Portuguese police initiative aims to raise awareness among students about substance abuse and digital addictions, including online gaming.

 

Key Points

PSP launches nationwide school awareness campaign 

Program targets students in lower and upper secondary education
 

The Public Security Police (PSP) has launched a nationwide awareness campaign in schools across Portugal aimed at preventing addictive behaviours among young people.

The initiative, titled “Live in the Real World - Not in Dependence”, will run until the end of the month.

The campaign is primarily directed at students in the final years of basic education and secondary school. 

Activities will be delivered by officers from the PSP’s Safe School programme, who will hold awareness sessions for students and teachers.

According to the PSP, the initiative seeks to highlight the risks associated not only with the consumption of psychoactive substances such as drugs and alcohol, but also with excessive use of the internet, video games, online gaming and social media.

Data mentioned by the police, from a survey conducted by the organisation, indicates that 61% of young people use the internet for four hours or more per day on average, while 40% report spending five hours or more online daily. The findings also suggest that more than 40% of young people began using the internet before the age of 10.

Regarding gambling addiction, the PSP (Portuguese Public Security Police) points out that 61% of 18-year-olds gamble online: around 28% gamble, on average, less than two hours a day, 19% between two and three hours and 6% of young people spend six hours or more gambling online.

The PSP also highlighted that the World Health Organisation recognised gaming disorder as a condition in 2018 within the entity. 

Portugal’s online gambling sector has grown steadily in recent years. The country generated €297.1m ($229m) in GGR during Q3 2025, reflecting continued expansion of the market and increasing participation across online casino and sports betting verticals. 

 

 

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