Cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in late teens: level of use and latest evolutions, 2003 ESCAPAD survey

On the basis of a self-managed and strictly anonymous questionnaire, this study grants the opportunity to have an update of the psychoactive substances levels of use among 17-18 year-olds and to expound the recent evolutions of such practices in late teens.

These data add to the system set up by the OFDT in order to monitor the uses among an adult population (Baromètre santé, the health indicator, supervised by the INPES in collaboration with other partners), and in school population (ESPAD, in partnership with the INSERM). ESCAPAD and ESPAD go together as far as the ages, as well as the geographical and school contexts are concerned. 

In its French version, ESPAD actually queries the pupils belonging to every grade of secondary school from 12 to 18 year-olds, and the survey is identically carried out in more than thirty European countries. That is why international comparisons between the whole substances will be possible from the end of 2004 onwards. 

For its part, the 2003 ESCAPAD survey also interviews individuals who no longer attend school after 16; it not only covers metropolitan France but also the DOM (overseas departments), which is unusual, and for the first time this year the TOM (overseas territories), following the same methodology. 

The purpose here is to display major tendencies which emerge from this study, as well as the findings of certain investigations carried out during its analysis: upon the teenagers' expenses covering the purchases of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. ESCAPAD also helps updating the estimate of individuals involved in different uses of psychoactive substances among the 12-75 year-olds.