The proportion of Icelandic students who had consumed any alcohol during the last 12 months is lower than the average for all ESPAD countries (64 compared to 83%), and the same is true for the proportion that reported having been drunk during the same period (47 versus 53%). Smoking is less common in Iceland than in most other countries; the lifetime prevalence is 46% compared to 66% on average, and 30 days prevalence is 20% compared to the average of 35%.

The use of marijuana or hashish is also less frequent than the average (13 compared to 21%). However, the use of any illicit drug other than cannabis is equal to the ESPAD average (6%). Lifetime use of inhalants is only slightly higher than the average (12 versus 10%). Also the use of tranquillisers or sedatives without a doctor’s prescription and alcohol in combination with pills show the same tendency (9 versus 6% and 8 versus 7% respectively).