An ICAD report identifies elevated consumption of drugs other than cannabis, non-prescribed sedatives, and online betting, with substance-related problems increasing despite improvements in several national indicators.
The Azores stand out nationally for their high rates of illicit drug use, particularly substances other than cannabis, as well as the non-prescribed use of tranquilizers and sedatives and participation in online betting among 18-year-olds, according to a new report from Portugal’s Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (ICAD).
The findings, published in ICAD’s 2025 regional report and based on a survey of young people participating in National Defense Day, indicate a worsening of problems associated with alcohol and illicit drug consumption in the archipelago, even as several indicators have improved across Portugal.
The study surveyed 2,263 young residents of the Azores and identified significant differences between the region and the national averages.
During the previous 12 months, 22% of the Azorean respondents reported using illicit drugs, compared with a national average of 19%. The figure was close to that recorded in the Algarve, where prevalence reached 23%.
However, when considering consumption during the previous 30 days, the Azores recorded the highest rate in the country, at 15%, compared with 10% nationally.
Cannabis remained the most commonly consumed illicit substance, but the most pronounced regional differences were found in the use of other drugs.
Recent consumption of amphetamines and methamphetamines reached 8.2% among Azorean respondents, more than double the national rate of 4%.
The region also registered some of the country’s highest prevalence rates for new psychoactive substances, cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin or other opioids.
Particularly concerning was the reported use of heroin. According to the survey, 6.1% of young people in the Azores said they had consumed heroin during the previous 12 months, approximately four times the national average of 1.5%.
The findings also revealed substantial differences in the use of tranquilizers and sedatives without a medical prescription.
The Azores recorded the highest national prevalence in this category, with 9% of respondents reporting consumption during the previous year, compared with 4.3% across Portugal.
For the preceding 30 days, the regional figure reached 7%, more than three times the national average of 2.2%.
ICAD noted that non-prescribed consumption of these substances increased in the Azores between 2024 and 2025, while the corresponding national indicator remained relatively stable.
Beyond substance use, the report identified online gambling as another area of concern.
The Azores had the highest proportion of young respondents using online betting platforms and recorded the largest regional increase in this activity.
The report also found that the Azores experienced the country’s greatest increase between 2024 and 2025 in the proportion of young people reporting problems associated with alcohol and illicit drug consumption.
Both indicators reached their highest levels recorded in the region, according to the study.
These developments contrast with the broader national trend.
In 2025, Portugal recorded its lowest levels since 2015 for several indicators involving alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug consumption.
The Azores also registered historical lows in various alcohol and tobacco indicators. Nevertheless, the region was the national exception to the general decline in experimentation with and recent consumption of illicit drugs.
The researchers emphasized that regional disparities have widened again, with the Azores and Alentejo accounting for a particularly high concentration of indicators exceeding national averages.
Although the findings identify significant patterns of consumption and associated problems, the report does not establish the causes of these differences.
The figures are based on self-reported responses from 18-year-olds participating in the National Defense Day survey and should not be interpreted as representing the entire Azorean population.
The results nevertheless provide an important statistical picture of substance use and gambling behavior among young adults in the region, highlighting developments that warrant closer examination by public health authorities, educators, and institutions working in addiction prevention.
The contrast between declining national consumption indicators and increasing regional problems underscores the importance of understanding the specific circumstances affecting young people in the Azores.
Source: Instituto para os Comportamentos Aditivos e Dependências (ICAD), 2025 regional report based on the National Defense Day survey in a story published by Diário Insular, José Lourenço Director. Adapted into English for Novidades. The photo is also from DI.