Short Report
HBSC Ireland: age related patterns in alcohol consumption and cannabis use among
Irish children between 1998-2006
Priscilla Doyle, Michal Molcho and Saoirse Nic Gabhainn
HBSC Ireland, Health Promotion Research Centre
National University of Ireland, Galway
June 2009
Introduction:
Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) is a cross-national research study conducted in
collaboration with the World Health Organisation (European Office). The study runs on a four-year
cycle and in 2006 there were 41 participating countries across Europe and North America. HBSC
collects data on key indicators of health, health attitudes and health behaviours, as well as the
contexts of health for young people. The study is a school-based survey with information collected
from students through self-completion questionnaires in classrooms. Further information on the
International HBSC study can be found at www.hbsc.org.
The most recent HBSC Ireland dataset comprises 10,344 children from 5th class in primary school to
5th year in post-primary schools. The methods employed comply with the International HBSC
protocol and are detailed in the first national report from the 2006 survey, which can be found at
www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc.
Focus:
This short report presents a brief analysis of alcohol consumption and cannabis use among Irish
schoolchildren aged 13-17 years, for the HBSC Ireland surveys undertaken in 1998, 2002 and 2006.
From the three surveys the following questions were used:

‘At present how often do you drink anything alcoholic, such as beer, wine or spirits?’ with
response options for each – everyday; every week; every month; rarely; never.

‘Have you ever had so much alcohol that you were really drunk?’ with response options – no,
never; yes, once; yes, 2-3 times; yes, 4-10 times; yes, more than 10 times.
1

‘At what age did you first drink alcohol (more than a small amount) by age?’ with response
options never; 11 years old or less; 12 years old; 13 years old; 14 years old; 15 years old; 16
years or older. 1

How many days a week do you usually drink any alcoholic drink?’ with response options –
never; less than once a week; once a week; 2-4 days; 5-6 days; once a day; everyday more
than once. 2

‘At what age did you first get drunk?’ with response options never; 11 years old or less; 12
years old; 13 years old; 14 years old; 15 years old; 16 years or older. i

‘Have you ever taken cannabis (hashish, grass, pot) in your life?’ with response options
never; once or twice; 3-5 times; 6-9 times; 10-19 times; 20-39 times; 40 times or more. 3

‘Have you ever taken cannabis (hashish, grass, pot) in the last 12 months?’ with response
options never; once or twice; 3-5 times; 6-9 times; 10-19 times; 20-39 times; 40 times or
more.3

‘Have you ever taken cannabis (hashish, grass, pot) in the past 30days?’ with response
options never; once or twice; 3-5 times; 6-9 times; 10-19 times; 20-39 times; 40 times or
more.3

‘At what age did you first take cannabis?’ with response options never; 11 years old or less;
12 years old; 13 years old; 14 years old; 15 years old; 16 years or older.
1
Data are presented below by survey year, age-group and gender.
Findings:
Table 1 contains the percentages that reported they ever had an alcoholic drink by gender, age and
study year. Table 2 contains the percentages that reported having an alcoholic drink in the past
month by gender, age and study year. Tables 3-5 contain the percentages that reported frequencies
for consuming alcoholic drinks by gender age and study year; Tables 6-8 contain the percentages
that reported ever being really drunk by gender, age and study year. Tables 9-10 contain the
percentages that reported age of alcohol initiation by gender, age and study year. Tables 11-12
contain the percentages that reported age of drunkenness initiation by gender, age and study year.
1
This question was not asked in the 1998 survey and in 2002 the response options were never; and
participants inserted their age of initiation.
2
This question was only asked in the 2002 survey.
3
The response options to this question in the 1998 survey differed slightly and included never; once or
twice; 3-5 times; 6-9 times; 10+.
