Irish teenagers are shifting away from alcohol and drugs, but new concerns arise as gambling and gaming take center stage.
Key Takeaways:
- Irish teen alcohol and drug use plummets over 30 years
- Online gambling among teens nearly doubles since 2019
- Gaming surges to 87% participation, raising addiction worries
Dramatic Decline in Substance Use
The 2024 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) has unveiled a striking transformation in Irish teen behavior. Once leading Europe in alcohol and cigarette consumption, Irish youth now fall significantly below average.
Lifetime alcohol use among Irish teens has plummeted from 91% in 1995 to 67% in 2024. Regular smoking saw an even more dramatic decrease, dropping from 41% to a mere 9% over the same period. Cannabis use also declined, with lifetime use falling from 36% to 12%, now aligning with the European average.
The Rise of Gambling and Gaming
As traditional vices wane, new challenges emerge. Online gambling has seen a concerning uptick, nearly doubling since 2019 to 14% of teens. The surge is particularly notable among girls, jumping from 3% to 9% in five years.
Gaming has exploded in popularity, with 87% of Irish 15- and 16-year-olds reporting gaming activity in the past year, up from 57% just five years ago. This trend outpaces the European average and has seen a significant shift in gender participation.
Growing Concerns and Interventions
The rise in gambling and gaming has not gone unnoticed. Harmful gambling behavior has nearly doubled since 2019, prompting action from financial institutions. The Bank of Ireland recently introduced [debit card gambling blocks](https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/bank-of-ireland-introduces-voluntary-card-blocks-amid-rise-in-youth-betting/) to address the issue.
In March, Ireland launched its first fully-funded [gambling addiction treatment program](https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/ireland-launches-first-fully-funded-gambling-addiction-treatment-program/), the Gambling and Gaming Specific Outpatient Programme, in response to the growing need.
Social Media and Gaming Addiction Worries
Alongside gambling concerns, problematic gaming and social media use are on the rise. About one in five teens now believe they might have a gaming problem, while nearly half of all students surveyed (47%) admitted to problematic social media use, up from 38% in 2015.
These findings highlight a shifting landscape in teen risk-taking behavior. While traditional substance use declines, digital forms of entertainment and gambling are filling the void, presenting new challenges for parents, educators, and policymakers alike.
I remember the first time I saw Kai Tak, Hong Kong’s gambling city, I thought I was in a fairy tale. All the lights blinking, the music and the monumental buildings, what 9-year-old wouldn’t think they’ve come to a magical place? It was my father who brought me, dragging me along and when inside I was hit by the smell of frying duck. As soon as I hit 21 I returned to Kai Tak, A bit nervous to see if my mind had embellished the memory, but it hadn’t. Kai Tak was still a magical place. I decided I wanted to spend as much time as I could at this place, so I did.
