Young people in the TRNC are less prone to harmful habits such as smoking, alcohol, drugs and gambling compared to Europe and Southern Cyprus

The TRNC Prime Minister's Anti-Drug Commission positively assessed the results of the ESPAD 2024 study, emphasizing that the measures taken to protect youth have yielded tangible results.

Commission Chair Teifide Teçel Hatipoğlu noted that the study, conducted simultaneously with European countries and the Greek Cypriot administration in Southern Cyprus, found that TRNC youth are less exposed to risks associated with psychoactive substances, alcohol, gambling, and digital technologies.

According to the study among 15–16-year-old students:

Cigarette smoking in the TRNC stands at 29.1%, lower than the European average (32.2%) but higher than Southern Cyprus (23.65%). Regular smoking in the past 30 days (13.5%) is lower than in Europe (18.2%) and Southern Cyprus (15.54%). E-cigarette use (14.5%) is higher than both the European and Southern Cypriot levels.

The rate of binge drinking in the past month is significantly lower (21.5%) than in Europe (31.1%) and Southern Cyprus (36.8%). The lifetime experience of being drunk is also lower (24.7%) compared to Europe (33.3%) and Southern Cyprus (27.9%).

Only 2% of TRNC students have tried cannabis at least once, significantly lower than in Europe (11.3%) and Southern Cyprus (8.2%). Similarly low figures were reported for other drugs, including cocaine, ecstasy, and inhalants.

71.1% of young people in the TRNC played digital games in the past week, but only 6.5% played for money, significantly lower than in Europe (22.6%) and Southern Cyprus (26%).

Teifide Teçel Hatipoğlu emphasized that the ESPAD 2024 study should serve as a foundation for further efforts to protect youth. The main priorities identified are controlling e-cigarette use and digital gaming.

Zafer Bekiroğulları, ESPAD project coordinator, stressed the urgent need for measures regarding e-cigarettes, digital behavior, and gambling. The Commission recommended enhancing school prevention programs, introducing educational initiatives from an early age, and systematizing control over screen time.

The study results will be presented at the International ICODAAS 2025 Conference, to be held from 9–11 November, where concrete steps to further improve youth policy will be discussed.