Youth health - The kids are alright

Those of a certain age are inclined to demonise the ‘young people of today’ and compare them unfavourably with older generations. If so, they might instead consider a respectful silence while they absorb a report which shows that, far from being hell-raisers, youngsters nowadays are better behaved than their forebears.

Fewer children are smoking, drinking, and using cannabis, according to research launched by the Department of Health.

The HBSC Ireland Trends Report 1998–2010 found that, in 2010, 12% of children said they were smoking — compared with 21% in 1998.

Eight per cent used cannabis in 2010, compared with 10% in 2008, while those wearing car seat belts doubled to 82%.

Oldies can put that in their pipe and smoke it — just don’t blow any of it in the direction of our fine, upstanding youth.