Compulsive internet use and alcohol consumption are increasing among young people.
The results of the 13th Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs in Spain (EDADES) 2019/2020, conducted by the National Drug Plan , have recently been published. This survey is carried out every two years, allowing for the monitoring of drug use and addiction patterns.
Among the data, which can be consulted in detail in the same report, the increase in compulsive internet use stands out, rising from 2.9% to 3.7% of the surveyed population (people aged 15 to 64). In 2018, the Ministry of Health included addictions to new technologies, gaming, and video games within the National Strategy on Addictions.
The most significant increase in compulsive internet use is occurring in the 15-24 age group, although usage has increased across all age segments. It is precisely among young people that this compulsive behavior is associated with academic failure and drug use. Therefore, it is essential to develop strategies for the appropriate use of new technologies.
This survey was conducted before the state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, so the impact of the lockdown and the subsequent months of pandemic situation on the prevalence of this behavior remains to be seen.
The prevalence of gambling disorder is decreasing.
Regarding online gambling, 6.7% of the population reported having gambled online in the last year , double the figure recorded two years ago. The typical gambler is male, with an average age of 38, and primarily places sports bets online.
Regarding in-person gambling with money, 63.6% reported having gambled in the last year, a figure slightly higher than in 2017 (59.5%). The prevalence of in-person gambling with money is higher among men and older people. The most common games are lotteries, played by the highest percentage of people (94.4%), followed by instant lotteries (24.9%) and football pools (14.6%).
Regarding problem gambling or gambling disorder , the survey reveals that 670,000 people have engaged in risky gambling behavior. These are individuals who gamble more frequently, daily or weekly, spend more money, and also consume more alcohol and tobacco. In this case, the prevalence of gambling disorder has decreased compared to 2017 , falling from 2.6% to 2.2%.
3.8% of men drink alcohol to avoid depression
Alcohol is the most commonly consumed legal drug in Spanish society. 77.2% of those surveyed reported having consumed it in the past year. The perceived risk associated with alcohol is one of the reasons for its high consumption. The study concludes that alcohol is perceived as the least dangerous of all drugs, although half the population believes that consuming 5-6 beers/glasses on the weekend causes many or quite a few problems.
Among the stated motivations for drinking alcohol, more than half said it was for fun. The remaining reasons, in order of importance, were: for enjoyment, to fit in with a group, because it is healthy, to avoid depression, and to get drunk.
In the case of depression, 3.8% of men mention it as a motivation for alcohol consumption, while in women the figure drops to 2.8%.
In general, the consumption of all substances is more widespread among men than among women except for opioid analgesics and hypnotics where consumption is equal.
After alcohol, tobacco use is the next most prevalent (39.4% smoked tobacco in the last year, compared to 40.9% in 2017). Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug (10.5% in the last year in 2019 compared to 11.0% in 2017/2018), followed by cocaine powder and/or crack (2.5% compared to 2.2% in 2017/2018).
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