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ONE IN THREE young drinkers in Ireland have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), but adolescents are beginning to drink alcohol at a later age, according to a new report by the Health Research Board (HRB).
The report, published today, examined alcohol and drug use among young people aged 15-24 years in Ireland, drawing on data from surveys and reports and from health and law enforcement services.
It found that the average age of people first drinking alcohol has increased from 15.6 years in 2002 to 16.6 years in 2019. The number of young people abstaining from alcohol has also increased from 11% in 2002 to 26% in 2019.
However, the report found that 38% of drinkers aged 15-24 years participating in a population survey have an AUD.
AUD is defined as “a problematic pattern of alcohol use that clinically significant impairment or distress”. It can involve heavy and hazardous use leading to increased chances of getting hurt, unsuccessful attempts to quit or cut down, too much time spent on alcohol use or getting over the aftereffects, and continued drinking despite problems caused by drinking.
While the prevalence of binge drinking has decreased, adolescents in Ireland rank 7th out of 35 European countries for reports of being drunk.
The HSE low-risk weekly guidelines for alcohol consumption are currently less than 11 standard drinks (110g pure alcohol) for women, and less than 17 standard drinks (170g pure alcohol) for men, with at least two alcohol-free days.
Almost one-in-three males and one-in-four females aged 15-24 years reported exceeding this limit on a single drinking occasion at least once in the last year.
The report found that one in five (20%) young people reported using an illegal drug in the last year, while over a quarter (27%) said they had used illegal drugs at some point in their lifetime. Males were found to be more likely than females to use illegal drugs.
Cannabis remains the most commonly used drug in Ireland, but the use of stimulants, including ecstasy and cocaine, has increased. According to the report, ecstasy and cocaine use among young people in Ireland was the second highest in Europe.
Cocaine use in the last year among young people in Ireland increased from 3.0% in 2014–15 to 4.4% in 2019-2020.
Cocaine use decreased among young males, from 5.1% in 2014–15 to 4.2% in 2019–20. In contrast, for females, an increase in cocaine use was observed, rising from 0.8% in 2014–15 to 4.5% in 2019–20.
It also found that polydrug use is common, with more than two in five third-level students who were current drug users reporting using two or more substances on the same occasion.
Hospitalisation and treatment
Meanwhile, substance-related hospitalisations and treatment among young people have also increased. Between 2015-2018, hospitalisations due to drug use increased by 26%, while alcohol-related hospitalisations increased by 12%.
Use of alcohol, followed by cannabis and cocaine, were the most common factors in substance-related hospitalisations.
The report found that the increase in cocaine use has resulted in a 171% increase in the number of cases of young people receiving treatment for their cocaine use between 2011-2019. Between 2015-2019, cocaine-related hospitalisations increased by 83%.
Treatment was most commonly received for cannabis use, with 1,229 cases of young people receiving treatment for their cannabis use in 2020.
In 2017, 17 young people died as a result of alcohol and/or drug poisoning. 40 deaths due to traumatic events were among young people who had a history of drug use and/or alcohol dependency, and/or had alcohol implicated in their cause of death.
Nearly half of young driver fatalities with a toxicology result available had a positive toxicology for alcohol.
Mental health impact
There is a clear link between mental ill health and substance use, evident across data on anxiety, self-harm and suicide, the report states.
Young adults with alcohol dependence are more likely to have severe anxiety, while cannabis users are six times more likely to report mental ill health than those who do not use the drug.
In over one in four self-harm hospital presentations among young people, the individual had been drinking alcohol before or during the self-harm act.
Nearly three in four young people aged 15-24 years who died by suicide had a history of alcohol and/or drug misuse.
The report also found strong links between alcohol and drug misuse and criminal behaviour. 86% of young people referred to Probation Services reported alcohol and/or drug misuse problems.
30% of drug-driving arrests were among those aged 18-24 years, most commonly among young males.
The report states that parental provision of alcohol, parental substance use, and early initiation of alcohol use is linked with risky drinking.
Young people exposed to alcohol marketing are more likely to initiate drinking and engage in binge drinking and drunkenness, while having a positive parental relationship was associated with decreased substance use.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll, HRB Chief Executive, said: “Young adults are at a very formative time in life; physically, socially and emotionally. This HRB report provides a clear picture of their behaviour in relation to substance use.
