More than three quarters of Romanian teenagers drink alcohol, study shows

More than three quarters (77.9%) of Romanian teenagers aged 16 drink alcohol. Still, the figure is below the European average of 80.3%, according to the ESPAD (The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) study presented by the National Anti-Drug Agency. The percentage of boys who drink alcohol is higher than the one registered in girls’ case: 83.7% for boys (over the European average of 81.5%), and 72.3% for girls (below the European average of 79.3%). The study also shows that 51.7% of Romanian teenagers aged 16 smoke, the figure being higher than the European average of 45.6%. The study also reveals higher values of tobacco use among boys compared to girls, but for both sexes, the figures are above the European average. Almost 11% of Romania’s teenagers aged 16 use illicit drugs, the number being lower than the European average of 17.8%. More boys consume drugs (13.6%) compared to girls (8.4%). Most of the Romanian teenagers aged 16 consume cannabis – 8.1%, new psychoactive substances (NPS) - 5.1%, solvents / inhalants – 3.6%, cocaine – 3.3%, LSD or other hallucinogens - 2.4%, ecstasy - 2.1%, heroin - 1.7%, ketamine - 1.8%, injecting drug - 1.3%, crack - 1.2%, amphetamines – 1.1%, hallucinogenic mushrooms - 1.2%, methamphetamines – 1%, and GHB – 1.1%. Compared to the European averages, the cannabis / hashish consumption among Romanian teenagers is two times lower (8.1% vs. 16.5%). The study also shows that 13.1% of Romanians aged 16 gambled for money in the last 12 months, similar to the European average of 13.7%. ESPAD monitors consumption behavior among 16-year old students at European level, and was initiated by the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs and the Council of Europe – Cooperation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs, and promoted by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Romania has been part of this project since 1999. The most recent ESPAD report is available here. Almost a quarter of the Romanian teenagers smoke regularly Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com