TOBACCO, ALCOHOL
AND ILLICIT DRUG USE
in Slovenian Population and
Inequalities and Combinations
of Use
CONTENTS
1
FOREWORD
2
TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUG USE AMONG ADULT SLOVENIAN
POPULATION
4
TOBACCO
8
ALCOHOL
14
ILLICIT DRUGS
20
COMBINATIONS OF TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS USE
The numbers in the monograph are mostly rounded.
In some cases, total percentages may exceed 100 % due to rounding up.
Tobacco smoking, excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages, binge
drinking and the use of illicit drugs are related to serious harmful
consequences for health and wellbeing of the population, to morbidity
and premature mortality as well as to high financial costs for the
individual and the society. In order to effectively design, implement
and monitor comprehensive programmes for the reduction of the
use of psychoactive substances and their consequences, it is
necessary to regularly monitor the prevalence and characteristics
of the use in population and to identify risk groups.
1
TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT
DRUG USE AMONG ADULT SLOVENIAN
POPULATION
Tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use is common
among adult Slovenian population.
RESIDENTS OF SLOVENIA, AGED 15-64 YEARS
EVERY FOURTH
smokes tobacco.
EVERY TENTH
drinks alcoholic beverages excessively.
EVERY OTHER
engaged in binge drinking at least once
in the past year1.
EVERY SIXTH used one of the illicit drugs or new psychoactive
substances at least once in lifetime. The most commonly used illicit drug is
cannabis, which is followed by ecstasy/amphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
EVERY FIFTH
uses any kind of combination2 of tobacco, alcohol
(excessive drinking, binge drinking) or cannabis.
HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF MEN THAN WOMEN
smokes or engages in excessive or binge drinking or uses illicit
drugs or any combination of these.
The percentages of tobacco use, excessive drinking and continuation of cannabis use3
are higher in groups with lower socio-economic position compared to groups with
higher socio-economic position.
2
RESIDENTS OF SLOVENIA, AGED 15-64 YEARS
24.0
SMOKING
every day or occasionally
26.8
21.1
10.5
EXCESSIVE DRINKING
in the past 12 months
13.0
7.7
46.5
BINGE DRINKING
at least once in the past 12 months
55.8
36.6
16.1
ILLICIT DRUG USE
at least once in lifetime
19.8
12.2
15.8
CANNABIS USE
at least once in lifetime
A COMBINATION OF AT LEAST TWO
RISK BEHAVIORS
(smoking, excessive drinking, binge drinking, cannabis use)
19.5
11.8
21.1
Total
26.6
Men
15.1
Women
Image 1: Prevalence of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use among residents aged 15-64 years, in total and by gender
1.
Binge drinking is drinking six units of alcohol or more on one occasion for men and four units or more on one occasion for women.
2.
The use of tobacco, alcohol or cannabis in combinations could occur at the same time on one occasion or on different occasions.
3.
The residents, who are continuing using cannabis, are those who used cannabis in the past 12 months out of all who ever used
cannabis.
3
TOBACCO
RESIDENTS OF SLOVENIA, AGED 15-64 YEARS
24 %
23 %
current smokers
ex smokers
53 %
never smoked tobacco
The percentage of smokers is
HIGHER AMONG MEN
compared to women.
MEN 15-64
WOMEN 15-64
smokers
smokers
never-smokers
27 %
never-smokers
48 %
ex smokers
58 %
25 %
Image 2: Prevalence of smoking among men and women aged 15-64 years
4
21 %
ex smokers
21 %
p l oy
ed
na
n
en
n li
ving
alo ne
GROUPS WITH HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF TOBACCO
SMOKERS
me
o m l o we r c l a s s
en fr terial status
m
o
w
ma
nd g to
n a ordin
e
m acc
me
om
me
and n wi t h
wo
me s e c
nw
un e m
dw
r
o r l o we
t i o n u c at i o n
a
c
e du a r y e d
ar y c ond
d
on h se
it
men
living without a par tner
Population groups, which are less likely to quit smoking, are men and women aged
15-24 years, those in education process, men and women with lowest educational
level and men and women, living without a partner.
5
TOBACCO
SUBSTANTIAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES ARE
PRESENT IN TOBACCO USE
Residents with lower socio-economic position and those with higher
number of indicators of lower socio-economic position are more likely
to be ever smokers, to be current smokers and are less likely to quit
smoking.
Socio-economic inequalities in smoking are more prominent among men than
among women. They are more prominent among younger population (aged 25-44
years) compared to older population (aged 45-64 years), which indicates recent
increase in inequalities in smoking.
AGE GROUP 25-44 YEARS
The percentage of smokers is 3-times
higher among men with lowest education
compared to those with highest education,
while it is 2-times higher in case of women.
