The Swiss students reported slightly higher prevalence of alcohol use during the last 12 months (88%) than the average for all ESPAD countries (83%), while the tendency was the opposite when it comes to the proportion that had been drunk during the same period (49 compared to 53%). The proportion of lifetime smokers (64%) was about the same as the average (66%). Also the proportion that had smoked during the last 30 days was very close to the average (34 and 35% respectively).

Lifetime use of cannabis was much more frequent in Switzerland than the average for other countries (40 compared to 21%). On the other hand use of any other illicit drug than cannabis was equal to the average of the ESPAD countries (6%). Somewhat less students had been using inhalants in Switzerland (7%) compared to the average (10%). Use of tranquillisers or sedatives was reported by 6%, which is the same as the average. The use of pills in combination with alcohol was a little less common among Swiss students (4 and 7% respectively).