2
Table 1: Percentages reporting they have ever had an alcoholic drink
Boys
Age
13 years
14 years
15 years
16 years
17 years
48.1
59.2
69.5
77.8
85.1
Girls
2006
All
37.1
54.3
69.9
78.0
85.6
43.1
57.0
69.9
78.0
85.6
Boys
61.9
69.1
81.0
84.7
89.5
Girls
2002
All
44.2
58.6
76.8
86.2
89.5
52.1
63.0
78.5
85.6
89.5
Boys
Girls
All
1998
70.8
75.6
85.6
88.5
82.4
60.3
68.1
80.5
85.5
87.3
65.6
72.0
83.0
87.0
85.1
Table 2: Percentages reporting that they have had an alcoholic drink in the past month
Boys
Age
13 years
14 years
15 years
16 years
17 years
15.4
26.5
40.3
54.5
65.6
Girls
2006
All
10.5
23.8
39.8
50.1
70.9
13.2
25.3
40.0
52.4
68.0
Boys
25.6
35.7
51.7
61.9
74.2
Girls
2002
All
16.7
28.1
43.7
62.2
74.6
20.7
31.3
47.0
62.1
74.6
Boys
Girls
All
1998
26.6
38.7
55.5
67.7
60.0
19.2
29.3
44.1
60.9
69.4
22.9
34.2
49.8
64.3
65.4
Table 3: How many days per week do you usually drink any alcoholic drinks
2006 Not Asked
Age
Never
Less than once a week
Once a week
2-4 days a week
5-6 days a week
Once a day, every day
Every day, more than once
Boys
Girls
13
All
Boys
Girls
14
All
Boys
Girls
15
All
Boys
Girls
16
All
Boys
Girls
All
17
3
Table 4: How many days per week do you usually drink any alcoholic drinks
2002
Age
Never
Less than once a week
Once a week
2-4 days a week
5-6 days a week
Once a day, every day
Every day, more than once
Boys
72.6
18.8
4.5
1.0
0.9
1.0
1.2
Girls
13
77.7
16.5
2.9
0.7
0.7
0.3
1.2
All
Boys
75.4
17.5
3.6
0.8
0.8
0.6
1.2
58.3
26.8
9.2
2.3
1.3
0.4
1.7
Girls
14
67.9
22.7
6.0
1.1
0.4
0.5
1.3
All
Boys
64.0
24.4
7.3
1.5
0.8
0.5
1.5
40.2
37.1
16.1
3.7
1.4
0.6
1.0
Girls
15
50.4
33.9
11.6
2.1
0.9
0.5
0.5
All
Boys
46.3
35.2
13.4
2.8
1.1
0.6
0.7
32.3
35.4
22.6
4.2
2.1
1.3
2.1
Girls
16
28.8
48.1
18.6
3.0
0.7
0.3
0.5
All
Boys
30.2
43.1
20.1
3.5
1.2
0.7
1.2
19.7
39.9
25.0
10.6
1.6
1.1
2.1
Girls
17
22.0
40.2
29.1
6.7
0.4
0.0
1.6
All
20.9
40.1
27.5
8.3
0.9
0.5
1.8
Table 5: How many days per week do you usually drink any alcoholic drinks
1998 Not Asked
Age
Never
Less than once a week
Once a week
2-4 days a week
5-6 days a week
Once a day, every day
Every day, more than
once
Boys
Girls
13
All
Boys
Girls
14
All
Boys
Girls
15
All
Boys
Girls
16
All
Boys
Girls
All
17
Table 6: Have you ever had so much alcohol that you were really drunk?
2006
Age
No, never
Yes, once
Yes, 2-3 times
Yes, 4-10 times
Yes, more than 10
times
Boys
80.3
9.9
5.8
2.3
1.7
Girls
13
86.8
6.7
3.1
1.9
1.4
All
Boys
83.3
8.5
4.6
2.2
1.6
66.8
10.9
12.3
4.5
5.5
Girls
14
70.7
10.4
8.2
5.6
5.0
All
Boys
68.5
10.7
10.5
5.0
5.3
52.7
12.6
13.1
9.2
12.4
Girls
15
53.1
14.6
14.2
9.1
9.0
All
Boys
52.9
13.5
13.6
9.1
10.9
38.9
13.4
16.9
12.7
18.1
Girls
16
43.4
12.1
18.7
14.5
11.3
All
Boys
41.1
12.8
17.8
13.6
14.7
27.0
12.9
22.6
15.2
22.3
Girls
17
25.2
13.8
24.0
21.0
15.9
All
26.2
13.4
23.2
17.9
19.3
4
Table 7: Have you ever had so much alcohol that you were really drunk?
