Malta’s Teens Smoke And Vape Less Than Nearly Every Other European Country
Malta is one of Europe’s best-performing countries when it comes to teenage smoking and vaping, according to the latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD 2024).
The survey, which collects data from 15–16-year-olds across 37 European countries, found that only 16% of Maltese students have ever smoked a cigarette, the lowest rate in Europe, compared with the ESPAD average of 32%.
Only Iceland reported a slightly lower prevalence. E-cigarette use is also relatively low, with 26% of Maltese teens having tried vaping, placing the country among the bottom six in Europe.
While traditional substance use continues to decline, ESPAD researchers warn that new behavioural and health risks are on the rise.
These include e-cigarette use, non-medical use of pharmaceuticals, and a surge in social media use, online gaming, and gambling, trends particularly pronounced among girls.
The survey notes that long-standing gender gaps in substance use are narrowing, or even reversing in some areas.
According to the report: “While the continued decline in the use of established substances is welcome, it is clear that this does not necessarily correspond to a reduction in risk. Indeed, the intertwining of psychoactive substance use and digital risk behaviours represents a new and complex challenge for public health.”
The ESPAD 2024 survey marks 30 years of monitoring adolescent risky behaviours across Europe and is the first wave conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 113,000 students participated, providing insights not only on tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, but also on mental well-being and prevention activities, recognising the growing importance of these factors in shaping teen health.
The report highlights three key priorities for policymakers: expanding evidence-based prevention, prioritising mental health and well-being (especially with gender-sensitive approaches), and addressing digital environments to protect youth from online gaming and gambling harms.
Experts stress that only a systemic, multisectoral approach can help turn risk into resilience and support the development of healthier, self-aware adolescents.
Commenting on the results, Minister for Social Policy and the Rights of the Child Michael Falzon said the government continues to invest in school awareness campaigns to educate students about the negative effects of addiction and risky behaviours.
For Malta, the message is clear, while teenagers are faring well in smoking and vaping, new challenges are emerging, and keeping young people safe in a rapidly changing digital and social landscape remains a priority.
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