There are almost three times more regular cocaine users in the Republic than in the North, a survey said today.

DOCTORS have accused the Government of putting the interests of the drinks industry ahead of public health by letting it police itself.

URGENT action to tackle drink-fuelled mayhem in A&E departments has been urged on the back of a new report that blames alcohol for almost one-in-three injuries treated.

ALL alcohol should carry a warning that it can damage unborn babies, psychiatrist Dr Siobhán Barry said after a study revealed that over 80% of women drank during their pregnancy.

THE high-fat and low-exercise lifestyle of Homer Simpson has been highlighted by a youth survey as a classic example of an unhealthy person’s routine.

The Government has allocated €3m in funding to tackle obesity next year, it was confirmed today.

THERE have been some worrying episodes where women have been discriminated against for breastfeeding in restaurants, hotels and shopping centres, national breastfeeding coordinator Maureen Fallon said yesterday.

Restaurants, hotels and cafes must support ‘babies who lunch’ – infants who are fed by breastfeeding mothers on their premises, the Government said today.

A provocative poster campaign to highlight the dangers and consequences of cocaine use has been launched today as part of the ongoing National Drugs Awareness Campaign.

THE Government is to tackle the growing problem of cocaine and cannabis use among young people in a hard-hitting campaign.

PEOPLE with asthma could reduce the need for hospital treatment if the costs of treating the illness were reduced and more information about control was available, according to the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI).

Despite the worrying issues raised by the survey carried out by the Health Promotion Unit in association with the National Working Group on Alcohol Consumption in Higher Education into the health and sexual mores of students, the reality is probably worse.

One-tenth of third-level students in Ireland have engaged in unprotected sex, according to a study conducted by the Government's Health Promotion Unit.

ANTI-SMOKING campaigner Professor Luke Clancy yesterday told a conference that half of all young people starting to smoke today will eventually die due to cigarettes.

Half of all young people starting to smoke today will eventually die due to cigarettes, it was claimed today.

IRISH men die six years younger than women despite higher male life expectancy in recent years.

The obesity “epidemic” in Ireland can only be tackled by a co-ordinated cross-border approach to encourage healthy eating and exercise, a conference was told today.

PUBS and clubs are being targeted as part of a new campaign to combat rising cocaine use among young people.

MORE than 100 restaurants and cafes are backing an initiative to support breastfeeding mothers.

ALMOST 7,000 smokers kicked the habit in the run-up to the smoking ban and close to 10,000 cut down on cigarettes.

CRITICS of the smoking ban cannot gainsay the very positive impact it has had, according to impressive figures released at the weekend.

Obesity levels among Irish people can lead to several forms of cancer here, a joint All-Ireland and US conference was told today.

ARTISAN food has a role to play in maintaining and building vibrant rural economies, Food Minister Noel Treacy declared when he launched the Taste Council’s strategic plan for the speciality food industry.

AN activity scheme aimed at tackling childhood obesity has been launched in the south east as it emerged one-in-three youngsters there is overweight and one in twelve obese.

ALCOHOL advertising in sport could be outlawed within three years to help eliminate high levels of drink abuse by teenagers.

NICO, the odious face of smoking, is returning to TV screens as the latest special guest in a mock episode of the hit MTV show Cribs.

THE number of calls to the National Smokers’ Quitline has soared in recent days as thousands try to kick the habit before the New Year.

The annual report of Merchant's Quay Ireland, a leading drug abuse and homeless charity, shows the numbers availing of their service is up 9%.

Binge drinking sessions account for more than half of Irish men’s nights out, new research showed today.

A CAMPAIGN to get couch potatoes off the sofa and active for just 30 minutes a day was launched yesterday.

MEN are being asked why they don’t like going to the doctor, if they’ve ever had unprotected sex and to consider how they could be cutting their lives short by smoking, drinking and taking other risks.

BAR staff are learning to pull their weight as well as pints to create a responsible drinking environment in pubs, clubs and hotels around the country.

WE are fatter, lazier, drink more heavily and take more drugs than four years ago — but we feel better than ever.

MORE people are being co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C at a time when there is not enough information on how best to deal with the problem, a conference heard yesterday.