Pandemic Affected Alcohol and Drug Consumption in Almost One-third of Youths

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Nearly a third of Portuguese youths (62.4 percent) believe that the covid-19 pandemic has contributed to a change in the consumption of alcohol and drugs, with 18.1 percent saying they consume less alcohol or have stopped drinking.

The findings are included in a national survey conducted by the European Institute for the Study of Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents (IREFREA Portugal) in which 37.3 percent said they had reduced their consumption of tobacco or had stopped smoking and 16.5 percent believed that the consumption of illicit substances would be lower during the pandemic.

Carried out in partnership with the Coimbra School of Nursing, this study showed that it is occasional consumers who report the greatest changes in their habits.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 36.4 percent of youths who took part in the survey intend to change their social behavior in the future, with ten percent stressing that they will give greater priority to outdoor activities and interpersonal relationships.

Targeting the 16 to 35 age group, the study sought to understand the position of young people in the face of the containment measures imposed by the novel coronavirus pandemic, in order to implement certain more effective preventive strategies.

The work was carried out through an online questionnaire distributed among student contacts over 15 days, which resulted in 687 valid answers.

The study showed that 63.3 percent of the young respondents considered reducing the number of evening outings. Among respondents, 98.7 percent agree with the mandatory closure of bars and nightclubs, and 45.7 percent are in favor of closing borders.

For Fernando Mendes, president of IREFREA Portugal, these results show that contrary to what has been reported about the irresponsible attitude of youths, there is a favorable opinion to contain the epidemic.

However, the psychologist believes that containment must be maintained as there is a “considerable fringe that does not consider it essential”.

Nearly 57 percent of respondents believe that containment has led to an increase in the use of social media while 28.1 percent of the sample do not plan to change, or have doubts whether they will change the way they relate to their friends during this period.

Among the responses analyzed in the study, 25.8 percent concerned males and 73.4 percent females. As for the average age, in the case of men it was 23.4 and in the case of women it was 22.9. The most commonly mentioned occupation was that of student (61.3 percent), followed by employee (19.8 percent) and 3.5 percent were unemployed.

As for the area of residence, 66.4 percent live in urban territory and 75.1 percent with their family of origin.

Of the 687 youths surveyed, 6.7 percent do not drink alcohol, 42.1 percent do not smoke and 66.2 percent do not use cannabis. Regarding daily consumption, 1.5 percent drink alcohol, 16.6 percent smoke and two percent use cannabis.