3x
2x
The percentage of those, who have ever smoked, is more than 2-times higher among
men with lowest education compared to men with highest education, while it is
1.5-times higher in case of women.
The percentage of residents, who have smoked in the past and have later quit, is
more than 2-times lower among men with lowest education compared to men with
highest education, while it is 1.5-times lower in case of women.
6
MEN 25-44
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary school or less
Secondary school
the percentage of smokers
the percentage of
ever smokers
47
35
15
64
55
38
Higher vocational college
or more
the percentage of those, who
have quit smoking out of all who
have smoked at any point in their lives
27
36
60
WOMEN 25-44
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary school or less
Secondary school
the percentage of smokers
the percentage of
ever smokers
32
29
14
55
52
36
Higher vocational college
or more
the percentage of those, who
have quit smoking out of all who
have smoked at any point in their lives
42
45
63
Image 3: Percentage of smokers by education among men and women aged 25-44 years
7
ALCOHOL
RESIDENTS OF SLOVENIA, AGED 15-64 YEARS
68 %
11 %
are moderate
drinkers
are excessive drinkers*
21 %
are abstainers
Prevalence of excessive drinkers* is
HIGHER AMONG MEN
than among women.
MEN 15-64
WOMEN 15-64
Excessive drinkers
Abstainers
17 %
13 %
Excessive drinkers
Abstainers
8%
27 %
Moderate drinkers
Moderate drinkers
70 %
66 %
Image 4: Percentages of abstainers, moderate and excessive drinkers among men and women, aged 15-64 years
8
ar y
m
15-17 en an
yea d w
r s a om
n d en
18
me
ed r s
ag yea
4
-2
na
n
ed d
u
im
h pr
wit wer
n
m e o r lo
w o t io n
ca
w i t h o u t a p a r t ner
en l
iving
en
an
dw
om
cl a s s ,
l o we r
o m a t e r ia l s t a t u s
r
f
n
m
me ing to
d
r
co
ac
GROUPS
WITH HIGHER
PERCENTAGES
OF EXCESSIVE
DRINKERS*
m
men
and w
omen in education pr
o ces
s
* Under-aged persons, who drink alcohol, are defined as excessive drinkers.
9
ALCOHOL BINGE DRINKING
MEN 15–64
3%
1%
13 %
daily or almost every day
16 %
1- to 3-times per week
1- to 3-times per month
28 %
39 %
less than once per month
did not engage in binge drinking in the past year
abstainers
Image 5.1: Frequency of binge drinking in males, aged 15-64 years, in the past 12 months
WOMEN 15–64
7%
1%
0,1 %
daily or almost every day
29 %
24 %
1- to 3-times per week
1- to 3-times per month
less than once per month
40 %
did not engage in binge drinking in the past year
abstainers
Image 5.2: Frequency of binge drinking in females, aged 15-64 years, in the past 12 months
In the past twelve months, 47 % of Slovenian residents, aged 15-64 years, engaged
in binge drinking at least once. The prevalence was higher among men compared to
women.
10
u c at i o n
y e d nd a r y
r
a
o nd h s e c o
sec n wit higher
h
e
t
w i om i o n o r
w at
uc
i
m
n e en
du a n d
c at w o
io n me n
p ro c
es s
me n a
nd women living
w i t h o u t a p a r t ner
GROUPS WITH
HIGHER PERCENTAGE
OF RESIDENTS, WHO
HAVE ENGAGED IN BINGE
DRINKING AT LEAST ONCE
IN THE PAST TWELVE
MONTHS
n
g i un
livin e co
n
e
h
wo m r t o f t
a
p
n
r
a s te
tr y
from middle class
men n f r o m u p p er a n d
class
e
wom
t o m at e r i a l s t a ,
g
n
i
d
r
t us
ac c o
s
me
n
an
d
ed
me n
aged and w
18- om
24 en
ye
ar
e
48 % OF RESIDENTS ARE HAZARDOUS DRINKERS (ARE EXCESSIVE DRINKERS
AND/OR HAVE ENGAGED IN BINGE DRINKING AT LEAST ONCE ON ONE
OCCASION IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS).
11
ALCOHOL
SUBSTANTIAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES ARE
PRESENT IN ALCOHOL USE
Residents of Slovenia, aged 25-64 years, with lower socio-economic
position are more likely to be excessive drinkers, while those with higher
socio-economic position are more likely to engage in binge drinking.
Socio-economic inequalities are present in men and women, in younger and
in older residents. Socio-economic inequalities are most obvious in relation to
educational level. Among the residents with lowest education, the percentage of
abstainers is 3-times higher, the percentage of excessive drinkers is 1.6-times
higher and the percentage of persons, who have engaged in binge drinking at least
once on one occasion in the past twelve months is 1.4-times lower compared to
those with highest education.
