1. 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

2. 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: and the first one is the matter of this presentation

3. 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

4. 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

5. Alcohol drinking

6. Alcohol drinking last 30 days by gender

7. Drunkenness and advanced state of drunkenness last 30 days

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

9. Purchase of alcoholic beverages during the last 30 days

10. Perceived risk from drinking – percentages answering “great risk”

11. Lifetime use of illicit drugs 2015

12. Use of marijuana or hashish

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

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

15. Use of new psychoactive substances

16. 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

17. 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