A major European study has found that substance use among Irish teenagers has declined significantly over the past three decades, with some of the steepest reductions in alcohol and cigarette use across Europe. However, this positive trend is now shadowed by a concerning rise in gambling and gaming among young people in Ireland.
The 2024 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), which surveyed 15- to 16-year-olds in 40 countries, highlights major shifts in teen behavior since 1995. Back then, Ireland was far above the European average for teen alcohol and cigarette use. Today, Irish teens are below average for both, and around the European average for cannabis and vaping.
Ireland is one of just three countries noted for the “greatest reductions” in lifetime use of cigarettes and alcohol. Lifetime cigarette use among Irish teens dropped from 73% in 1995 to just 24% in 2024. Current use declined from 41% to 9%. Similarly, lifetime alcohol use fell from 91% to 67%, while heavy episodic drinking dropped from 47% to 23%. These declines outpaced European averages, indicating strong progress in youth health behaviors.
Cannabis use has also decreased. Lifetime cannabis use among Irish teens fell from 36% in 1995 to 12% in 2024, closely mirroring the current European average. Current use dropped from 17% to just 5%. Illicit drug use beyond cannabis also saw a marked decline, from 17% to 4%.
While smoking rates fell, vaping has become more common. In 2024, combined cigarette and e-cigarette use stood at 18% among Irish teens — equal to the European average.
However, since 2019, there has been a notable rise in gambling and gaming among Irish youth. Gambling data, first collected in 2019, shows that 29% of Irish teens reported gambling in the past year, up from 24%. This is higher than the 2024 European average of 22%.
Gaming habits have also surged. In 2024, 87% of Irish 15- to 16-year-olds reported gaming in the previous 12 months — a sharp rise from 57% in 2019, and notably above the European average of 72%.
The data paints a mixed picture: while long-term efforts to reduce smoking, drinking, and drug use have been highly effective, new behavioral challenges are emerging. As Ireland celebrates these health wins, it may need to turn greater attention to addressing digital and gambling-related risks among teens.