Lisbon — Portuguese teenagers are drinking and using drugs less and reporting fewer problems, but the most dangerous behaviours are increasingly concentrated among a small group of young people with multiple vulnerabilities. That is the central finding of a new study by the Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD), which tracks addictive behaviours among pupils in Portuguese state schools aged 13 to 18.
The Study on Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and other Addictive Behaviours (ECATD-CAD 2024) paints a broadly encouraging picture compared with the previous edition in 2019. ICAD reports a consistent reduction in all the problematic situations analysed, including violent conduct, accidents, hospitalisations, risky sexual behaviours and other episodes with potential negative consequences.
This improvement comes against a backdrop of better academic performance, greater parental supervision and fewer nights out among teenagers — factors that, according to the report, appear to contribute to a more protective environment against risk behaviours.
Yet the overall positive trend masks a worrying concentration of risk. ICAD warns that in several indicators, the highest-risk behaviours are increasingly found in a relatively small group of adolescents who accumulate individual and social vulnerabilities. The reduction in the overall number of consumers, the institute stresses, does not remove the need for targeted intervention for these specific groups.
Alcohol and illicit drugs remain key risk factors
Recent consumption of alcohol and, above all, illicit drugs remains one of the strongest predictors of involvement in problematic situations. Compared with 2019, this association has become more pronounced. Pupils who use psychoactive substances show significantly higher rates of risky sexual behaviours, police trouble, interpersonal violence, accidents and other potentially serious incidents, according to ICAD.
The report also distinguishes between drinking alcohol only and polyconsumption — combining alcohol with illicit drugs. Adolescents who mix the two display substantially higher levels of involvement in accidents, police problems, cyberbullying and risky sexual behaviours than those who stick to alcohol alone.
Among alcohol drinkers, motivations linked to pleasure, fun and sociability remain dominant. But ICAD highlights a significant minority who say they drink to forget their problems — an indicator often associated with the development of harmful patterns of use and dependence.
For cannabis, most users do not show signs of dependency risk, but the proportion of high-risk users has increased, alongside growth in the group with no identified risk. This suggests a polarisation in cannabis use patterns.
Social media and gaming: new concerns
Among non-substance-related addictive behaviours, social media continues to be the main worry, with a significant share of teenagers admitting they spend too much time on platforms. Problematic use of electronic gaming, including online video games, remains broadly stable compared with 2019. Gambling for money, though still limited to a minority, has increased in prevalence, even as some problematic indicators — such as the need to wager larger amounts — have slightly declined.
Gender differences are notable. Boys are more likely to have police problems and to engage in risky gaming and gambling. Girls, meanwhile, show higher rates of problematic social media use and are more likely to use alcohol as a coping strategy for emotional difficulties.
Social and family factors also shape risk. The profile most associated with problematic behaviours includes low academic achievement, weaker parental supervision, frequent nights out, and lower physical and emotional wellbeing. Conversely, good school performance, parental supervision and greater wellbeing act as protective factors.
The findings echo broader European trends, where adolescent substance use has declined but mental health and digital behaviours have emerged as new challenges. In Portugal, the government has been working on prevention strategies, but ICAD's report suggests that targeted support for the most vulnerable teenagers remains essential.
As the country continues to navigate these issues, the study offers a nuanced picture: progress for the majority, but persistent and even growing risks for a minority. The challenge for policymakers, educators and families is to ensure that the most vulnerable are not left behind.
