What's behind the "historic low" in drug use among teenagers?

Barcelona51.8% of students aged 14 to 18 in Spain report having drunk alcohol in the last month, compared to 68% in 2015. Only one in four has tried tobacco, whereas a decade ago it was four in ten. And 21% admit to having smoked cannabis at some point, compared to 29% ten years ago. The Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education (ESTUDES) has been conducted for thirty years, and never before has such a drop in interest in alcohol, tobacco, and drugs among teenagers been observed.

The Ministry of Health speaks of "historic lows" in the consumption of different types of "conventional" drugs among young people, but the data is still... quite highThe experts consulted by the ARA point to a combination of factors behind this change in trend, highlighting three: the different forms of socialization of the new generation, a greater awareness of health and physical appearance – fueled by social networks – and the effects of the pandemic, which has prevented or postponed the exposure of a group.

"I think the way young people interact and the type of leisure they choose has changed significantly compared to previous generations," says Laura Cerdán, a psychopedagogue and collaborating professor in the psychology and education sciences department at the UOC (Open University of Catalonia). For Albert Espelt, a researcher in the Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences at the UAB (Autonomous University of Barcelona) and an expert in behavioral sciences, it is increasingly common for young people to be more individualistic, to stay home more, and to change their behavior patterns. According to the specialists, many young people no longer need to leave home to be with their friends or hang out in a park to drink or smoke as they used to. Now they can play video games or make video calls, each from their own room. Cerdán also points to the increasingly limited number of nightclubs and entertainment venues, even in cities like Barcelona. "They certainly have other ways of going out, and the spaces where alcohol was consumed or where tobacco and cannabis were tried have gradually disappeared," she adds.

Self-care messages

Body image and the desire to take care of oneself physically also play a key role. "If the teenager chooses to do running "On weekends, she won't be going out every night…," Espelt remarks. Cerdán adds, "For her own health, and for the image and aesthetic she projects on social media." Current role models are often influencers that promote the gym, travel, or matcha tea. "Perhaps indirectly, these messages are against weekend binge drinking, cigarettes, or cannabis. 'Having time for myself' is more related to self-care than to partying," she reasons.

Parents also have more information, and advertising for substances "previously normalized" has fallen drastically, says Cerdán. The decline in tobacco use has long been due to public policies and because "it is increasingly frowned upon socially," Espelt points out. However, she notes the worrying increase in the use of electronic cigarettes. "Tobacco has been replaced by these e-cigarettes, which are not harmless and can be a gateway to tobacco use in the future," she adds.

According to Espelt, the longer the start of consumption is postponed, the harder it is to develop problematic use. "I think that here, copycats have denormalized certain types of consumption, specifically cannabis," she says. However, he warns that these behaviors do not demonstrate a social and structural change, but rather "a trend" that could be reversed if authorities do not seize the opportunity to create better public policies. For example, 25% of young people still engage in risky alcohol consumption. "We must make drinking more expensive, ensure effective controls, and prevent major festivals from always being sponsored by alcohol brands," he concludes.