Severe risk behaviors are today more sporadic and concentrated in a minority, but young people consume more and more strong painkillers to cause awareness of consciousness, says study.
The new data on additive behaviors among public education students in Portugal, aged 13 to 18, bring new concerns.
Severe risk behaviors are now more sporadic and more concentrated in a minority, but young people consume more and more strong painkillers in order to cause consciousness changes-a trend associated with the growth of time dedicated to video games and money play, according to the latest study on alcohol consumption, tobacco, drugs and other additive and dependencies (Ecatd-Cad), promoted by the institute for additive behaviors and the dependencies (ICAD).
The investigation covered a sample of More than 11 thousand students From 1992 public education schools, in all regions of mainland Portugal, Azores and Madeira.
The study-which will be published on Tuesday-indicates that 58% of young people have already experienced alcoholwith 48% to report consumption in the last year. The most consumed drinks are alcohopops (alcoholic beverages that are already mixed with soda), followed by distilled drinks and beer. About 29% of young people admit to being drunk slightly, but only 11% refers to drunkenness in the last month, with the least common drunkenness.
“There are phenomena that, in the face of the previous study, have become more prevalent, such as the consumption of strong painkillers in order to be ‘altered’, the electronic game and the money game,” says Icad.
O tobacco It remains the second most consumed substance, right after alcohol. A quarter of respondents have already tried tobacco, and 10% did it in the last month. Daily smokers include traditional cigarettes (22%) and electronic cigarettes (12%).
As illicit drugs They are less consumed: 7% have experienced them and only 3% did so recently. THE cannabis It is the most said illicit substance, with less than 1% of young people admitting to consume daily. However, among those who currently consume, 10% do so regularly.
Contact with alcohol and tobacco happens early and these substances are perceived as easily accessible. Cannabis also emerges as the easiest illicit drug.
The study also highlights the high use of Video gamesespecially between boys and 3rd cycle students, while money play is more frequent among secondary students.
