USE OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES BY YOUTH IN POLAND Janusz Sierosławski USE OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES BY YOUTH IN POLAND ESPAD The study was implemented by the National Bureau for Drug Prevention, the State Agency for the Prevention of Alcohol-Related Problems, the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology

Introduction ESPAD – European school survey on psychoactive substance use by youth covering more than 35 countries. In Poland ESPAD implemented in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and in 2015 Changes in indicators of substance use as a base for evaluation of alcohol and drug policy Two cohorts of students were covered - age: 15-16 and 17-18 - the first one is the matter of this presentation

Objectives of the study Assessment of extent of psychoactive substance use by teenagers Identification and measurement of factors of substance use by teenagers Monitoring of trends in extent of substance use and factors of substance use by teenagers

Method In 2015 the survey was implemented on the national probabilistic sample of students of third grade of gymnasium and second grade of secondary schools School classes were the sampling units – all students present in selected class were enrolled The self-administrated standardized questionnaire was applied Anonymity of respondents as well as schools was assured

Alcohol drinking

Alcohol drinking last 30 days by gender

Drunkenness and advanced state of drunkenness last 30 days

Perceived availability of alcohol Perceived availability of alcohol. Students responding alcohol “very easy” to obtain.

Purchase of alcoholic beverages during the last 30 days

Perceived risk from drinking – percentages answering “great risk”

Lifetime use of illicit drugs 2015

Use of marijuana or hashish

Cannabis use by friends, perceived availability of cannabis and receiving offers of cannabis

Perceived risk from use of marijuana or hashish – percentages answering “great risk”

Use of new psychoactive substances

Summary - alcohol Majority of teenagers drink alcohol beverages – mostly beer, the serious problem is drunkenness Decreasing trend in indicators of alcohol drinking Stabilization in indicators of drunkenness Decreasing trend in differences between boys and girls Decrease of indicators of alcohol availability

Summary - drugs Prevalence of illicit substances use is high but much lower than licit ones. Among illicit substances cannabis is primarily prevalent Increasing trend in cannabis use was stopped Decrease of availability of cannabis Decreasing trend in perception of cannabis use as a risky behavior was stopped. The prevalence of new psychoactive substances use did not increase