European School Survey: Fewer young Czechs smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol

The number of young people in Czechia who smoke classic cigarettes, drink alcohol or use cannabis substances continues to decline, according to the results of the Czech part of the 8th European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). Last year, nearly 3,000 sixteen-year-old students in Czechia took part in the survey, which showed that the situation in the country was better than thirty years ago when the use of these substances began to rise.

The first ESPAD survey was carried out in 1995. Czechia has participated in all eight surveys conducted since then. In 2024, the situation was examined in 37 countries. The survey also found a growing proportion of adolescents who are using alternative nicotine products and taking psychoactive drugs. Czech young people feel worse off than before. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 18% of them had poor mental health, compared to 23% last year.