“By monitoring trends over time, the HRB can help inform effective responses that parents, practitioners, educators and policy makers can take to support the health and wellbeing of young people,” she said.
Anne Doyle, HRB Research Officer and lead author of the report, welcomed the finding that young adolescents are starting to drink at a later age.
“However, this HRB report also shows the many challenges and risk factors that young people face in relation to substance use, the need for treatment and the impact of substance use on mental health,” she said.
“The report provides data that enables us to better understand the difficulties faced by young people when substance use is a very real part of society, so that we can identify the protective factors that can help reduce risk.
“This will help strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use among children and young people, which is a priority of the National Drug Strategy.”
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He’s right!
Mary Lou was great,inspire of the hostile host,never so cold when interviewed his FF/FG masters.
@Harry N: No one man or woman should have to suffer in this way.
Have to be very careful as false accusations can surface and create a even bigger problem We in Country have a habit of waving the big stick but then wave it to far to the right. I have seen people standing up for the life of the child in this up coming referendum been insulted and called some terrible names so much that it has silenced a lot of people to keep their opinions to themselves
@David Huston: Mary Lou was great¡ My head hurts. Mediocrities abound in our political circles…
@Alan Scott: to be fair that happens on both sides and it helps neither. It’s a marked sign of a person that can’t back up a point
@Alan Scott: wow straight to “women make stuff up” rather than “this shit actually happens to women”. And while you’re having a moment for your friends you might also like to think about and put yourself in the place of women who are trying to make a choice about their lives and their futures rather than judge them.
@Deborah Behan: You are a person exactly what I am talking about.
Have your moment of glory
@Alan Scott: what moment of glory? She’s saying women should be listened to more and their claims be treated seriously rather than with immediate doubt. Heaven forbid a bit of common sense.
@Alan Scott: I think you need to take the blinders off alan. I’ve had my side mirror broken off my car and keyed twice since I put a repeal sticker on it.
@Harry N: it can’t be just women that we’re harassed . Men must have been hit on by women in high places as well when is all that going to materialise… ???
@windbag: Terry Crews has already spoken out about being sexually assaulted it was by a man though so that mind not meet your criteria
@Alan Scott: no, no, no , no, no it’s not my time in the spot light. It’s about my daughter, my sister, my mother, my friends. All women. It’s about a rape victim that had her underwear shown to the jury. It’s about women who finally have the courage to stand up to their abusers. It’s about the women who couldn’t physically or financially or mentally go through a pregnancy. It’s all the things you don’t think about because it never comes up in your life.
@Dave O Keeffe: Maybe if you read her post again.
@Deborah Behan: Deborah there’s no way in having a reasonable debate with you. I am out-of here I can understand the silence now and where it’s coming from.. I wish you well.
@Deborah Behan: Deborah if you go back to my first post in reply to Harry Hudson My first line was no man or woman should have to suffer any abuse from what ever quarter it comes from.
@Harry N: fair play Gabriel, he he is right, people who prey on woman like this need to be publicly shamed and ostracised.
@Alan Scott: I read it clearly the first time, no glory mentioned at all. Your first short sentence was followed by several qualifying sentences, all in context you clearly don’t really believe that first sentence enough for it to be a stand alone statement from you. Also, a polite hint, when you say you’re leaving because you don’t want to discuss the issue with a particular person it just looks silly if you come back twenty minutes later and have a pop at the same person again, especially when they didn’t reply to you when you announced your departure.
@Harry N: He kept it a secret for years that Weinstein was a bully. He is the very definition of a coward.
He’s right in many ways but problems can arise because many women leading the charge on this are a bad mix of post modernist ultra feminist where these is no room for anyone else’s opinion.
@Nick Drake: whereas all men are saints? Please.
@Deborah Behan: think he’s referring to the Matt Damon debacle where he got his head chewed off for stating a fact
@Nick Drake: Stop trying to dilute the metoo movement with your own bigoted agenda will you, this movement didn’t come about because of feminism it came about because certain women were being threatened with rape and murdered and being raped and sexually harassed!
@Nick Drake: if someone was sexually assaulted where does someone’s opinion come into it?
