Teen substance abuse support launched

A Healthy Ireland report on teenage substance abuse found that two-thirds (67%) of the population aged 15 years admitted to drinking alcohol.

In response, a group aiming to reduce substance use among young people have launched an online support hub in Cootehill.

Monaghan and Cavan Youth Substance Support (MaCYSS) is a youth (12-18 years) and family alcohol and drug service delivered by Alcohol Forum Ireland.

Its initiative incorporates both community development and clinical intervention at local level and supports, engages, and builds capacity across Cavan and Monaghan to reduce and prevent alcohol and other drug harm among young people.

Impact

A screening of MaCYSS’s new animation project which is funded by Healthy Ireland Cavan will specifically target young people and their parents with the message that alcohol is harmful to the developing brain, with a tag line of ‘Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not happening’.

Patricia Boyle, Service Manager MaCYSS told The Anglo-Celt that statistics compiled following a survey carried out by Healthy Ireland and Planet Youth indicates a sharp increase in the number of parents giving alcohol to their teenage children in the hope they will drink responsibly.

“The earlier that young people take alcohol, the more at risk they become,” she continued before adding that awareness around the issue is crucial. “The fact is that parents who give their teenagers alcohol at home, this doesn’t lead to more responsible drinking. So this launch is about providing parents with the tools to just say no.”

Cannabis use

Meanwhile, a second study, Growing up in Cavan conducted by Planet Youth 2023 found that teenagers who report high levels of unsupervised leisure time regularly are six times more likely to use cannabis.

The survey carried out among young people in Fingal (2,677); Cavan (882); and Monaghan (845) as one grouping identified that 8% used cannabis in the previous 30 days while 18% indicated that they have used cannabis in their lifetime.

In terms of alohol 35% of those surveyed tried alcohol at the age of 13 years or younger; 63% tried alcohol in their lifetime; and 13% were drunk in the previous 30 days. The survey also highlighted that 12% of respondents get their alcohol from a family member.

Meanwhile 32% have tried smoking an e-cigarette in their lifetime.

Some 18% smoked an e-cigarette in the previous 30 days; 10% tried smoking at the age of 13 years or younger; and 3% smoked cigarettes daily.