This document presents the French Mission interministérielle de lutte contre les drogues et les conduites addictives (MILDECA) interministerial strategy for mobilisation against addictive behaviors 2023-27.

Addictive behaviours is a major challenge for our society. All territories, including those overseas, are concerned. Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling, video games, etc. are all, to varying degrees, present in French people's lives. Many use them daily, others more occasionally. By the age of 17, many adolescents have experimented with alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, and some are becoming regular users: almost one in five smokes tobacco every day (16%), almost one in ten drinks alcohol at least 10 times a month (7%) and 4% use cannabis at least 10 times a month. Adolescent use has been on a clear downward trend since 2014; the interministerial strategy for mobilisation against addictive behaviours aims to accentuate this trend, so that new generations are less and less exposed to the risks of addictive behaviours.

The risks and harms are clearly established and particularly evident to the public. Alcohol and tobacco are the two leading causes of premature death in France and the two leading risk factors of cancer. Alcohol is also widely implicated in violence, particularly domestic and sexual violence. In addition to its effects on health, drug use fuels trafficking and a range of criminal activities, which in turn fuel demand for drugs and lead to insecurity and violence.

The gambling market is growing rapidly, particularly as a result of the development of sports betting and lotteries. Although it is prohibited to sell to minors, they also participate in gambling, which can lead to risk-taking and even addiction. As for problematic use of video games, this affects one in eight schoolchildren who play at least once a week. To be fully effective, the policy to combat drugs and addictive behaviours needs to be constantly pursued with determination. Its interministerial nature is fundamental and remains more relevant than ever.