(Aug. 28) – Teens and alcohol? The record goes to the Czech Republic followed by Denmark, Germany and Greece. Albania and Iceland close the list. In 2011, in Europe, the number of teens consuming alcohol and psychotropic substances remains constant but grows the one of smokers and consumers of inhalants, such as solvents and glues. This is what emerges from the last ESPAD analysis, developed in Italy by IFC-CNR. It was, in fact, the National Research Council to outline the relationship that Europeans adolescents have with alcohol and drugs: the survey involved 36 countries and in Italy was conducted by the Institute of Clinical Physiology of Pisa’s CNR. “Alcohol has always been the most experienced psychotropic substance consumed by teenagers, although its use is prohibited or restricted in many Countries,” says Sabrina Molinaro, head of the research in Italy. “Italy is in the ‘top ten’ with 63% of adolescents who drank at least once in the last month, compared with an European average of 57%. The record goes to the Czech Republic with 79%, followed by Denmark (76%), Germany (73%) and Greece (72%). Albania (32%) and Iceland (17%) round out the rankings. ” With regard to the consumption of cigarettes, the analysis shows that in countries such as France, Portugal, Poland, Finland and Romania, the consumption has increased compared to 2007, while it has decreased in Norway, Russia and Iceland. “The highest percentage of smokers is in the Czech Republic (42%) and Bulgaria (39%), where the girls are the majority,” says Molinaro, “46% vs 33%, as well as in France (38%: male are 34%, female 43%). The Countries where people smoke the less are Norway (14%), Albania (13%) and Iceland (10%). ” According to the report, the illegal substance most experienced by European students – and at least once in their life – is cannabis (hashish or marijuana). Regarding consumption (at least once in their lives) of other illegal psychoactive substances such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy and hallucinogens, “Italians are in line with the European average of 6% and take up the fifth place in the rankings, together with Albania and Ireland. France and Bulgaria lead with 10%, Bosnia and Norway close with the 2%,” concludes the IFC-CNR researcher. (red)
