site.btaParliament Chair: Bulgarian Children, Adolescents Top All Negative European Rankings for Early Use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Psychoactive Substances

Bulgarian children and adolescents lead all negative European rankings for early use of tobacco products, alcohol and psychoactive substances. A fact that should prompt consideration for the mental health of the adolescent generation. A fact that should make one think about the role and place of the family as a value in Bulgarian society, Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova said on Monday during a round table discussion on the current state of state policy in the field of reducing the spread and use of drugs and psychoactive substances in Bulgaria. 

Kiselova pointed out that unfortunately the issue is becoming bigger with the time being. According to her, such issues need not only party but also state level solutions. Kiselova said that the role of the family as an example to adolescents in forming healthy habits is almost destroyed.  

Kiselova cited data from a national survey of health risk factors among the population in Bulgaria, conducted by the National Centre for Public Health and Analysis. It states that more than 30 percent of students have tried smoking cigarettes. Over 40 percent of students lit their first cigarette at 14-15 years of age. The proportion of girls smoking is larger than the proportion of boys. Data also shows that every one in four is exposed to passive smoking every day. 

Survey data show that the attention of 13-15 year olds is definitely focused on new tobacco products. At the time of the survey, 10.8% of students were using e-cigarettes and almost 17% were smoking shisha, Kiselova said.

There has been a trend of a steadily decreasing starting age for alcohol consumption. In the young population, aged 10-19, data show that 62.6% of respondents have tried alcohol - beer, wine, concentrate, with no significant gender difference.

The average starting age of alcohol consumption in Bulgaria is 13 years. At the time of the survey, 48% of adolescents consumed alcohol, more often between the ages of 15-19. The fact that almost 50% of youngsters drink alcohol is extremely worrying.

A particularly worrying fact is related to the effects of this use in the field of education and social realization as adults, said Kiselova.