The proportion of Portuguese students who had consumed alcohol during the last 12 months is slightly lower than the average (78 compared to 83%). However, the proportion of students who report having been drunk during the same period is substantially lower than average (32 versus 53%). Also the lifetime and 30 days prevalence of smoking cigarettes are lower than the averages. The lifetime figure is 62% (66% on average) and the 30 days figure 28% (35% on average).

The lifetime use of marijuana or hashish is smaller than the average for all ESPAD countries (15 compared to 21%), while the use of any other illicit drug than cannabis is about average (7 versus 6%). Use of inhalants is slightly lower than the ESPAD average (8 and 10% respectively) and the same is true for the use of tranquillisers or sedatives without a doctor’s prescription (4 versus 6%). Alcohol together with pills is reported by fewer students in Portugal (3%) than the average (7%).