The Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE conducted a study on gambling and internet use, as well as habits related to the consumption of tobacco products, alcohol, and marijuana among children and youth aged 13 to 17 in three cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo Canton, Zenica-Doboj Canton, and Central Bosnia Canton). On November 21, 2024, a presentation was held in Sarajevo to showcase the study’s findings and recommendations. The research was conducted in collaboration with proMENTE Social Research.

The study results reveal that 24.9% of respondents engage in some form of gambling, with more than half of those who gamble reporting that their parents are aware of this activity. Additionally, 18% of respondents consume cigarettes, 24.8% use electronic cigarettes, 6.4% consume snus, and 26.4% use waterpipes. Alcohol is consumed by 20.3% of respondents, while marijuana use is reported by 6%. Curiosity, peer pressure, and the need for social recognition were identified as the primary reasons for substance use.

Regarding internet use, 91.2% of respondents spend more than two hours online daily, excluding 38% who use it for school and learning. Most use the internet for socialization, entertainment, or without a specific purpose. Alarmingly, 35% of respondents indicated that their parents show no interest in their online activities.

The presentation was attended by representatives from primary and secondary schools, organizations focused on children and youth, health-focused institutions, municipal council representatives, and officials from the ministries of education, justice, health, and security. The findings serve as a foundation for collaboration in designing, implementing, and improving evidence-based programs for the prevention of behavioral and substance-related addictions.

The research was supported by a Core Grant from the regional SMART Balkan – Civil Society for a Connected Western Balkans project, implemented by the Center for Civil Society Promotion (CPCD) Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) North Macedonia, and the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) Albania, with financial backing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway.

We are honored that the SMART Balkan project recognized NARKO-NE as a partner, and we are proud to support the successful completion of this study on gambling, internet use, and the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana among children and youth in three cantons of the Federation of BiH. The findings highlight concerning levels of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among youth, despite school prohibitions. We call on educational institutions, government authorities, and parents to implement the study’s recommendations and preventive measures, working together to create safer and healthier environments for our children and youth, said Edisa Adžović, Grants Manager of the SMART Balkan project.

The study involved 1,066 respondents, of whom 52.7% were girls and 46.9% were boys, and was conducted in 27 primary and secondary schools across 24 municipalities.

Azra Halilović