The results of the latest survey on Alcohol and other Drugs in Spain indicate a reduction in the occasional use of hypno-sedatives and daily cannabis use.
The Secretary of State, Javier Padilla, and the Government Delegate for the National Plan on Drugs, Joan Ramón Villalbí, have presented the results of the latest survey on Alcohol and other Drugs in Spain (EDADES 2024), which documents the substances with the highest prevalence of consumption in the last 12 months in our country.
The report reveals a decrease in the occasional use of tobacco and hypnosedatives by 2.2 and 1.1 percentage points compared to 2022. Occasional cannabis use increases slightly compared to the previous edition, but daily use decreases.
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Spain records record low in tobacco consumption in 30 years
Tobacco, alcohol and other
Alcohol and tobacco continue to be the substances with addictive potential that start to be used earlier (16.4 and 16.6 years respectively). Among illicit drugs, cannabis is the substance that starts to be used at the earliest age (18.4 years).
Daily use of tobacco has decreased overall. Irrespective of age, men smoke more than women. 67.7% of daily tobacco users have considered quitting.
Daily tobacco consumption has decreased overall. Irrespective of age, men smoke more than women. 67.7% of daily tobacco users have considered quitting.
The EDADES 2024 study reflects stability in occasional alcohol consumption (76.5% of the population aged 15-64 years had drunk alcohol in the last 12 months in 2024). In terms of heavy drinking, binge drinking continues to decline. In 2024, 14.7% of this population said they had been drunk, compared with 16.7% in 2022.
According to the report, alcohol (76.5%) and tobacco (36.8%) are among the most commonly used substances in the last 12 months in Spain, followed by cannabis (12.6%) and prescription and non-prescription hypnosedatives (12.0%). Use of powder and/or base cocaine is much lower (2.5%), and use of other substances is even lower. By age, use is highest in the 15-34 age group. For hypnosedatives and opioid analgesics, use increases from the age of 35 onwards.
In terms of gender differences, the data (in the last 12 months) confirm a higher use among men, except for drugs with addictive potential such as hypnosedatives and opioid analgesics.
Perception of risk and availability
Women have a higher perception of risk for addictive substances. The overall sense of risk is higher for the use of illegal substances, as well as for tobacco, hypnosedatives and opioid analgesics. However, it is lower for alcohol use.
In recent years, the perceived availability of the various drugs is much lower than in previous years, as a result of supply control efforts. In 2024, the illegal substances that are perceived to be most accessible are cannabis (59% of those interviewed believe that they could easily obtain it within 24 hours) and cocaine (40.6%). For the other illegal substances, the perception of availability is much lower.
EDADES 2024: Survey on Alcohol and other Drugs in Spain
The Spanish Alcohol and Other Drugs Survey Programme (EDADES) is run by the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs (DGPNSD), with the collaboration of the Autonomous Communities. This survey, which is carried out every two years and which began to be published in 1995, makes it possible to observe the evolution of the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, hypnosedatives, opiates and illegal psychoactive drugs. This year, 26,878 people were interviewed.
The analysis presented by the Ministry of Health is based mainly on the calculation of the prevalence of use of different psychoactive drugs using four time indicators: ever in a lifetime, last 12 months, last 30 days prior to the survey and daily in the 30 days prior to the survey. The results are presented for the whole population aged 15-64 years and also disaggregated by sex and age.
The general objective of this survey is to obtain information that will enable the design and evaluation of policies aimed at preventing drug use and other addictions and the problems associated with these behaviours.