Alcohol and electronic cigarettes: consumption of these products is “alarming” among adolescents, according to the WHO

L'utilisation de cigarettes électroniques a augmenté, selon le rapport, dans le monde entier et cette tendance est particulièrement marquée chez les adolescents. Daisy-Daisy/Getty Images

The consumption of alcohol and electronic cigarettes among 11-15 year olds is “alarming”, according to a report from the European branch of the WHO which recommends public health measures to limit access to alcoholic beverages.

"The widespread use of harmful substances among children in many countries in the European region – and beyond – poses a serious threat to public health", alerted the regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Hans Kluge, quoted in a press release. In particular, he calls for increasing taxes, limiting points of sale and advertising and banning flavoring agents to counter this trend.

After years of decline in the use of psychoactive substances, "some data suggests that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a further increase in consumption", notes the report, which brings together data from 280,000 young people in Europe, in Central Asia and Canada.

Containment measures have indeed changed the habits of 11-15 year olds. They have been more present online and exposed to digital advertisements. This development could leave traces.

Costly consequences

"Adopting risky behaviors during adolescence can influence behavior in adulthood, the use of psychoactive substances at an early age being linked to a higher risk of addiction", he insisted. "The consequences are costly for them and for society".

The use of electronic cigarettes has increased, according to the report, worldwide and this trend is particularly marked among adolescents. Good news however, smoking is decreasing: 13% of 11-15 year olds have already smoked in 2022, two points less than four years ago. However, many of them have adopted electronic cigarettes.

Some 32% of 15-year-olds have already smoked and 20% in the last 30 days.

Carried out every four years under the aegis of the WHO Europe office, which brings together 53 countries and extends to Central Asia, the #39;international HBSC survey (Health behavior in school-aged children) makes it possible to describe the health behaviors of students aged 11, 13 and 15. It has different sections including this one, devoted to the use of psychoactive substances.

Alcohol is the substance most frequently consumed by adolescents. 57% of 15-year-olds have drunk it at least once and nearly four in ten have consumed it in the last 30 days.

In addition, around one in ten adolescents (9%) have already been heavily drunk in their lifetime. Some 5% were from the age of 13 and 20% among those aged 15.

"This demonstrates a trend of escalation in alcohol abuse among young people", lamented WHO Europe in a press release. "These findings highlight the extent to which alcohol is available and normalized and show the urgent need for better policy action to protect children and young people of (its) misdeeds", insisted the organization.

Another source of concern is that young girls are drinking more than before. 40% of 15-year-old girls said they had drunk at least once in the last 30 days, compared to 38% four years ago, while among boys the trend is the opposite.

Cannabis consumption is in slight decline: the percentage of 15-year-olds having already used it has fallen by four points in as many years, down to 12%.