A vast majority of the students in Malta had been drinking alcohol during the last 12 months (90 compared to the average of 83%). In contrast, the proportions reporting drunkenness during the same period is less than average (38 versus 53%). This holds true also regarding lifetime and the 30 days prevalence of smoking cigarettes. The lifetime figure is 48% (66% on average) and the 30 days prevalence 27% (35% on average). The proportion of students who have used marijuana or hashish is half the average for all countries (10 versus 21%), as is the proportion reporting use of illicit drugs other than cannabis (4 compared to 6%).

Use of inhalants, however, is reported by 16% of the students in Malta compared to only 10% as the average. Tranquillisers and sedatives without a doctor’s prescription is less common in Malta than the ESPAD average (3 compared to 6%) while the tendency is the opposite for alcohol together with pills (9 and 7% respectively).