Lifetime prevalence of drug use among the students from 8 to 12 grade (aged 15-19) in Bulgaria (2025)

Prevalence of psychoactive substance use
Prevalence of medication use
Prevalence of drug use
Drug prevention
Treatment supply
Treatment demand
Health consequences
Harm reduction
Drug-related crimes
Drug market
Drug use and prison
Monitoring of publications
Attitudes to legal framework changes

Source: National population school survey on attitudes and use of psychoactive substances among the high students from 8 to 12 grade (aged 15-19). The survey was conducted in November 2025 on behalf of and with the methodological support of the National Focal Point on Drugs and Drug Addictions by Sova 5 Agency, covering 4583 school students from 244 classes, distributed by schools and districts, according to a previously prepared and approved sample.

Data for 2021

Lifetime prevalence of drug use among the students from 8 to 12 grade (aged 15-19) (by grade, 2025)

Type of drugs8 grade9 grade10 grade11 grade12 gradeTotal (8-12 grade)
Any illegal drugs8.0%14.7%21.2%24.2%25.3%18.6%
Cannabis6.8%12.6%17.0%20.7%21.9%15.8%
Heroin0.9%0.9%2.6%1.6%2.5%1.7%
Methadone0.8%0.7%1.4%1.1%1.1%1.1%
Other opioids (morphine, codeine)1.5%1.5%1.9%2.7%3.3%2.2%
Cocaine3.3%4.7%6.2%7.5%7.8%5.9%
Amphetamine3.4%5.1%8.1%9.5%9.0%7.0%
Methamphetamine2.5%3.4%4.6%5.7%5.2%4.3%
Ecstasy2.5%3.9%5.8%6.9%5.8%5.0%
LSD1.6%1.5%3.4%3.8%2.8%2.6%
Hallucinogenic mushrooms1.5%2.2%3.2%4.2%2.8%2.8%
Synthetic cannabinoids2.5%3.0%4.7%5.5%7.0%4.5%
Inhalants1.1%1.2%2.1%1.8%2.4%1.7%
Combination of two or more substances2.5%2.1%3.4%4.6%4.0%3.3%

Lifetime prevalence of drug use among the students from 8 to 12 grade (aged 15-19) (by grade, boys, 2025)

Type of drugs8 grade9 grade10 grade11 grade12 gradeTotal (8-12 grade)
Any illegal drugs7.1%16.4%22.9%25.1%26.4%19.7%
Cannabis5.9%14.6%18.1%21.9%23.0%16.9%
Heroin0.9%0.7%2.1%0.9%2.9%1.5%
Methadone0.7%0.9%1.1%1.1%1.4%1.0%
Other opioids (morphine, codeine)1.4%1.6%1.8%2.1%4.1%2.2%
Cocaine2.4%4.5%5.5%7.2%8.8%5.7%
Amphetamine3.5%5.2%8.9%9.6%11.5%7.8%
Methamphetamine2.8%2.9%5.0%6.6%5.6%4.6%
Ecstasy2.1%4.1%7.1%5.7%7.0%5.2%
LSD1.6%1.6%3.7%2.8%3.4%2.6%
Hallucinogenic mushrooms1.4%1.8%3.7%4.0%2.9%2.8%
Synthetic cannabinoids2.6%3.8%4.6%6.6%7.4%5.0%
Inhalants1.2%1.4%2.5%1.7%2.5%1.8%
Combination of two or more substances2.4%2.0%3.7%4.5%4.5%3.4%

Lifetime prevalence of drug use among the students from 8 to 12 grade (aged 15-19) (by grade, girls, 2025)

Type of drugs8 grade9 grade10 grade11 grade12 gradeTotal (8-12 grade)
Any illegal drugs8.8%13.0%19.5%23.3%24.4%17.6%
Cannabis7.6%10.9%15.8%19.4%21.1%14.8%
Heroin0.8%1.2%3.2%2.5%2.1%1.9%
Methadone0.8%0.6%1.6%1.7%1.4%1.2%
Other opioids (morphine, codeine)1.6%1.4%2.1%3.5%2.7%2.2%
Cocaine4.1%4.9%6.9%7.9%7.0%6.1%
Amphetamine3.3%5.0%7.3%9.4%7.0%6.3%
Methamphetamine2.3%3.9%4.1%4.7%4.9%3.9%
Ecstasy2.9%3.7%4.6%8.2%4.8%4.7%
LSD1.6%1.4%3.2%5.0%2.3%2.6%
Hallucinogenic mushrooms1.6%2.5%2.8%4.5%2.7%2.8%
Synthetic cannabinoids2.5%2.3%4.8%4.2%6.6%4.1%
Inhalants1.0%1.2%1.6%2.0%2.3%1.6%
Combination of two or more substances2.7%2.1%3.2%4.7%3.5%3.0%