Alcohol and Drug Use Decline Among Youth in Portugal While Social Media Risks Increase
While overall alcohol and drug use among adolescents aged 13-18 in Portugal is decreasing, severe risks are concentrated in a vulnerable group, and social media poses a major threat.
According to research by the Portuguese Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Addictions, overall alcohol, tobacco, and drug use has declined among students aged 13-18 in public schools.
Decline in General Use
The ECATD-CAD 2024 study by the Portuguese Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Addictions was conducted on students aged 13-18 studying in public schools.
Compared to previous studies, a general decrease was observed in problematic situations such as violent incidents, accidents, and hospitalizations.
Risks Concentrated in Vulnerable Groups
Despite the positive overall picture, it was noted that severe risks are increasingly concentrated within a more limited and vulnerable group of youth.
Problematic behaviors are more frequently observed in young people carrying multiple individual, familial, and social vulnerabilities.
Motivations for Alcohol and Cannabis Use
While the primary motivations for alcohol consumption are having fun and socializing, it was determined that some youth use alcohol to forget their problems.
Regarding cannabis use, while no major risk was seen in the majority, it was emphasized that the proportion of high-risk users has increased.
Social Media and Digital Risks
Among non-substance addiction behaviors, social media stands out as the primary issue, with a large number of youth spending excessive time on these platforms.
While problematic use in video games remained stable, an increase was recorded in participation in games played for money.
Differences by Gender
Trouble with the police and risky use of electronic games were found to be more common among males.
In females, problematic use of social media and turning to alcohol to cope with emotional difficulties are observed more frequently.
Protective Factors and Regional Distribution
Good school performance, strong parental supervision, and high life satisfaction rank among the primary elements protecting youth.
In terms of regional distribution, Alentejo emerged as the place with the most negative indicators, while Lisbon is no longer the highest-risk region.