The data is released in the study promoted by the Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Addictions (ICAD), which recently released national data on addictive behaviours in 18-year-olds who participated in National Defense Day, in 2023, and presents the results obtained by region.

“Similar to what has been seen in previous reports, the regions of the Alentejo, the Azores and the Algarve stand out for prevalence rates higher than the national total, while the North and Madeira record generally lower values” in terms of addictive behaviours.

Among those interviewed, the experience of problems related to drinking alcoholic beverages is greater in the Azores and the Alentejo and lower in the North, while problems related to the consumption of illicit drugs “are clearly more significant in the Azores" and those related to the use of the Internet are higher in Lisbon.

According to the study, problems related to emotional discomfort associated with addictive behaviours are the most common in all regions

Regarding tobacco consumption among young people, the study concludes that, in recent years, it has shown “a clear downward trend” in all regions.

Madeira stands out for its lower consumption of alcohol and tobacco, with prevalence rates considerably lower than in other regions.

Since 2015, with interruption in 2020 due to the pandemic, marijuana is the most consumed illicit substance in all regions.

The Algarve has stood out, in recent years, for a greater consumption of illicit drugs, in general, and cannabis, in particular, a trend that is reinforced in this study.

“Although there was a decrease in the consumption of illicit drugs in the Algarve, compared to the previous edition of the study, the drop was less significant in the region than in the others (with the exception of the Azores), increasing, here too”.

Analysing the consumption of other illicit drugs (other than marijuana), “the picture is very different”, with the Azores recording the highest prevalence, around two to three times higher than the country's total.

Madeira also stands out for its lower consumption of cannabis among young people, and in relation to other illicit drugs, "the prevalence is lower and quite similar in the mainland regions".

“However, in relation to 2022, the decrease in the consumption of illicit drugs as a whole was more significant in the North and Lisbon regions”, notes ICAS.

By type of illicit substance, between 2022 and 2023, recent marijuana consumption rose most in the Azores and fell more significantly in the North.

The Azores also stand out for the biggest increase in consumption in the last 12 months of amphetamines/methamphetamines, new psychoactive substances, hallucinogens, cocaine and heroin, while Alentejo stands out in the opposite direction, by registering the biggest decrease in the prevalence of consumption of all these substances, together with the Central region, only in the case of amphetamines/methamphetamines).

The consumption of sedatives without a medical prescription is higher in the Azores, but also in Madeira, being less prevalent in the Algarve and Lisbon, although the discrepancy between the regions is not particularly pronounced.

Alentejo is once again the region where polyconsumption is most prevalent, with this practice being less prevalent in Madeira.

In relation to Internet use, the study points out that the percentage of interviewees who declared playing online video games is higher in Lisbon, a region where initiation into the game is earlier, while the practice of online gambling is more prevalent in autonomous regions.

The percentage of Internet users who spend six or more hours a day on social networks is higher in the Azores and lower in the Center and Algarve.