@neilo: I think it’s a type of painting or art or something.
A bond with his daughter… great they can discuss which nappies are best.
@john Appleseed: Jesus that’s the best you got? Hope you don’t have any kids if that’s all you think you can have a conversation about. I’d take Gabriel any day!
I know its not a nice thing to say but i watch some of these women years ago and always said to myself who is giving these awful ….just dreadful actresses work. Now i know why . I say 90% of these women are having buyers remorse
@neilo: i know
@The flute smoker: I’ve said the same about many male actors. Vin Deisel anyone?
@neilo: A terrible comment and probably a terrible truth.
@The flute smoker: maybe just stick to smoking flute from now on.
@nolblog: thats my job bra’h
I only watched it to see if Tubs would ask him about his opinions on the Irish film industry, or lack of it. It was another Hilary moment and I can’t get the time back.
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: go back to Breitbart then.
@Deborah Behan: oh wow Deborah what an amazing comment, really scraping the barrel with that one
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: Tubridy! first of all anyone/any cause going in front of that – I will be calm – man (there because of his \Dad) is really a bit rich. I get Gabriel Byrne’s comment but somehow I feel this is all false its just the latest fad, metoo, blacklivesmatter etc etc all Americanisms which are totally consumed with. Somewhere in there is a noble cause – just hard to take the message from messengers like this.
@Deborah Behan: What does that have to do with anything. I’m no fan of Breitbart and they have noting to do with this issue. What are you talking about? I work in the industry and he has said some very pertinent and controversial things/truth about the industry in the last few days and I was just waiting to see if Tubs was going to raise them. You really are confused.
The reason that this shit went on for so long, is that women, for whatever reason, kept quiet. I tell my own daughters that if ever faced with that shit, immediately hit back hard and fast, and use whatevers in reach to achieve the mission. What do the Yanks call it? Oh yeah!….Shock and Awe!
@Paul Culligan: Bad advice m8 – perpetrators can be very nasty people¡¡
@Bruce Miller: I disagree. Things should never be made easy for the bully, the sex predator, the harrasser. This type of fire should be met with a raging inferno, not water.
@Paul Culligan: maybe they weren’t able to because they knew their careers would be over?
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: So they sacrificed their own esteem for money and fame? I get it. But individually or collectively, they did nothing for the respect of femininity.
@Paul Culligan: Even though he may have a knife or gun in his pocket. Tell your missus to give your daughters the correct advice – as you’ve failed in your duty!
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: self respect and morals are probably more important than an acting gig
@Hardly Normal: agreed ..but some aspiring actresses didn’t think so ..
@Bruce Miller: At the very least, learn self defence, instead of taking it like a sissy. If you’re going down, you’re going down brother, but get enough DNA to convict, even if it means swallowing a chunk of face or hand. The target of the assailant shouldn’t be an easy target. Your particular stance is what has the world like it is.
@neilo: theres no mention of children here, so don’t be getting all distorted and emotional. Thats a seperate issue. That pig Weinstein hasn’t been accused of paedophilia, as of yet.
@Paul Culligan: taking it like a sissy ? Would you say that to your daughter if she was being attacked by someone with a weapon and she couldn’t fight back because the attacker may kill her ?? I would assume you would prefer your daughter to survive the attack in whatever way she could ..
@Paul Culligan: Yes – learn self defence. At last, you’re getting some common sense!
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: well then i think personal responsibility comes into play to a certain degree and probably education on such matters. I don’t agree with the #metoo campaign , it’s too easy to smear someone who doesn’t deserve it and ruin their lives but at the same time it’s bringing awareness and that’s the key in my opinion. Women in such situations should just walk away! If they can’t it’s a totally different situation.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: I’d prefer my daughter to go all-out animal. if you find yourself in a situation like that, the attacker has already planned and decided his move. What he hasn’t factored into the equation is unexpected resistance and a volitile prey. Passive approaches don’t work, unless a gun is produced. A lot of women are dead, and evidence is lacking, because they made it easy for the attacker. Likewise, the reason that people like the pig Weinstein got away with it for so long, is that women made it easy for them.
