Tobacco, alcohol and other drugs

The share of smokers is measured by two questions: "Do you sometimes smoke?" and "Do you smoke daily or occasionally?".

The share of snus/snuff users is measured by one question: "Do you use snuff daily, occasionally, or never?"

The share which drinks alcohol once a week is measured by two questions: "Have you been drinking alcohol for the past 12 months?" and "During the last 12 months, you will say that you have been drinking alcohol mostly daily, weekly, monthly or more rarely? In addition, those who report drinking at least 3 times a month or more are included in the weekly category.

The share that have drunk six or more units on one occasion weekly is measured by the question: "In the past 12 months, how often have you drunk six or more units of alcohol on one occasion? Would you say daily, weekly, monthly or never?"

The share that has used cannabis once or more is measured by the question: "Have you ever tried cannabis? Cannabis includes cannabis, marijuana, cannabis oil, skunk and sensimilla."

The share that has used cannabis in the past 12 months is measured by the question: "Have you tried or used cannabis in the last 12 months?"

Please note that the questions below were published in Statistikkbanken between 2018 and 2022. Starting from 2023, data on addictive medications is no longer collected in the survey.

The share that have used sleeping pills for the last 12 months has been measured by the question: "In the past 12 months, have you used prescription sleeping pills? (For example, Imovane, Zopiclon, Stilnoct, Adodorm, Flumipam)."

The share that have used sleeping pills daily has been measured by the question: "Have you used sleeping pills of that kind daily or almost daily over a period of at least one week?"

The share that have used tranquillizers in the past 12 months is measured by the question: "In the past 12 months, have you used prescription tranquillizers? (For example, sobril, Valium and Vival")

The share that have used tranquillizers daily is not included in Statistikkbanken because of small numbers.

The share that have used pain killers in the past 12 months is measured by the question: "In the past 12 months, have you used prescription pain killers? (For example, Paralgin Forte or Nobligan)

The share that have used pain killers daily is measured by the question: "Have you used pain killers of that kind daily or almost daily for a least one week?"

Note: The questions on smoke and snus goes to people 16-74 years old. While the questions on alcohol and medication goes to people 16-79 years and the questions on cannabis to 16-64 years old.

Classification of region is used in the alcohol and cannabis statistics.

Classification of Residential areas

Persons are grouped according to sparsely populated areas or densely populated areas. Sparsely populated areas include clusters of houses with less than 200 inhabitants. Densely populated areas include areas with 200 inhabitants or more, and a distance between houses - as a main rule - not more than 50 meters.

Classification of education (NUS)

Highest level of attained education divided in three levels; basic, secondary and tertiary education for data on alcohol and cannabis, and four levels; basic, secondary, tertiary and unknown or no completed education for smoking and snus.

Classification of county is used in the smoking and snus statistics.