Substance Use Patterns Among Adolescents in Europe: A Latent Class Analysis

Several researchers have investigated substance use patterns using a latent class analysis; however, hardly no studies exist on substance use patterns across countries.

Adolescent substance use patterns, demographic factors, and international differences in the prevalence of substance use patterns were explored.

Data from 25 European countries were used to identify patterns of adolescent (12-16 years, 50.6% female) substance use (N = 33,566).

Latent class analysis revealed four substance use classes: nonusers (68%), low-alcohol users (recent use of beer, wine, and alcopops; 16.1%), alcohol users (recent use of alcohol and lifetime use of marijuana; 11.2%), and polysubstance users (recent use of alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs; 4.7%). Results support a general pattern of adolescent substance use across all countries; however, the prevalence rates of use patterns vary for each country.

The present research provides insight into substance use patterns across Europe by using a large international adolescent sample, multidimensional indicators and a variety of substances. Substance use patterns are helpful when targeting policy and prevention strategies.