USA and Europe: Drug Use Compared
Submitted by Ally
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This month saw the release of the findings from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). The publication shows the country-by-country results for the use of various legal and illegal drugs. Thirty-five European countries were included in the study which targeted 15- and 16-year-olds. Produced in the United States, information collected by the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study provides material for insightful comparisons. Notably, these include:
- The United States and countries in Europe have both witnessed a decrease in cigarette and alcohol consumption amongst teenagers. Marijuana use, however, has generally increased.
- On average, 18% of European students have used an illegal drug at least once, compared to 35% of students in the United States, second only to the Czech Republic (37%).
- The United States and France rank joint second for marijuana consumption (31%). This is almost double the average result for European countries (16%). The Czech Republic posted the highest score (37%) and Moldova reported the lowest (4%).
- Amphetamine usage is significantly higher in the United States (10%) compared to Europe (2% average).
- Alongside Georgia and Ireland, the United States ranked highest for ecstasy consumption (4%).
- Cocaine usage amongst American teenagers is around 3%. In Europe, on the other hand, it is around 2%.
- Both the United States sample and European sample recorded an average of 1% prevalence for heroin consumption.
While the above results show that levels of controlled-drug usage are generally higher in the United States, smoking and alcohol consumption were reported to be higher in Europe.
- Together with Iceland, the United States ranked joint lowest for daily cigarette smoking (3%). The average result for European countries was 12%.
- Alcohol consumption amongst teenagers in the United States is less than half (22%) of the average result posted for European countries (48%).