Albania: The number of minors consuming alcohol and tobacco increases

They have found creative ways to consume it even in school environments, while hospitals report increased cases in toxicology departments.

Psychologists say that alcohol and tobacco are viewed as fashionable, often influenced by young people.

“Peer pressure is one of the main criteria that recognizes them. Looks like a tendency to be part of the group. Part of them get stuck, part of them think life is what it is, and it should be, they think of it as a trendy thing, as one thing to accept into society”, said psychologist Orsjola Miha.

Studies conducted by the ISHP show that smoking cuts among young people aged 13-15 are 6.4% in boys and 2.% in girls.

Adding security officers to schools has contributed to lowering alcohol and tobacco consumption in the facility. But children seem to have found a solution.

We can't say that teenagers don't use it beyond the school yard, there are students who use it. We don't know about the outside, they're only using tobacco, they can use hashish, they're users from third person”, said Jessica Drermi, a security officer.

Young people also appear in the emergency toxicology of the QSUT, where there is an increase in users year after year. But what health damage do tobacco and alcohol cause?

The number of children who have started using alcohol has increased. It is a culture for tobacco, not considered harmful, and do not come to treatment. Consumerizing alcohol and tobacco damages the liver and the nervous system. They also bring mental problems”, said Esmeralda Thoma, a science doctor.

The state health inspectorate has fined 875 stores for selling tobacco and alcohol to minors in the past three years. /Euronews