New results from the ESPAD survey – teenage drinking declined
The new data from the latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) – where adolescent risky behaviours are monitored – were released on May 21, 2025, The study, carried out in collaboration with the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and coordinated by the Italian National Research Council, is based on a 2024 survey in 37 European countries, including 25 EU Member States. This was the 8th data-collection wave conducted by the ESPAD project since 1995.
A total of 113 882 students (aged 15–16-years) participated in this latest survey, responding to an anonymous questionnaire. The 2024 ESPAD findings relate to students’ experience of, and perceptions about, a variety of substances, including: tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, inhalants, pharmaceuticals and new psychoactive substances. Social media use, gaming and gambling are also covered. This survey round included a new focus on adolescent mental well-being and prevention activities, recognising the growing importance of these factors in shaping adolescent health outcomes.
Teenage drinking and cigarette smoking declined, but e-cigarette use has risen sharply among adolescents, with rising rates of early initiation and daily use. Alcohol consumption has declined over time, with overall use and binge drinking decreasing. However, this reduction is more pronounced among boys, with girls showing a more stable trend. Despite this progress, alcohol remains widely accessible, and early initiation and heavy episodic drinking remain significant concerns in some regions.
The 2024 ESPAD survey used the WHO-5 Well-Being Index to assess youth mental health for the first time. Overall, 59 % of students reported good well-being (a score above 50 out of 100), with boys (70 %) consistently scoring higher than girls (49 %) across all countries. Northern Europe reported the highest self-reported well-being levels, while Ukraine showed the lowest (43 %),
Almost 3/4 of students participated in prevention programmes. This was the first ESPAD survey to include information on youth engagement in prevention programmes, with the aim of providing new insights to support more effective prevention strategies. The study reveals that 72 % of students participated in at least one prevention programme in the two years preceding the survey. Awareness-raising initiatives, focusing solely on providing information, were more common in Eastern Europe, while skills-based programmes, which develop personal and social skills, were more prevalent in Western and Southern Europe. Alcohol was the most commonly addressed topic, with illicit substances and behavioural risks receiving less attention. These results do lay the basis for future research into evidence-based prevention efforts across Europe.
