Young people drinking less but cocaine now 'normalised beyond belief'

"Many Irish teens take drugs rather than drinking, and social ­media accelerates this trend"

"Younger people who are self-conscious of their body image are turning to illegal drugs over ­alcohol to prevent weight gain, a GP has said."

"Dr Garrett McGovern, a specialist in addiction, told the Sunday Independent cocaine use has now become "normalised beyond belief" in Ireland, particularly among young people."

Many Irish teenagers are increasingly choosing illegal drugs instead of alcohol. Younger people who are self‑conscious about body image are using illegal drugs to avoid weight gain. Cocaine use has become widely normalized among young people in Ireland. Social media amplifies peer pressure and body‑image concerns, accelerating the shift from alcohol toward drugs. The trend changes typical substance‑use patterns among youth and creates heightened addiction and public health risks. Prevention, education, and harm‑reduction efforts need to address body‑image drivers and online influences to respond effectively to rising drug use among teenagers.

Read at Independent