Study title

The survey Epidemiological Survey on Substance Abuse in Germany 2018 (ESA) is a representative survey on the use and abuse of psychoactive substances among adolescents and adults aged 18 to 64 years, which has been conducted regularly nationwide since 1980. The data collection took place between March and July 2018 and was conducted by infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH on behalf of the IFT, Institute for Therapy Research in Munich. The nationwide study was conducted in a mixed-mode design as a standardised telephone survey (CATI: Computer Assisted Telephone Interview), as a written-postal survey (PAPSI: Paper and Pencil Self Interview) and as an online survey. The study is financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Health. The survey covered 30-day, 12-month and lifetime prevalence of tobacco use (tobacco products as well as shisha, heat-not-burn products and e-cigarettes), alcohol, illicit drugs and medicines. For conventional tobacco products, alcohol, selected illicit drugs (cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines) and medications (painkillers, sleeping pills and tranquillisers), additional diagnostic criteria were recorded with the written version of the Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) for the period of the last twelve months. Furthermore, a series of socio-demographic data, the physical and mental state of health, nutritional behaviour, mental disorders as well as modules on the main topics of children from families with addiction problems, reasons for abstinence in the field of alcohol and the perception or knowledge of the health risk posed by alcohol were recorded.1. Physical and mental health status: self-assessment of health status; self-assessment of mental well-being; chronic illnesses; frequency of physical problems or pain without clear explanation, anxiety attack / panic attack, frequent worries, strong fears in social situations, strong fears of public places, means of transport or shops, strong...