Substance Use Patterns Among Adolescents in Europe: A Latent Class Analysis

ABSTRACT

Background: Several researchers have investigated substance use patterns using a latent class analysis; however, hardly no studies exist on substance use patterns across countries. Objectives: Adolescent substance use patterns, demographic factors, and international differences in the prevalence of substance use patterns were explored. Methods: Data from 25 European countries were used to identify patterns of adolescent (12–16 years, 50.6% female) substance use (N = 33,566). Results: Latent class analysis revealed four substance use classes: nonusers (68%), low-alcohol users (recent use of beer, wine, and alcopops; 16.1%), alcohol users (recent use of alcohol and lifetime use of marijuana; 11.2%), and polysubstance users (recent use of alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs; 4.7%). Results support a general pattern of adolescent substance use across all countries; however, the prevalence rates of use patterns vary for each country. Conclusions/importance: The present research provides insight into substance use patterns across Europe by using a large international adolescent sample, multidimensional indicators and a variety of substances. Substance use patterns are helpful when targeting policy and prevention strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• Multiple substance use
• latent class analysis
• country differences
• adolescents
• gender

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kristin Göbel

Kristin Göbel, M.Sc. in Social and Applied Psychology, works as a researcher at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, Division “Developmental Science and Applied Developmental Psychology.” She has been active in the field of cultural, developmental, and criminal psychology focusing on adolescent welfare. She has extensive experience in quantitative data analysis.

Herbert Scheithauer

Dr. Herbert Scheithauer is Professor for Developmental and Clinical Psychology at Freie Universität Berlin and Head of the Division “Developmental Science and Applied Developmental Psychology.” He is Faculty Member at the International Max Planck Research School “The Life Course: Evolutionary and Ontogenetic Dynamics” at Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin. He has extensive experience in the development, evaluation, and implementation of preventive intervention programs and early intervention programs, e.g. in preschool, school, in extracurricular, and family environment. Herbert Scheithauer photo © banane design gmbh Bremen.

Astrid-Britta Bräker

Astrid-Britta Bräker works as a research assistant at the Institute of Psychology, University of Hildesheim, Germany. Her main research interests are adolescent substance use, health psychology and evaluation research. Furthermore, she is an expert in quantitative research methods.

Harrie Jonkman

Dr. Harrie Jonkman studied sociology and educational sciences and works as a senior researcher in service of the Verwey-Jonker Institute. His work focuses on the social and cognitive development of children and youth, social determinants and prevention of health, developmental and behavioral problems. He is particularly involved in experiments and evaluations of social programs, longitudinal studies, and international comparative studies. He also supports and guides prevention activities in different countries.

Renate Soellner

Renate Soellner, Ph.D., is a full-time Professor for research methods and evaluation at the Institute of Psychology, University of Hildesheim, Germany. She has extensive experience in drug and alcohol research, especially regarding adolescents and young adults. Her major research fields are evaluation of prevention programs in the field of public health, social science research methods, health literacy, and health-related topics in adolescence.