Notes:

This table aims to present data on 15- to 16-year-old school students obtained from national surveys. The survey for Belgium (Flemish) is the Flemish regional only and the Germany ESPAD is limited to the regions specified in note (a). In all of the school surveys, the method for data collection was classroom based, anonymous, self-completion questionnaires in written test conditions.

Caution is required comparing figures due to methodological limitations. For methods and definitions see Studies of youth and the schools populations – methods and definitions.

ESPAD

ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other drugs) is co-ordinated by the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other drugs. (CAN) and Council of Europe (Pompidou Group). ESPAD prevalence figures are taken from published ESPAD reports and may differ sometimes from those reported directly by Member States. The sample sizes given refer to the number of participating 15- to 16-year-old students who filled in the questionnaire. For further details see www.espad.org.

(a) ESPAD 2003 Germany figures are based in six regions only (Bavaria, Brandenburg, Berlin, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Thuringia). Turkey figures are based on one major city in each of six different regions (Adana, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Istanbul, Izmir and Samsun).

(b) ESPAD methods are adopted to varying degrees.

(c) To be interpreted with caution as sample size is small and private and vocational schools are excluded.

(d) The sample size given for these surveys is for a wider age range than 15 to 16 years.

(e) Only 15-year-old students are included in United Kingdom ONS and Scottish Executive school surveys.

See also 'General notes for interpreting data' on the Explanatory notes and help page.

Sources:

See Table EYE-0.