Prevention projects need funds to tackle 'really depressing' level of alcohol and drug use among young

The HSE lead on Alcohol, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Aisling Sheehan, pointed out to the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs that alcohol use is 'quite normalised' among young people and that it is a 'huge challenge to challenge that'. File photo

Health officials admit statistics on alcohol and drug use among young people are "really depressing" and are calling for more funding for prevention and early intervention.

The HSE lead on Alcohol, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Aisling Sheehan, told the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs there are good prevention projects in the country but that they need investment to “bring them to scale” across the country.

Also addressing the committee, the association representing school principals said it was “impossible” to keep up with drug trends among pupils and said they need “more help” to identify the trends and then support children.

The Oireachtas committee is continuing hearings on the report of the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use, which was published in January 2024, and will submit its recommendations to the Government at the conclusion of the hearings.

Ms Sheehan said around two-thirds of young people engage in hazardous or binge drinking and said, in addition, that early initiation of alcohol increases the risk of other substance use. 

She said cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug amongst young people: 12% of 16-year-olds, and 59% of 20-year-olds have used it at least once. She said 28% have tried other drugs: cocaine 22%, ecstasy 17%, and ketamine 12%.

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Ms Kenny added: “We also see rapid growth in vaping and concerns about gambling addiction. Cannabis is the commonest substance used among 17-20 year-olds treated for problematic drug use.” 

Fianna Fáil senator, Mary Fitzpatrick, described the statistics as “utterly depressing” and added: “Clearly what we are doing is not enough.” 

She also highlighted the funding difficulties for youth organisations, saying funding increases are against the backdrop of a rising population, significantly increased needs and costs.

Ms Sheehan replied that the statistics “are really depressing”, pointing out that alcohol use is “quite normalised” and that it is a “huge challenge to challenge that”.

She said there is very good practice in parts of the country but that it needs investment to bring those projects to scale nationwide.

She said Iceland had “dramatically” reduced alcohol consumption among young people, in part by offering all young people “leisure cards” to freely engage in structured activities.

Drug use

Ms Sheehan said it is a “real challenge getting resources” and that evaluation and implementation structures are needed. She said she would love to see the forthcoming national drugs strategy deal with this issue.

Professor Bobby Smyth, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with the HSE Adolescent Addiction Service, said there was one success in relation to drugs: the significant reduction of heroin use in recent decades among young people from deprived backgrounds.

Rachel O’Connor of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals said schools have to “work with the hand they are dealt with” in terms of resources and staffing. 

She said it would be of great assistance if there was an inter-agency group that they could plug into regarding drugs and pupils. She said it is “almost impossible to keep up” with young people and drug trends and that they “need more help” to do so.