Andalucia has recorded the highest rate of e-cigarette (vape) use among Spanish students aged 14 to 18.
The alarming figures come from the 2025 ESTUDES survey published by the Spanish Ministry of Health.
Half of secondary school students in the region reported vaping in the past year (50%), just ahead of Extremadura at 49.9%.
The report also shows 40.9% of Andalucian teens admitted getting drunk in the last year, compared to the national average of 38.7%.
Overall, 46.8% said they had been drunk at least once in their lives, nearly three points above the Spanish average (44.1%).
Regional rankings and gender differences
Andalucia ranks high on alcohol misuse among teens, behind regions like Navarre (48.3%), Extremadura (47.3%), Aragon (44.7%), and the Basque Country (44.5%).
Among Andalucian boys, 41.6% reported excessive alcohol consumption in the past year, with 40.1% of girls reporting the same.
Tobacco and cannabis use below national average
Tobacco use in Andalucia remains slightly below the national average:
- 20.3% of students smoked in the past year (Spain: 21.2%)
- 27% have smoked at least once (Spain: 27.3%)
- Cannabis use also trails the national figures:
Cannabis use also trails the national figures:
- 13.8% used cannabis in the past year (Spain: 15.5%)
- 22.9% of boys reported lifetime use, compared to 14.8% of girls
In the past year: 17% of boys, 10.4% of girls used cannabis
Vaping: A widespread trend
Andalucia ranks second nationally for students who have tried vaping at least once – 58.2%, behind Extremadura’s 59.8%, and well above the national average of 49.5%.
Breakdown by gender:
- 49.4% of boys vaped in the past 12 months; 57.8% have tried it
- 50.5% of girls vaped in the past year; 58.6% have tried it at least once
Changing perceptions of risk
One of the key findings of the 2025 survey is the shift in perception around vaping. 57.3% of students now believe that occasional e-cigarette use poses health risks – an increase of 18.5 points compared to 2023.
This marks the highest level of risk awareness since the survey began.
