Trends in Use of Alcohol and Cigarettes among Danish Adolescents, 2002-2018: Exclusive and Dual Use

Many young adolescents experiment with substance use which can have substantial health implications later in life. This study examined trends in substance use among Danish adolescents from 2002 to 2018, including exclusive and dual current use of alcohol and cigarettes. Data on 13- and 15-year-olds (N = 15,295) from five comparable cross-sectional Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys were used. Cochran-Armitage test for trend assessed the development in substance use patterns over time. Overall, a decreasing trend in current use of alcohol and cigarettes was found among Danish adolescents during the 16-year study period: from 71.7% in 2002 to 51.6% in 2018. In 2018, most adolescents (41.8%) currently used alcohol exclusively, 8.6% had a dual current use of cigarettes and alcohol, and 1.3% smoked cigarettes exclusively. Trends in alcohol use differed according to age groups, while no gender-specific trends in substance use were found. Findings suggest that a significant prevention potential in adolescent substance use remains, and future initiatives may focus on dual use of substances as well as tailored efforts to specific subgroups in high risk of using substances.

Automated summary

This study found a decreasing trend in alcohol and cigarette use among Danish adolescents from 2002 to 2018. Most adolescents in 2018 exclusively used alcohol, while a minority engaged in dual use of cigarettes and alcohol, and a small percentage smoked cigarettes exclusively. Trends in alcohol use varied by age groups, but there were no gender-specific trends in substance use. The findings suggest the importance of prevention efforts targeting dual substance use and specific high-risk subgroups.