Overall, the health of young people in the 27 EU countries is
better than it has ever been. Nevertheless, there are still many
causes of concern like rising mental stress, alcohol abuse,
smoking, poor levels of nutrition and physical activity,
accidents, and sexually transmitted diseases. The health of many
young people is made worse by poverty, disadvantage and the
conditions in which they live, study and work. For example
younger workers are 50% more likely to have a serious accident
at work than those over 40 years of age. The EU is actively
working to address key determinants which affect young people's
health in areas such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs. It
collaborates closely with young people and with organizations
such as the European Youth Forum, the Schools for Health in
Europe Network and many others. Health of young people is a
major concern of the EU's health and safety at work policies and
its education policies.