AGE GROUP 25-64 YEARS
The percentage of excessive drinkers is 1.7-times
higher among men with lowest education compared
to those with highest education, while it is 1.6-times
higher among women with lowest education
compared to those with secondary education.
The percentage of persons, who have engaged in binge
drinking at least once on one occasion in the past 12
months, is 1.3-times higher among men with secondary
education compared to those with lowest education,
while it is 1.7-times higher among women with highest
education compared to least educated women.
1.7x
1.6x
1.3x
1.7x
The percentage of abstainers is almost 3-times higher among men and more than
3-times higher among women with lowest education compared to those with
highest education.
12
MEN 25-64
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary school or less
Secondary school
Higher vocational college
or more
abstinence
excessive drinking
binge drinking
in the past 12 months
27
17
10
13
9
8
44
55
52
WOMEN 25-64
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary school or less
Secondary school
Higher vocational college
or more
abstinence
excessive drinking
binge drinking
in the past 12 months
50
26
15
5
3
3
21
32
36
Image 6: The percentages of abstainers, excessive drinkers and persons, who have engaged in binge drinking at least once on one
occasion in the past 12 months, according to education among men and women, aged 25-64 years
13
ILLICIT DRUGS
RESIDENTS OF SLOVENIA, AGED 15-64 YEARS
16 %
used illicit drug at least
once in lifetime
72 %
of those, who have ever
used an illicit drug, quit
the use
The percentage of illicit drug users is
HIGHER AMONG MEN
compared to women.
The most commonly used illicit drug among Slovenian population
is cannabis, which is followed by ecstasy/amphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
Age period for the initiation of most illicit drugs use is 18-22 years.
14
MEN 15-64
have used at least once
have never
used
80 %
have continued using
30 %
20 %
have quit using
70 %
Image 7.1: The percentage of men, aged 15-64 years, who have ever used illicit drug and those among them,
who have continued with the use in the past year
WOMEN 15-64
have used at least once
have never
used
88 %
have continued using
24 %
12 %
have quit using
76 %
Image 7.2: The percentage of women, aged 15-64 years, who have ever used illicit drug and those among
them, who have continued with the use in the past year
15
ILLICIT DRUGS CANNABIS
The prevalence of cannabis use is higher among younger Slovenian population
compared to older and among men rather than women.
THE PREVALENCE OF CANNABIS USE BY AGE GROUPS
15-64 years
Last month
2.3
4.4
Last year
15.8
7.5
15-24 years
25-34 years
(%)
Lifetime
15.0
27.3
3.7
6.9
0
10
29.7
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
THE PREVALENCE OF CANNABIS USE BY GENDER
Last month
3.3
Last year
5.9
men
19.5
Lifetime
1.2
2.8
women
11.8
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Image 8: The percentage of lifetime, last year and last month cannabis use by age group and gender
Average age of first cannabis use is 18 years.
16
80
90
100
me n a
n
in educ d wom
at i o n
e
pro n
ces
s
me
n fr
om
h o u o ne - p a
re n t
s eh o
ld s
f ro m en
a
m
din upp nd wome
n
g t e r cl
om
a
ater ss accoria l s t a
t us
en
om
rn
nd w
men a weste try
n
in
living he cou
t
p a r t of
GROUPS WITH
HIGHER PERCENTAGE
OF LIFETIME
CANNABIS USE
omen
n d w s el y
n
na
me in de reas
a
ng
livi ulated
p
po
me n a
n
aged 1 d wom
5
and 25 -24 ye en
-34 ars
yea
rs
omen
n d w u c at i o n
a
n
d
me high e er
gh
i
h
t
h
w i or
e n er
om
d w p ar t n
n
a
n
me
ta
t hou
living wi
There are some differences in groups with highest percentages of last year and last
month4 cannabis use compared to groups with highest percentages of lifetime cannabis
use. By age, the youngest age group, 15-25 years, has the highest percentage of last
year and last month cannabis use; by education, residents with secondary or lower
education stand out; by employment status, unemployed stand out next to those in
education process; none of the classes stand out by material status.
4.
The groups with highest percentages of last year and last month cannabis use cannot be shown by gender due to small shares.
17
ILLICIT DRUGS CANNABIS
SUBSTANTIAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES ARE
PRESENT IN CANNABIS USE
Residents, aged 15-34 years, who have highest education, are from
upper class according to material status, are unemployed and those,
living without a partner are most likely to use cannabis at least once in
lifetime.
Residents with lower socio-economic position and those with higher
number of indicators of low socio-economic position are more likely to
continue using cannabis.
Socio-economic inequalities are generally more prominent by education. They
are also more prominent among women, aged 15-34 years, compared to men.
