The WHO on Thursday released a report stating that the increasing trends of alcohol and e-cigarette abuse are “alarming”—the European branch of WHO also recommended measures to restrict access.
According to the report, the data is based on a survey where 280,000 young people between the ages of 11,13 and 15 were involved in substance use. (Image: Freepik)
New Delhi: The use of alcohol and e-cigarettes is rising among adolescents, over which the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm. The WHO on Thursday released a report stating that the increasing trends of alcohol and e-cigarette abuse are “alarming”—the European branch of WHO also recommended measures to restrict access.
According to the report, the data is based on a survey where 280,000 young people between the ages of 11,13 and 15 were involved in substance use. These people belonged to countries like Europe, Central Asia and Canada. The global health body in the report highlighted that the long-term impact of such trends is significant and that policymakers cannot afford to ignore these alarming findings.
Girls drink more alcohol than boys
Further, in the survey, it was found that 57 per cent of 15-year-olds had drunk alcohol at least once in their lifetime. At the same time, 59 per cent of the girls drank alcohol more as compared to the boys whose figure was just 56 per cent. As per the findings, overall drinking had increased for girls as compared to boys. In boys, the overall drinking had dropped. Moreover, when it came to current use which can be defined as having drunk at least once in the last 30 days, among this group eight per cent of 11-year-old boys reported having done this as compared to the girls who were just five per cent.
Findings are ‘alarming’ and stress on need for better policy measures
The WHO Europe which gathers around 53 countries including several in Central Asia, highlighted how easily alcohol is available and normalised, this indicates that there is an urgent need for better policy measures to protect children and young people from the ill impacts caused by alcohol.
Rise in the use of e-cigarettes
Apart from the alcohol abuse, the report also highlighted the increased use of e-cigarettes which are also called vapes. Majorly teenagers are using vapes at an increasing rate. The survey found that smoking is declining with a rate of 13 per cent of 11-15 years olds have smoked in the year 2022, while this is only two per cent less than four years earlier. Smoking is substituted with e-cigarettes or vapes.
Around 32 per cent of 15-year-olds have used an e-cigarette and 20 per cent reported having used one in over 30 days.
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