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ESCAPAD survey
The Survey on Health and Drug Use on National Defence and Citizenship Day (ESCAPAD) looks at the health of young boys and girls aged 17, as well as their use of psychoactive substances and addictive behaviour. It is a statistical survey based on a random sample.
Background and partnership
Since 2000, the OFDT, with the support of the Youth and National Service Directorate (DSNJ), has been regularly interviewing young French people during the National Defence and Citizenship Day (JDC), initially known at the National Defence and Preparation Day (JAPD). The self-administered questionnaire in this survey looks at the health of these 17-year-old boys and girls, as well as their use of psychoactive substances and addictive behaviour.
Objectives
The primary aim of the survey is to provide information on the use of psychoactive substances (including tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis) at the age of 17. Since 2011, new themes have been gradually introduced, including gambling and video games.
This survey is also designed to study certain individual characteristics that are often associated with psychoactive substance behaviour, such as school situation and repeating a grade, family situation, parents’ occupation, and socio-professional category. Its continuation since 2000 also ensures accurate and reliable monitoring of changes in usage patterns over more than 20 years.
Method
The ESCAPAD survey has been conducted in 9 waves from 2000 to 2022 (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2022). It has always been carried out in March over a period varying from 1 to 2 weeks depending on the year. It takes place at all the National Defence and Citizenship Day (JDC) centres in France (including those in overseas departments and regions, depending on the year). All young people taking their JDC during the study period are invited to complete an anonymous self-administered paper questionnaire lasting around twenty minutes, using a standardised framework.