#YouthStats: Substance Abuse

  •  Teenage brain is still developing and specially vulnerable to substance use. The earlier substance use starts, the bigger is the risk of it leading to substance use disorder.
    [UNDOC, 2014, http://bit.ly/1sILm15]

Tobacco

  • One out of two young people who start and continue to smoke will be killed by tobacco-related illness. [WHO, 2016, http://goo.gl/91jDz3]
  • An estimated 150 million young people use tobacco. [WHO, Fact Sheet on Adolescent health, 2015, http://goo.gl/5De1zV] 
  • Globally, one in every 10 girls aged 13-15 years and one in every 5 boys aged 13-15 years use tobacco. [WHO, 2014, http://bit.ly/1SLtkEI]
  • The vast majority of tobacco users worldwide began when they were adolescents. [WHO, 2011, http://bit.ly/1Gr7bUG]
  • Approximately half of young tobacco users will die prematurely as a result of tobacco use. [WHO, 2011, http://bit.ly/1Gr7bUG]

 

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Alcohol

  • Harmful drinking among young people is an increasing concern in many countries. Alcohol use starts at a young age: 14% of adolescent girls and 18% of boys aged 13–15 years in low- and middle-income countries are reported to use alcohol. [WHO, Fact Sheet on Adolescent health, 2015, http://goo.gl/5De1zV] 
  • Worldwide, 5% of all deaths of young people between the ages of 15 and 29 are attributable to alcohol use. [WHO, 2016, http://goo.gl/91jDz3] 
  • Alcohol use starts at a young age: 14% of adolescent girls and 18% of boys aged 13–15 years in low- and middle-income countries are reported to use alcohol. [WHO, 2011, http://bit.ly/1Gr7bUG]
  • Alcohol abuse is a primary cause of injuries (including those due to road traffic accidents), violence (especially domestic violence) and premature deaths. [WHO, 2011, http://bit.ly/1Gr7bUG]

Drugs

  • In Central and Eastern Europe an estimated 1 out of every 4 people who inject drugs is under 20 years of age. [WHO, HIV and young people who inject drugs, p.7, http://goo.gl/fqfNbC]
  • Initiation of drug use occurs typically during late teenage and early adulthood. [UNDOC, 2014, http://bit.ly/1sILm15]
  • At least half of adolescents never experiment with drugs, and only some 20% of them report past month-use of cannabis. [UNDOC, 2014, http://bit.ly/1sILm15]
  • Cannabis remains the most common illicit substance used among young people. [UNDOC, 2014, http://bit.ly/1sILm15]  
  • Cannabis use can compromise school performance, especially in math. Heavy regular marijuana use during teenage years can lead to an IQ drop of up to 8 points. [UNDOC, 2012, http://bit.ly/1Cu01NJ]

Source: Youth Stats: Substance Abuse