The consumption of alcohol during the 12 previous months among Polish students is about equal to the average of all ESPAD countries (85 compared to 83%) and the proportion reporting drunkenness during the same period is rather close to average (48 versus 53%). The lifetime smoking figure is about average (67%), while the 30 days prevalence figure is slightly lower (31 compared to 35%). The proportion of students who have ever used marijuana or hashish is close to average (18 compared to 21%) and the proportion reporting use of illicit drugs other than cannabis is about the same as the average (6 and 7% respectively).

Use of inhalants is also as common in Poland as the average of all countries (9 and 10% respectively). The use of tranquillisers or sedatives without a doctor’s prescription, however, is substantially higher than in many other countries (17 compared to 6% on average). The use of alcohol together with pills is close to the average for all countries (9 versus 7%).