In Russia 86% had been drinking any alcoholic beverage during the last 12 months and 53% had been drunk during the same period, which is very close to and equal to the averages for all ESPAD countries (83 and 53% respectively). The lifetime prevalence of smoking cigarettes is above average (74 versus 66%) and the same is true regarding the 30 days prevalence (44 versus 35%). The proportion of students who had used marijuana or hashish is about the same as the average (22 compared to 21%), as is the proportion that reported use of any other illicit drug than cannabis (4 versus 6%).

Use of inhalants was reported by 7%, which is slightly lower than the average for all countries (10%). The tendency is the same for use of tranquillisers or sedatives without a doctor’s prescription (3 compared to 6%), while the use of alcohol together with pills is about the same as the ESPAD average (6 versus 7%).