FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Girls in Cyprus reported higher rates of gambling in physical locations, alcohol consumption, and synthetic drug use than boys, but scored lower on the World Health Organization’s mental well-being scale, according to the latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs.
The 2024 survey collected responses from 113,882 students aged 15 to 16 across 37 European countries, marking three decades of tracking adolescent risky behaviors in Europe.
In Cyprus, 78% of girls and 66% of boys said alcohol was easily accessible, while 42% of students reported drinking within the past 30 days.
The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, launched in 1995, is conducted every four years to monitor trends in adolescent substance use. Its findings help inform health policies and intervention programs aimed at reducing youth substance abuse.