Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among Spanish students aged 14–18 hits historic lows

Key Takeaways

• Survey: ESTUDES 2025, tracking adolescent drug use in Spain since 1994
• Past 30 days (2025 vs 2023): alcohol 51% vs 56.6%; tobacco 15.5% vs 21.0%; cannabis 11.6% vs 15.5%
• Binge drinking: 24.7%, cited as the lowest since measurement began
• E-cigarettes: past-30-day use 27.1% vs 26.3%; past-year and lifetime measures down versus 2023
• Sample: 35,256 students across 1,658 classrooms and 836 schools

2Firsts, Feb 9 2026

According to MundoAmerica, Spain’s Ministry of Health presented results from the 2025 Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education (ESTUDES), reporting historic lows in alcohol, tobacco and cannabis consumption among students aged 14 to 18. The survey has tracked adolescent habits and drug use since 1994.

The report says Health Minister Mónica García and the Government Delegate of the National Drug Plan Xisca Sureda stated that in 2025, consumption of all psychoactive substances analysed has decreased or stabilised. García said “the new generations are changing and building a new way of understanding leisure and health.”

Based on the figures cited, past-30-day alcohol use fell from 56.6% (2023) to 51% (2025). Past-30-day tobacco use fell from 21.0% to 15.5%, described as the lowest figure recorded. Past-30-day cannabis use fell from 15.5% to 11.6%.

The report also says that compared with 1998, past-30-day alcohol consumption is 17 percentage points lower, tobacco is down more than 15 points, and cannabis is nearly 14 points below its historical peak in 2004. Binge drinking declined to 24.7%, which García described as “the lowest value since this type of consumption has been measured,” and she said the survey also shows an increase in perceived risks associated with drugs.

On e-cigarettes, Sureda was quoted as noting a slight increase in past-30-day use to 27.1% in 2025 from 26.3% in 2023, while measures of past-year and lifetime use declined compared with the previous survey.

The report says the 2025 survey involved 35,256 students from 1,658 classrooms and 836 centres across Spain.

Alcohol remains the most consumed legal drug among young people, the report says. It cites ESTUDES figures showing 73.9% of students reported lifetime alcohol use (vs 75.9% in 2023), 71.0% reported use in the past 12 months (vs 73.6%), and 51.8% reported use in the past 30 days (vs 56.6%). The average age of initiation remains 13.9 years, while weekly use and first drunkenness are reported at 14.8 and 14.6 years. García said that despite the historic lows, the figures “remain concerning,” and she and Sureda said it is “essential” for the Alcohol and Minors Law, expected to reach Congress soon, to move forward.

Tobacco use continues to decline, the report says. It cites figures of 27.3% lifetime smoking (vs 33.4% in 2023), 21.2% past-12-month use (vs 27.7%), and 15.5% past-30-day use (vs 21.0%). Daily smoking in the past month fell to 4.3%, down 3.2 percentage points from 7.5% in 2023. The average initiation age is 14.1 years, and starting daily smoking is 14.4 years. The report adds that the most common form combines packet cigarettes and roll-ups, and 46.4% of smokers attempted to quit in the past year.

Cannabis recorded one of the most significant decreases, Sureda said, according to the report. While it remains the most prevalent illegal substance, use declined across all timeframes: 21.0% lifetime (vs 26.9%), 15.5% past 12 months (vs 21.8%), and 11.6% past 30 days (vs 15.6%). The average age of initiation is 14.8 years, a tenth lower than the previous edition.

The report also cites a decline in lifetime use of hypnotics (tranquilizers and sleeping pills, with or without prescription) to 17.9%, described as the first decrease since 2014, with an average initiation age of 14 years. It adds that lower-prevalence substances such as hallucinogens, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, MDMA and volatile inhalants also declined, including lifetime cocaine use down to 1.6% (vs 2.6% in 2023), hallucinogens at 1.4%, and volatile inhalants at 2.0%.

On risk perception, the report cites that perceived risk from habitual cannabis use reached the highest value in the ESTUDES series (94.1%). It also cites perceived risk of excessive weekend drinking at 67.6%, daily alcohol use at 66.2%, and that 93.3% of students believe daily smoking poses a high health risk.

Sureda said the historic low levels reflect a continued downward trend also seen in other European countries, the report says, attributing the decrease to prevention laws and interventions. García said “policies work” and that the government will continue working to create smoke- and alcohol-free environments.

Image Source: MundoAmerica