2002
Age
No, never
Yes, once
Yes, 2-3 times
Yes, 4-10 times
Yes, more than 10
times
Boys
78.1
10.9
6.1
2.2
2.7
Girls
13
85.4
8.1
4.4
1.5
0.7
All
Boys
82.1
9.3
5.2
1.8
1.6
66.2
13.8
7.7
6.4
5.9
Girls
14
72.4
11.4
9.0
4.1
3.1
All
Boys
69.8
12.3
8.5
5.1
4.3
48.7
16.2
11.0
10.6
13.5
Girls
15
52.4
14.3
17.0
9.0
7.2
All
Boys
50.9
15.1
14.6
9.7
9.8
36.5
11.9
16.9
14.0
20.7
Girls
16
38.6
15.3
22.2
11.4
12.5
All
Boys
37.8
14.0
20.1
12.4
15.7
26.3
10.0
18.4
18.4
26.8
Girls
17
31.5
14.8
19.1
20.2
14.4
All
29.2
12.7
19.2
19.4
19.6
Table 8: Have you ever had so much alcohol that you were really drunk?
1998
Boys
Girls
All
Boys
Girls
All
Boys
Girls
All
Boys
Girls
All
Boys
Girls
All
Age
No, never
Yes, once
Yes, 2-3 times
Yes, 4-10 times
Yes, more than 10
times
72.1
13.6
8.5
3.0
2.7
13
83.5
9.6
3.4
2.2
1.4
77.8
11.6
6.0
2.6
2.1
61.6
14.6
9.1
7.2
7.4
14
70.5
13.1
9.2
4.1
3.2
65.9
13.9
9.1
5.7
5.4
47.0
12.4
13.3
11.8
15.5
15
58.2
14.0
14.4
8.0
5.4
52.6
13.2
13.9
9.9
10.5
38.4
12.6
17.2
10.5
21.2
16
44.2
15.3
19.4
10.3
10.8
41.3
13.9
18.3
10.4
16.1
35.3
14.1
12.9
11.8
25.9
17
35.9
18.4
19.4
11.7
14.6
35.4
16.4
16.4
11.6
20.1
Table 9: At what age did you first drink alcohol (more than a small amount) by age
2006
Never
11 or less
12
13
14
15
16 or more
13
53.4
17.8
17.0
10.5
14
39.9
17.0
13.4
18.1
11.1
Boys
15
27.3
11.5
11.9
14.1
21.6
13.2
16
19.9
9.8
12.2
13.6
15.9
21.2
7.4
17
13.6
7.3
7.9
15.7
16.0
18.4
21.0
13
65.6
10.2
13.5
9.8
14
45.5
9.1
13.5
19.8
11.6
Girls
15
27.9
6.6
11.5
18.4
22.6
13.1
All
16
21.2
6.4
8.3
15.6
19.7
20.5
8.4
17
13.6
6.6
6.3
13.6
21.4
21.4
17.2
13
59.0
14.4
15.4
10.2
14
42.4
13.4
13.4
18.9
11.4
15
27.5
9.3
11.7
16.0
22.1
13.2
16
20.6
8.1
10.3
14.6
17.7
20.8
7.9
17
13.6
7.0
7.1
14.7
18.6
19.7
19.2
5
Table 10: At what age did you first drink alcohol (more than a small amount) by age
2002
Never
11 or less
12
13
14
15
16 or more
13
50.5
22.0
16.9
10.3
14
39.5
18.2
13.2
20.4
8.5
Boys
15
26.8
15.5
13.8
17.8
18.6
7.5
16
18.0
11.9
9.6
18.2
17.8
18.7
5.7
17
13.2
11.6
11.6
12.1
13.7
23.7
14.2
13
68.0
9.8
14.3
7.9
14
49.9
7.4
13.0
20.4
8.9
Girls
15
30.9
6.3
12.4
17.2
23.3
9.6
All
16
19.1
3.9
6.9
13.3
23.0
25.5
8.3
17
13.1
2.3
7.7
11.2
19.3
23.2
23.2
13
60.2
15.3
15.5
9.0
14
45.5
12.0
13.1
20.4
8.7
15
29.2
10.0
13.0
17.5
21.4
8.7
16
18.7
7.1
8.0
15.2
21.0
22.8
7.2
17
13.1
6.2
9.3
11.5
16.9
23.3
19.7
Table 11: At what age did you first get drunk?
