000(1)NatCen/NFER706131644522
UK (England)(15)(19)2001(1)NatCen/NFER9400361945732
UK (England)(15)(19)2002(1)NatCen/NFER9859361645642
UK (England)2002HBSC(WHO)6081177340
UK (England)(15)(18)2003(1)NatCen/NFER371845752
UK (England)(15)(18)2004(1)NatCen/NFER96662112331544662
UK (England)(15)2005(1)NatCen/NFER85481907341735661
UK (England)(15)2006(1)NatCen/NFER76131841291434651
UK (Scotland)(15)(19)1998(1)Scottish Gov3538389124710
UK (Scotland)(15)(19)2000(1)Scottish Gov470028524221
UK (Scotland)(15)(19)2002(1)Scottish Gov23000
UK (Scotland)2002HBSC(WHO)4404114937
UK (Scotland)(15)(19)2004(1)Scottish Gov35645432
UK (Scotland)(15)(19)2006(1)Scottish Gov230171198025535452
UK (England)(3)(4)20071NatCen/NFER1829271734561
UK (N.Ireland)(3)(4)20071National Agency171135451
UK (Wales)1998HBSC(WHO)12383615145721
UK (Wales)2002HBSC(WHO)3887116434
Croatia1995ESPAD281591312111
Croatia1999ESPAD3602161323214
Croatia2003ESPAD2884221425111
Croatia2007ESPAD3008181122221
Turkey(16)2003ESPAD41774522222
Norway1995ESPAD39106712111
Norway1999ESPAD391812633212
Norway2003ESPAD38339522111
Norway2007ESPAD34826711111
United States of America(20)(21)2005(1)NIDA162003413114652

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) and Council of Europe (Pompidou Group). 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. Turkey figures are based on one major city in each of six different regions (Adana, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Istanbul, Izmir and Samsun). ESPAD 2007 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. 

Sources:

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

(see the help page for information about formats etc.)

Page last updated: Wednesday, 15 July 2009