Changes in perceived risk of different substance use by ranking order of drug attitudes in different ESPAD‐countries

Abstract

Data from the surveys in eight countries of the European Schools Project on Alcohol and other Drugs in the years 1995, 1999, and 2003 were available. Changes over time in the perceptions of the risk of using alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, marijuana, LSD, amphetamines, ecstasy, and inhalants were assessed. On average the overall proportions of the samples seeing use of these substances as ‘very risky’ fell between 1995 and 2003 in all eight countries as prevalences rose slightly in most of the countries. However, there was a tendency for the gap to widen over time between the proportions seeing regular use of illicit substances as very risky and the proportions seeing occasional use as very risky. Relative to other substances cigarette smoking and heavy weekend drinking were ranked more risky in 2003 than in 1995.

• European schools survey
• teenagers
• substance use
• changes