In France, alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use among young people is declining but remains high. These substances have particularly harmful short- and long-term effects on their health, making it necessary to continue public health policies aimed at reducing the risks and consequences associated with such use. With the goal of reducing risks, Santé publique France is launching a campaign today targeting young people aged 17 to 25, aimed at reinforcing protective behaviors among peers.

Overview of Substance Use Among Young People

The report published today provides an overview of the patterns and levels of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use among adolescents and young adults. A downward trend has been evident since the early 2010s, in France as well as in other European and Anglo-Saxon countries. In fact, over the past 10 years, the number of 17-year-olds reporting that they have never used alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis has increased, rising from 5.1% in 2008 to 11.7% in 20¹7¹.

However, consumption levels remain a cause for concern, particularly among 18- to 25-year-olds. In this age group, 27% had used cannabis in 2017, compared to 23% in 2010. Alcohol consumption remains very common among them, with over 80% having consumed alcohol in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Perceptions of these substances differ. While the image of tobacco has deteriorated among younger generations, that of cannabis remains positive—it is perceived as less harmful than tobacco. As for alcohol, it continues to be strongly associated with joy, conviviality, and pleasure, and is therefore considered indispensable by young people in a festive setting.

A campaign to reduce the risks associated with alcohol and cannabis use

The new Santé publique France campaign, “Friends at Night Too,” is part of a strategy to reduce the risks associated with alcohol and cannabis use in party settings. Its core principle is to put friendship back at the heart of best practices. Indeed, several studies, including the 2017 ARAMIS survey4 conducted by the OFDT, show that beyond individual strategies for controlling consumption, protective behaviors within groups of young people have been observed. Friendship among young people is thus a protective factor in reducing the immediate risks associated with heavy use of psychoactive substances.

The campaign contrasts two moments from the same evening: the start of the night, which goes smoothly because consumption is “under control,” and the moment when things go wrong for one character due to excessive consumption. The slogan concludes: “Taking care of your friends means doing it at night, too.”

Starting September 25 and for one month, this message will be presented in various formats and across multiple channels:

• A campaign closely aligned with the world of young people:

  • It will be distributed on digital audio platforms (Spotify, Deezer), social media (Snapchat, Instagram), and YouTube via banners, a radio spot, stories, and short videos.

  • The show C’Cauet (NRJ Radio) will invite young people every Friday to share their own experiences from nights out when they had to look after friends who had consumed alcohol or cannabis.

• A poster campaign in nightlife venues—such as bars and restaurants—to reach young people where they spend their time. These posters will also be made available to student councils (BDE) at schools and universities.

• A website (www.amisaussilanuit.fr) complements this initiative and directs those seeking educational resources on harm reduction to the following online support resources: www.alcool-info-service.fr and www.drogues-info-service.fr.