European teenagers start trying alcohol as soon as they leave the playground
As reported by "Russkaya Germaniya", in terms of smoking among minors, Lithuania shares first place with Bulgaria in the ranking not only of EU countries but also of all 45 European countries. According to the study, in Lithuania, 27% of girls and 31% of boys use tobacco products at least once a month. Among fifteen-year-olds, this figure approaches 50%.
The study notes that every third Lithuanian teenager has experienced intoxication at least twice. A positive trend is also noted: four years ago, 44% of all teenagers had experience of alcohol intoxication.
According to WHO data, more than 5 million people die annually from diseases related to smoking worldwide. The WHO has been urging EU countries and the whole world to combat excessive alcohol consumption and smoking – both among adults and minors – for several years now.
One of the previous WHO reports contains a warning: "If decisive measures are not taken, by 2030 the number of deaths from diseases related to tobacco smoking will reach 8 million. In total, in the 21st century, almost a billion people who have failed to overcome their addiction may die from tobacco."