24PC OF TEENAGERS USE DRUGS EVERY WEEK

OVER 90pc of young Cork adults now drink and one-in-four of those aged
under 18 admit to using cannabis each week.

The findings were delivered as part of Ireland's first-ever regional
analysis of drug and substance abuse.

Conducted by the Cork Drugs Task Force, the survey's results were combined
with an action plan to tackle substance abuse.

The survey found:

* 51pc of 14 to 25-year-olds drank weekly * 24pc smoked cannabis weekly *
13pc used solvents occasionally.

It also found that other drugs like Ecstasy and LSD were also widely
available in Cork. CDTF co-ordinator, Rebecca Loughrey, said the survey
highlighted the need for a multi-faceted response to the issue of alcohol
and drug abuse. "The plan seeks to make progress in terms of information
dissemination, pre-emption, counselling and then treatment."

The action plan involves 14 major segments ranging from special eduction
projects for schools to the development of a halfway house venture for men.