@Paul Culligan: going all out animal against someone bigger and physically stronger will likely result in the woman not only being raped but probably having the sh*te kicked out of her as well
@Paul Culligan: any comment on how to stop men from actually attacking women? It’s not an unsolvable problem. Women should learn self defense because,you know, MEN!!! How privileged are you? You go out and learn self defense because we’re not going to stop. We will hold each and every man accountable. So either teach yourself and boys how to respect women and not attack women or we will.
@Paul Culligan: wow, talk about victim-blaming. No Paul, the reason this went on so long is because those in authority abused their power. It is never the victim’s fault. Far, far, far too often the child or woman isn’t believed – s/he is looking for attention or misinterpreted the incident, sure he can have anyone he wants why would he assault someone? In the US many of Dr Nassar’s victims told their parents and weren’t believed. Just look at how unmarried mothers were treated in this country by everyone from the family, neighbours, Church and state. Look at what she was wearing, why did she have that extra drink, what did she expect?
Look at the comments here to see many have decided that women who have shared their stories with #metoo still aren’t being believed.
@Paul Culligan: “they did nothing for the respect of femininity” “instead of taking it like a sissy” You are victim blaming in the most vile way. If she’s not black and blue then it was her fault?
Do you honestly believe that when experiencing the horror of rape a woman is thinking dispassionately about gathering DNA? We all think we’d fight and scream but the reality is that in the majority of cases women experience an involuntary paralysis with as many as 50% reporting extreme paralysis while being sexually assaulted. With your kind of attitude it’s no wonder women feel shame and guilt and decide not to report. Shame on you.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-involuntary-paralysis-freeze-rape-fight-back_us_5936f8e7e4b0099e7faff1dc
@Paul Culligan: do you read over your comments ? Twice you said victims make it easy for their attackers . I agree that evidence is important..like under the finger nails etc. But at the end if the day you want the woman /sister/daughter to survive and be able to come home ..not to end up dead because she tried to fight back . Do not blame a victim for being passive in an attack . For them it’s about survival .
@Paul Culligan: I agree totally if women learned martial arts cowards like this would be absolutely terrified – they’d probably stick to masterbating.
@Deborah Behan: You speak of men, and say nothing at all about women. Walk around the city any night of the week and watch the female loudmouth bullies fighting. Some of them would outdo the men. You need defence against them too. But thats the very aggression that I talk about when I say that women need to butch up against bullies.
@EillieEs: Watch any Self Defence instruction video and you will learn that that ‘paralysis’ derives from an untrained victim. Theres no excuse for not being trained. My own children would frequently ask, ‘Dad, what if someone grabbed you from behind, like this’, and I would show them the fastest possible way to break a nose, gouge an eye or render an attacker inoperable. They are not living in a world of fear, but have a better chance than most, if it happens. I want my daughters in that 50% that don’t experience extreme paralysis, but I most certainly don’t want them associated with emotional states, just like what youre throwing out there. That’s what causes loss…emotion. Spartan women never had it, and were greatly feared.
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: Passiveness only gets you killed. We are living in a different world now.
@Paul Culligan: passiveness will not get you killed .. I’m not suggesting you don’t put up some struggle but fighting back will get you killed.. the attacker would get more and more aggressive ..
@Paul Culligan: here paul, why don’t you try listening to women sometime instead of trying to push your shit, ignorant advice on them.
regards,
women
But why wasn’t he commenting all those years a if what he knew? Instead he was trying to get Weinstein on board for projects.
Metoo started out as a woman’s rights movement. It stopped been that a long time ago when it was politicised by Democrats and the elite women of Hollywood. Even Rose McGowan could see that…
Time to start over again, girls…
@Untriggered Non-Snowflake: nah we’re doing grand, thanks
Gabriel, you were a sphincter when you started out and you are a bigger ar$ehole now.
@Fran Lonergan: thank god we got your opinion mr anonymous who won’t put your actual name. Next.
He’s playing to the media. Why’d he only saying this now seeing his career nose dived. Can’t understand people who think actors and singers have worldly experiences
Shure Gabriel…. anything to feed the narcissist need. Btw, like the hair dye. Industrial??
Wrong there gaybo.
@mike scott: how is he wrong?
Byrne is pathetic. He could have come out years ago about Weinstein and saved many women.
have your say