2006
Never
11 or less
12
13
14
15
16 or more
13
82.4
3.2
6.8
6.6
14
67.3
2.4
5.1
13.0
11.6
Boys
15
50.5
4.6
5.9
8.3
16.2
14.0
16
35.3
3.0
4.6
8.5
15.5
22.5
10.6
17
24.0
1.8
3.4
7.9
14.5
16.1
32.2
13
86.8
1.2
3.5
8.0
14
69.1
1.6
5.2
12.8
10.7
Girls
15
50.5
1.7
3.9
9.9
18.6
15.3
13
87.3
1.8
4.0
7.0
14
72.8
0.7
3.0
11.9
11.7
Girls
15
51.1
1.3
3.1
11.2
18.8
14.3
16
40.5
1.1
2.9
8.8
13.6
20.8
12.3
17
23.9
1.5
2.4
9.1
12.1
18.5
32.4
13
84.4
2.3
5.3
7.2
14
68.1
2.0
5.1
12.9
11.2
All
15
50.4
3.3
4.9
9.0
17.3
14.6
16
37.8
1.5
1.9
6.4
14.2
22.8
15.4
17
28.3
0.4
3.1
5.4
10.5
21.3
31.0
13
84.4
3.3
4.6
7.6
14
70.6
2.4
3.7
11.9
11.4
All
15
50.1
2.3
3.7
11.5
18.7
13.3
16
37.8
2.1
3.8
8.6
14.5
21.7
11.5
17
23.9
1.7
3.0
8.5
13.5
17.2
32.3
16
36.6
3.0
3.1
7.9
14.5
21.9
13.0
17
26.3
2.7
3.6
6.2
10.0
21.2
30.1
Table 12: At what age did you first get drunk?
2002
Never
11 or less
12
13
14
15
16 or more
13
80.8
5.1
5.5
8.4
14
67.7
4.8
4.5
12.1
10.9
Boys
15
48.6
3.9
4.6
12.1
18.7
11.9
16
34.8
5.2
5.0
10.3
14.9
20.5
9.2
17
23.8
5.8
4.2
7.4
9.5
21.2
28.0
6
CANNABIS Data
Findings
Tables 13-15 contain the percentages that reported they ever used cannabis by gender, age and study year. Tables 16-18 contain the
percentages that reported that they used cannabis in the past 12 months by gender, age and study year. Table 19 contains the percentages
that reported they used cannabis in the past 30 days by gender and age in 2006. Tables 20-22 contain the percentages that reported age of
cannabis initiation by gender, age and study year.
Table 13: Percentages reporting they have ever used cannabis
2006
Age
Never
Once or twice
3-5 times
6-9 times
10-19 times
20-39 times
40 times or
more
Boys
92.1
4.9
1.4
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.5
Girls
13
95.7
2.7
0.3
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.5
All
93.7
3.9
0.9
0.6
0.2
0.2
0.5
Boys
83.7
8.0
1.9
1.2
1.2
1.4
2.7
Girls
14
87.0
5.6
2.2
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.4
All
85.2
6.9
2.0
1.2
1.2
1.3
2.1
Boys
74.0
9.1
3.9
3.3
2.4
2.2
5.1
Girls
15
78.4
11.2
3.0
1.9
1.5
2.0
2.0
All
76.0
10.0
3.5
2.6
2.0
2.1
3.7
Boys
66.5
14.9
3.9
3.5
3.5
2.1
5.6
Girls
16
72.9
12.2
3.1
2.9
4.6
1.8
2.4
All
Boys
Girls
All
17
69.7
13.6
3.5
3.2
4.0
1.9
4.0
60.4
19.9
4.2
4.5
2.9
1.6
6.6
64.4
18.6
4.5
5.1
2.4
1.5
3.6
62.3
19.3
4.3
4.7
2.7
1.5
5.2
Table 14: Percentages reporting they have ever used cannabis
2002
Age
Never
Once or twice
3-5 times
6-9 times
10-19 times
20-39 times
40 times or
more
Boys
93.5
3.7
0.7
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.7
Girls
13
97.1
1.1
0.6
0.6
0.1
0.1
0.4
All
Boys
95.5
2.3
0.6
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.5
88.1
4.8
1.2
1.2
0.4
1.0
3.5
Girls
14
92.4
3.6
1.1
0.8
0.7
0.5
0.9
All
Boys
90.6
4.1
1.1
0.9
0.5
0.7
2.0
72.5
