Addictive behaviour is falling among Portuguese teens but most vulnerable are still exposed
Portuguese teenagers are drinking and using drugs less and facing fewer problems, but risks are increasingly concentrated among those with multiple vulnerabilities, according to a new ICAD study on addictive behaviours.
A new study by the Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD) reveals that Portuguese teenagers are experiencing fewer problems and consuming less alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs compared to a decade ago. However, the highest-risk behaviours are increasingly concentrated among young people who have multiple vulnerability factors.
The Study on Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and other Addictive Behaviours (ECATD-CAD 2024) examined problematic addictive behaviours among pupils in Portuguese state schools aged 13 to 18. The study found a consistent reduction in violent conduct, accidents, hospitalisations, risky sexual behaviours, and other potentially negative situations among students.
While students report better academic performance, greater parental supervision, and less frequent nighttime outings, these protective factors do not eliminate the need for intervention targeting specific groups. Recent alcohol consumption and illicit drug use remain significant factors associated with problematic situations. Adolescents who mix alcohol and drugs exhibit higher levels of accidents, police problems, cyberbullying, and risky sexual behaviours compared to those who consume only alcohol.
Motivations for alcohol use among teenagers include pleasure, fun, and sociability, but some young people report using alcohol to escape their problems, a factor associated with harmful patterns of use and dependence. In terms of cannabis, most users do not exhibit dependency indicators, but there is an increase in high-risk users alongside a growth in those with no identified risk.
Social media is a major concern among non-substance-related addictive behaviours, with a significant portion of young people admitting to spending excessive time on these platforms. Electronic gaming shows stable indicators of problematic use compared to the previous study, while gambling for money has seen an increase in prevalence, albeit with a slight decrease in problematic indicators.
Boys continue to be more involved in police-related issues and risky electronic gaming, while girls tend to have higher rates of problematic social media use and alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism for emotional difficulties.
Low academic achievement, weak parental supervision, frequent nighttime outings, and poor physical and emotional wellbeing are linked to higher rates of problematic behaviours. Conversely, good school performance, parental supervision, and greater wellbeing act as protective factors against addiction. Regional analysis shows that Alentejo and the Azores now have the highest concentration of unfavourable indicators, while Lisbon is no longer the most vulnerable region, as it was in 2019.
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