Rise in nicotine use and gambling among Swedish students: Insights from the annual school report on alcohol and other drugs

Gambling

One of the most prominent trends in this year’s survey is the continued increase in the proportion of students who gambled for money, particularly among boys. Since 2019, the percentage of upper secondary school boys who gambled in the past 12 months has risen from 27 per cent to 43 per cent. For girls, this figure increased from 4 per cent to 8 per cent. Among ninth-grade boys, gambling rates climbed from 20 per cent in 2019 to 27 per cent in 2024, while the rate for girls has remained steady at 9 per cent. Additionally, risky gambling among boys has increased.

Overall, there is cause for concern regarding the growth of gambling, and it is worth noting that several indicators have risen after 2019, the year when Sweden re-regulated its gambling market.

Nicotine and tobacco

Nicotine use is another cause for concern.  Since nicotine pouches were introduced to the Swedish markets in 2016, the prevalence of snus users has increased dramatically. The most noticeable increase is seen among girls in upper secondary school. For these students, we see an increase from 4 per cent in 2014 to 26 per cent in 2024. Among ninth-grade girls, usage has increased from 3 per cent in 2014 to 14 per cent in 2024, reaching historically high levels in both age groups. The proportion of boys who use snus is, however, still higher.

Vaping also showed a dramatic increase in 2022. While usage declined slightly this year, it remains far higher than in the 2010s. In 2024, 16 per cent of ninth graders and 20 per cent of upper secondary students reported vaping in the past month, with girls now vaping more than boys.

Cigarette smoking has declined significantly, with the most notable drop occurring during the 2010s. According to this year’s survey, 8 per cent of ninth graders and 21 per cent of upper secondary students reported smoking, with a slight increase observed in the latter group since 2021.

Over the past decade, nicotine use has increased among girls, while rates among boys have remained steady.

Alcohol

Alcohol consumption among students has declined over the long term but has plateaued in recent years across both age groups. In this year’s survey, 35 per cent of ninth graders and 69 per cent of upper secondary students reported drinking alcohol in the past 12 months. The reported problems associated with alcohol use vary by gender: girls more frequently reported issues in their relationships with parents and friends, while boys were more likely than girls to have driven a motor vehicle or been involved in fights after drinking alcohol.

Narcotic drugs and nitrous oxide

Narcotics use has remained relatively stable over the past 20 years, with minor fluctuations from year to year. In 2024, 6 per cent of ninth graders and 15 per cent of upper secondary students reported having ever using narcotics. While overall use has plateaued, the frequency of use among those with experience has increased, particularly among ninth graders. On average, ninth graders who have used narcotics now report using twice as often as their peers did 30 years ago. Cannabis remains the most commonly used substance across both age groups.

The use of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) has recently become a topical issue in Sweden and other Nordic countries. Questions about its use were introduced to the survey in 2022. In 2024, 2 per cent of ninth graders and 5 per cent of upper secondary students reported using nitrous oxide in the past 12 months, reflecting a significant decline from 2022 figures of 4 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. Usage was equally common among boys and girls.

The article is written by Louise Selling, Isabella Gripe, Ulf Guttormsson, Johan Svensson, Siri Thor & Martina Zetterqvist, CAN,

on the request of PopNAD