9.6
3.1
2.5
1.2
1.8
9.2
Girls
15
83.0
7.5
1.8
2.0
1.1
0.4
4.2
All
Boys
78.8
8.4
2.4
2.2
1.1
0.9
6.2
64.4
11.4
4.1
2.2
2.6
3.4
11.9
Girls
16
76.1
12.2
2.3
1.9
1.5
1.9
4.1
All
Boys
Girls
71.5
11.9
3.0
2.0
1.9
2.5
7.1
62.7
10.3
4.9
3.8
3.8
2.2
12.4
70.8
10.5
2.3
2.7
5.1
3.5
5.1
All
17
67.6
10.4
3.4
3.2
4.5
2.9
8.1
7
Table 15: Percentages reporting they have ever used cannabis
1998
Age
Never
Once or twice
3-5 times
6-9 times
10-19 times no (10+ - only
option)
20-39 times no
40 times or more no
Boys
88.3
6.7
1.7
1.2
2.0
Girls
13
96.4
2.2
0.8
0.2
0.5
All
Boys
92.3
4.4
1.2
0.7
1.2
82.0
7.5
3.3
1.2
5.9
Girls
14
90.7
6.5
0.6
1.2
1.0
All
Boys
86.3
7.0
2.0
1.2
3.6
70.0
10.6
4.6
2.4
12.4
Girls
15
84.1
10.0
2.6
0.8
2.6
All
Boys
77.1
10.3
3.6
1.6
7.5
69.5
11.1
6.8
1.7
10.9
Girls
16
74.9
10.4
4.3
3.7
6.7
All
Boys
72.2
10.7
5.6
2.7
8.8
72.9
8.2
5.9
0.0
12.9
Girls
17
72.0
15.0
5.0
0.0
8.0
All
72.6
11.8
5.4
0.0
10.2
Table 16: Percentages that have used cannabis in the past 12 months
2006
Age
Never
Once or twice
3-5 times
6-9 times
10-19 times
20-39 times
40 times or
more
Boys
92.9
4.2
1.1
0.5
0.5
0.2
0.7
Girls
13
96.8
2.4
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.6
All
94.6
3.4
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.1
0.6
Boys
87.6
5.6
2.0
1.3
1.6
0.6
1.4
Girls
14
88.5
5.9
2.1
1.5
0.7
0.8
0.4
All
88.0
5.8
2.0
1.4
1.2
0.7
0.9
Boys
78.8
8.2
4.3
2.4
2.4
1.3
2.6
Girls
15
84.0
8.7
2.3
2.0
1.6
0.7
0.7
All
81.2
8.4
3.4
2.2
2.0
1.0
1.8
Boys
73.5
12.8
4.3
2.5
2.2
1.0
3.6
Girls
16
78.2
11.0
2.9
3.2
2.4
1.0
1.2
All
Boys
Girls
All
17
75.8
12.0
3.7
2.9
2.3
1.0
2.4
71.3
14.5
3.7
2.8
2.3
1.4
4.0
72.4
15.8
4.4
3.0
2.0
1.0
1.3
71.8
15.1
4.0
2.9
2.2
1.2
2.8
8
Table 17: Percentages that have used cannabis in the past 12 months
2002
Age
Never
Once or twice
3-5 times
6-9 times
10-19 times
20-39 times
40 times or more
Boys
94.2
3.5
0.5
0.2
0.7
0.2
0.7
Girls
13
97.3
1.0
0.8
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.6
All
Boys
95.9
2.1
0.7
0.2
0.4
0.1
0.6
88.9
4.6
1.1
0.8
0.8
1.0
2.9
Girls
14
93.3
2.9
0.8
1.1
0.5
0.9
0.4
All
Boys
91.5
3.6
0.9
0.9
0.6
0.9
1.5
74.5
10.4
2.6
2.8
1.2
1.6
7.0
Girls
15
84.4
7.2
2.0
1.9
1.1
0.8
2.8
All
Boys
80.4
8.4
2.2
2.2
1.1
1.1
4.5
66.2
12.3
2.8
3.0
4.5
3.4
7.7
Girls
16
78.7
11.3
2.5
1.2
2.1
1.2
3.0
All
Boys
Girls
73.8
11.7
2.6
1.9
3.0
2.1
4.9
64.1
11.4
4.9
3.8
2.7
2.2
10.9
75.3
7.8
3.1
2.4
6.7
1.2
3.5
All
17
70.7
9.3
3.9
2.9
5.0
1.6
6.6
Table 18: Percentages that have used cannabis in the past 12 months
1998
Age
Never
Once or twice
3-5 times
6-9 times
10-19 times no (10+-only
option)
20-39 times no
40 times or more no
Boys
90.9
5.1
1.6
0.8
1.6
Girls
13
97.0
2.2
0.5
0.2
0.2
All
Boys
94.0
3.7
1.0
0.5
0.9
83.6
7.3
3.4
1.7
4.0
Girls
14
93.3
4.6
0.7
0.9
0.4
All
Boys
88.3
6.0
2.1
1.3
2.2
73.4
10.1
4.3
3.6
