Prevalence and factors associated with alcohol and illicit drug use among Brazilian youth: a multicenter cross-sectional study

This study examined alcohol and illicit drug use among Brazilian youth aged 16 to 25 during the transition to adulthood. A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted between Sep-2016 and Dec-2017 across all 26 Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District. A total of 8,581 participants completed structured interviews on substance use and sociodemographic characteristics. Lifetime prevalence was 71.6% for alcohol and 30% for illicit drugs. Frequent alcohol use was more common among males, while the most used illicit substances were cannabis (27.4%) and cocaine (9.9%). Participants without a partner had higher rates of alcohol and hallucinogen use, while those with same-sex sexual experiences showed increased substance use across all categories. Brazilian youth exhibit high rates of psychoactive substance use, exceeding previous estimates. These findings indicate elevated levels of substance use, surpassing previous estimates, and underscore the urgent need for targeted prevention and harm reduction strategies for vulnerable subgroups.