The study promoted by the Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (ICAD) has been released concerning national data on addictive behaviors in 18-year-olds who took part in National Defense Day 2023.

The Autonomous Region of the Azores recorded the highest prevalence of illicit drug use other than cannabis and also stood out in terms of problems and frequency of alcohol consumption.

According to the ICAD study: “Although the difference in percentage points with the other regions is not very pronounced, because the figures are lower, the consumption of this type of illicit drug in the Azores is around two to three times higher than in the country as a whole”. According to the report, in terms of the prevalence of illicit substance use in the last 12 months, by type of substance and region (%), the Azores lead the way in the use of heroin (4.3%), cocaine (6.6%); hallucinogens (6.0%); new psychoactive substances (5.7%); amphetamines and methamphetamines (7.9%).

The consumption of tranquilizers/sedatives without a doctor’s prescription is also higher in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The highest prevalence of non-prescribed consumption of this type of medication in the last 12 months is in the Azores (9%).

When analyzed according to the type of addictive behavior associated with the experience of problems, alcohol consumption is more associated with the experience of problems in the Azores (36%). Therefore, although the Azores is not the region with the highest prevalence of alcohol consumption, the problems arising from its consumption are most significant in the Azores.

Between 2022 and 2023, the Azores proved to be one of the regions in the country where the outlook for addictive behaviors among 18-year-olds did not diminish; on the contrary, there was an increase in some indicators – in contradiction to the country’s trend – such as daily or almost daily consumption of alcoholic beverages (+2 percentage points), recent and current consumption of illicit drugs (+1 percentage point) and non-prescribed consumption of tranquilizers/sedatives throughout life and in the last 30 days (+1 percentage point).

Based on national data from 2023, this study alerts the Autonomous Region of the Azores to a “necessary effort to try to understand the reasons why this is happening systematically,” as there is a tendency for continued consumption of these substances and the prevalence of these indicators.

in Correio dos Açores, Natalino Viveiros-director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.