IRELAND’S unhealthy love affair with alcohol is well documented. While nobody likes being lectured about their lifestyle, two alarming reports published in today’s and yesterday’s Irish Examiner demand that people sit up and heed some alarming facts of life — and death.

A man described as the “black sheep” of his family has been given a suspended sentenced for storing more than 4,000 ecstasy tablets in the house he shared with his grandmother.

I have become quite philosophical over the years. I’m quite into yoga and shamanic stuff.

SIX months ago, John Healy, the maitre D in the RTÉ series, The Restaurant, had two major heart attacks. He was on the list for a transplant but was weakening by the day. On Mar 20, he got the call.

THE Rutland Centre, Ireland’s largest private rehabilitation centre for addiction, is seeing an increase of almost 300% in the numbers undergoing treatment for gambling addiction.

A Longford man who assaulted medics from two fire brigade ambulance crews called to assist him during one night of drunken aggression has had his sentence adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

AS a nation we have been betting far beyond our means.

A talented footballer and reformed cocaine addict who now lectures transition year students on the dangers of drugs has been readmitted to bail pending sentence on charges of possession of more than €34,000 of cocaine.

IRELAND’S love affair with booze is creating massive profits for the drinks industry but it is also inflicting deep scars on society through its dysfunctional relationship with alcohol.

MORE women are being treated for alcohol abuse than men, according to figures from one of the country’s main treatment centres for alcoholism.

A 44 year-old English man who beat his partner to death and then recorded a film on TV was jailed for six years at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.

THE State’s reliance on methadone to wean users off heroin means many addicts are never given the opportunity to get off drugs completely, a treatment expert at a leading residential clinic has warned.