Sedative-hypnotic use among school-aged adolescents in the basque country: gender differences and related factors

The consumption of prescription and non-prescription hypnosedatives has become the only substance consumption that has increased among adolescents in the Basque Country. Our objective in the research was to describe the prevalence, sex differences and factors associated with the consumption of hypnosedatives in adolescents of school age in the Basque Country. An observational study was carried out using the DROGAS Y ESCUELA X Survey on drug use in Secondary Education 2021-2022, which covers drug use among students aged 14 to 18 in the Basque Country. Prevalence of lifetime, last year and last month use of hypnosedatives have been analysed according to sex, as well as inequalities by variables such as place of origin, parents’ educational level and family structure. In addition, a comparison of the temporal evolution of consumption over the years (2017-2022) and a comparison with the situation in Spain has been carried out, through the analysis of the ESTUDES survey. These results help to design new strategies and prevention policies in relation to the use and abuse of hypnosedatives among the adolescent population.