The proportion of students in France who had consumed any alcohol during the previous 12 months is about the same as the average for all ESPAD countries (80 compared to 83%). Moreover, the proportion reporting having been drunk during the same period is substantially smaller than the average (29 versus 53%). The lifetime prevalence rates of smoking cigarettes is about average (68%) and this is also true for the 30 days prevalence of smoking (33%).

The proportion of students in France who had used marijuana or hashish is about twice the average of all countries (38 versus 21%), but the proportion reporting use of any other illicit drug but cannabis is about the same as the average figure (7 compared to 6%). Use of inhalants is also about the same as the average (11 versus 10%), while the use of tranquillisers or sedatives without a doctor’s prescription is above average (13 versus 6%). Use of alcohol together with pills is reported by a proportion equal to the average (7%).