WHO: Bulgarian Adolescents First in Smoking, Drinking and Early Start of Sexual Life

Bulgarian adolescents are in the first place in smoking, alcohol and cannabis use, and early start of sexual life. This shows a report of the World Health Organization on the health behavior of 11-15-year-olds in Europe, said the team of the organization in Sofia.  

The report, published by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, collects extensive data on the physical health, social relations and mental well-being of 227,441 students aged 11, 13 and 15 from 45 countries.

The report presents the results of the research "Behavior and health in school-age children - HBSC", which is conducted every four years and in Bulgaria is led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lydia Vasileva from the Institute for Population and Human Studies - BAS.

Other worrying results are that Bulgarian students are in last place in terms of support they feel from their family and in last place in terms of support received from their friends.

Bulgarian adolescents aged 11 and 15 rank first, and 13-year-olds - second in smoking in the last 30 days among the 45 participating countries. The number of 11-year-olds who smoked in the last 30 days was 9%, and their share reached 26% among 15-year-old boys and 38% among 15-year-old girls.

In terms of alcohol consumption in the last 30 days, Bulgarian adolescents aged 11 and 13 are in first place, and 15-year-olds - in sixth place. Usage varies from 13% in 11-year-olds to 53% in 15-year-olds. 28.9% of students drink regularly - every day or once a week, which is a significant increase compared to 2014, when this percentage was 16.4%. 

Also, Bulgarian adolescents aged 11 and 13 are in first place, and 15-year-olds - in second place in terms of drunkenness in the last 30 days. 9% of 11-year-olds, 13% of 13-year-olds and 28% of...