The percentage of lifetime cannabis use among men with highest education
is 1.5-times higher compared to men with lowest education; in women it is
1.8-times higher.
The percentage of those, who are continuing with cannabis use among
all who have ever used cannabis, is 2.4-times higher among men with lowest
education compared to men with highest education; in women it is 3.8-times
higher.
The percentage of those who quit using cannabis, among all who have
ever used cannabis, is 2.3-times higher in men and women with highest
education compared to those with lowest education.
18
MEN 15-34
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary school or less
the percentage of those who
have ever used cannabis
26
32
41
Secondary school
Higher vocational college
or more
the percentage of those,
the percentage of those who have
who have continued to use
quit using cannabis among all
cannabis among all who have who have ever used cannabis
ever used cannabis
69
41
29
31
59
71
WOMEN 15-34
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary school or less
the percentage of those who
have ever used cannabis
15
24
28
Secondary school
Higher vocational college
or more
the percentage of those,
the percentage of those who have
who have continued to use
quit using cannabis among all
cannabis among all who have who have ever used cannabis
ever used cannabis
65
33
17
35
67
83
Image 9: The percentage of ever cannabis users and those among them, who have continued with the use in the past year and those
who have quit using cannabis, by education among men and women, aged 15-34 years
19
COMBINATIONS OF
TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS
USE
RESIDENTS OF SLOVENIA, AGED 15-64 YEARS
42 %
37 %
21 %
do not smoke, did not engage in excessive
drinking in the past 12 months or binge drinking at least once in the past 12 months, and
did not use cannabis in the past 12 months
report one of the observed risk
behaviours*
report two observed risk behaviours or
more (combination)
The percentage of combination users is
HIGHER AMONG MEN
compared to women.
MEN 15-64
WOMEN 15-64
two or more
27 %
one
two or more
none
33 %
41 %
15 %
none
one
33 %
52 %
Image 10: The percentage of men and women, aged 15-64 years, by number of observed risk behaviours*
20
o
me n
and wo w i t h p
men rim
wi t ar y
h s sc
ec
o
young
er m
en
an
dw
n
s)
year
s
o r le s
t i o n o r le s s
u c a c at i o n
ed
o l e du
ho ar y
nd
me
-34
(15
uc
i
liv
ng
n
ni
ed
wit
me
ho
wo
ut a
and
p ar t
me n
ner
GROUPS WITH HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF
COMBINATION USE*
at i o
np
ro c e
ss
a
me n
nd
wo
n
me
* Observed risk behaviours are smoking, excessive drinking in the past 12 months, binge drinking at least once in past 12 months
and cannabis use in the past 12 months. If individual reports two or more selected risk behaviours, we used terms ‘’combination of
tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use’’ and ‘’combination use’’.
21
COMBINATIONS OF
TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS
USE
Socio-economic inequalities are also seen in the prevalence of
combination use (smoking, excessive drinking in past 12 months,
binge drinking at least once in the past 12 months, cannabis use at
least once in the past 12 months).
Residents with lower education are more likely to be combination users than
those with higher education.
AGE GROUP 15-64 YEARS
The percentage of combination use is
2-times higher among men with lowest
education compared to those with
highest education, while it is 1.7-times
higher among women this age.
2x
1,7x
MEN AND WOMEN 15-64
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary school or less
the percentage of combination
use among men
37
28
18
Secondary school
Higher vocational college
or more
the percentage of combination
use among women
20
16
12
Image 11: The percentage of combination use by education among men and women, aged 15-64 years
22
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means of raising public awareness and other prevention measures. Beside the main role
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cover different fields of health and general public health problems. NIJZ also represents
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Data portal
TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUGS USE IN SLOVENIAN POPULATION AND INEQUALITIES AND
COMBINATIONS OF USE
Authors: Helena Koprivnikar, Maja Zorko, Marjetka Hovnik Keršmanc, Andreja Drev
Design: Gorazd Učakar
Translation: Mihaela Tornar
Published by: National Institute of Public Health, Trubarjeva cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana
Place and date of publishing: Ljubljana 2016
Electronic source.
Web page http://www.nijz.si/
Adapted from:
Koprivnikar H, Zorko M, Drev A, Hovnik Keršmanc M, Kvaternik I, Macur M. Uporaba tobaka, alkohola
in prepovedanih drog med prebivalci Slovenije ter neenakosti in kombinacije te uporabe. Ljubljana:
Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje, 2015.
The research “Survey on tobacco, alcohol and other drugs” was financed by the Ministry of Health.
Copyright
© 2015 NIJZ
All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole in any way and by any media without the written
consent of the author is prohibited. Violations are sanctioned in accordance with copyright and
criminal law.