Abstract

Background and purpose. Drug use among adolescents is a major public health problem, as drug use affects negatively development of the nervous system and is linked to mental welfare. The aim of the study was to describe the use of drugs (incl tobacco products, alcohol, cannabis, and other psychoactive substances) among 15–16-year-old students in Estonia and to compare the results with those for our neighbouring countries Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania, according to the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) 2019
Methodology. Nationally representative data from the ESPAD 2019 survey among 15–16-year-old students in Estonia (n = 2520) were analysed. Drug use was observed over a lifetime and during the period of the last month.
Results. Of the Estonian students, 48% had ever smoked cigarettes and 54% had vaped e-cigarettes. Of the students, 82% reported consuming alcohol at least once and 34% had been drunk during their lifetime. Cannabis was the most widely used illicit drug, used by 20% of all respondents; other illicit substances (ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine, hallucinogens) were used by 9% and tranquillizers/sedatives without a prescription were used by 15%.

During the last month, 20% of the students had smoked cigarettes and 15% had vaped. 37% had used alcohol, 9% had been drunk and 7% had used cannabis. Of the students, 9% and 3% reported that they had smoked/vaped daily in the last month, respectively. The prevalence of high-risk cannabis users during the last 12 month was 4%. E-cigarettes and cannabis were used somewhat more by boys, alcohol (in last month) and prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription, by girls.

In general, compared to the Estonian students, the prevalence of drug use was lower in Finland and Sweden, similar in Lithuania, but higher in Latvia. In terms of the use of illegal psychoactive substances,
Estonia occupied the first place among the participating countries. Compared to the ESPAD average, the Estonian students have used almost all above mentioned substances more frequently.
Conclusion. In general, the Estonian students used slightly more drugs than the ESPAD average, but considerably more than students in Finland and especially Sweden. Thus, the prevention of drug use among students in Estonia continues to be an important public health problem and should be further investigated. Namely, what has been done differently in the neighboring countries where drug use is lower, and whether and how their experience could be implemented in the conditions of Estonia.