8.5
Girls
15
87.7
8.1
1.7
0.8
1.7
All
Boys
80.7
9.1
3.0
2.2
5.1
73.3
11.0
5.6
1.9
8.2
Girls
16
79.2
9.3
5.7
1.5
4.2
All
Boys
76.2
10.1
5.7
1.7
6.2
75.3
9.9
3.7
3.7
7.4
Girls
17
80.4
10.3
2.1
1.0
6.2
All
78.2
10.1
2.8
2.2
6.7
9
Table 19: Percentages that have used cannabis in the past 30 days
Boys
Age
13 years
14 years
15 years
16 years
17 years
4.0
7.5
12.8
15.0
13.7
Girls
2006
All
1.7
6.8
8.1
11.8
12.1
2.9
7.2
10.7
13.4
12.9
Boys
Girls
All
Boys
Girls
All
2002
1998
Not asked in 2002
6.4
10.5
17.7
15.1
12.3
1.9
3.0
5.2
9.8
9.3
4.1
6.8
11.4
12.5
10.6
Table 20: At what age did you first use cannabis, by age
2006
Never
11 or less
12
13
14
15
16 or more
Boys
14
86.9
1.1
2.3
5.5
3.9
13
94.2
1.0
2.0
2.3
15
76.5
1.5
1.9
5.5
8.4
6.2
16
67.6
1.7
1.8
4.6
8.5
11.3
4.5
17
63.4
1.6
1.3
3.4
8.8
9.0
12.5
13
96.2
0.3
0.9
2.4
14
89.2
0.9
1.3
4.2
4.2
Girls
15
82.2
0.0
1.6
3.9
7.7
4.7
16
76.0
0.0
1.9
3.0
6.3
8.9
3.8
17
65.6
1.5
0.9
1.8
5.2
10.7
14.1
13
95.1
0.7
1.5
2.3
14
87.9
1.0
1.8
4.9
4.0
All
15
79.1
0.8
1.8
4.7
8.1
5.5
16
71.7
0.9
1.9
3.8
7.4
10.1
4.2
17
64.5
1.6
1.1
2.7
7.1
9.8
13.2
16
71.4
0.7
0.7
2.8
5.8
11.8
6.7
17
67.4
0.7
1.8
2.2
4.3
8.1
15.5
Table 21: At what age did you first use cannabis, by age
2002
Never
11 or less
12
13
14
15
16 or more
13
93.8
1.2
1.7
3.1
14
88.6
1.1
1.5
4.9
3.9
Boys
15
73.6
0.8
2.3
4.2
10.6
8.1
16
63.8
1.5
1.5
4.0
8.2
12.4
8.6
17
61.4
1.6
3.8
3.3
6.0
9.2
14.7
13
97.3
0.5
0.5
1.6
14
92.8
0.3
0.1
3.3
3.5
Girls
15
83.2
0.0
1.0
2.5
6.5
6.5
16
76.3
0.3
0.3
2.0
4.2
11.4
5.4
17
71.4
0.0
0.4
1.5
3.1
7.3
16.2
13
95.7
0.8
1.1
2.3
14
91.0
0.6
0.7
4.0
3.7
All
15
79.4
0.3
1.6
3.2
8.2
7.2
10
Table 22: At what age did you first use cannabis, by age
1998
Never
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
13
Not asked in 1998
Boys
14
15
16
17
13
14
Girls
15 16
17
13
14
15
16
All
17
Acknowledgements:
HBSC Ireland is funded by the Department of Health and Children (the Health Promotion Policy Unit and the Office of the Minister for Children).
This short report was initially requested by the Health Research Board. We also wish to acknowledge the parents and children who consented
and participated, the management authorities, principals and teachers who helped us to collect the data, the staff of the Health Promotion
Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, the HBSC Advisory Committee, the International coordinator of HBSC, Professor
Candace Currie of the University of Edinburgh, and the Department of Education and Science.
For further information on HBSC Ireland contact:
Dr. Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, HBSC Ireland, Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, 12 Distillery Road, Galway
Ireland. hbsc@nuigalway.ie or see www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc
11