The Bulgarian students drink alcohol to about the same extent as the average in other ESPAD countries (86 and 83% respectively), and the same can be said about the frequency of intoxication during the last 12 months (56 and 53%). Somewhat higher proportions reported to have ever smoked (71%) compared to the average (66%) and the 30 days prevalence was higher (46%) than the average of all ESPAD countries (35%).

The Bulgarian students had used cannabis to the same degree as the average for all countries (21%), and the proportion that had ever tried any other drug was also close to the average (4 versus 6%). Very few students in Bulgaria had used inhalants (3%), which is much lower than the average (10%), and the same goes with the use of tranquillisers or sedatives (2 compared to 6%). Somewhat lower proportions than the average reported use of alcohol together with pills (4 versus 7%).