This report focuses on the connections between gender and health. On average, globally, men die younger than women, while women spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in poor health and with disabilities compared to men. Trans and nonbinary people have disproportionately worse health outcomes compared to the general population. None of these outcomes are acceptable. 

P.22 Alcohol Use - Alcohol use in Ireland shows clear differences between men and women and is shaped by age and social backgrounds (24). Men are more likely than women to start drinking earlier (median age 15 vs. 16), drink regularly, heavily, and to seek treatment for alcohol issues. More men also tend to drink weekly (43% vs. 33%) and multiple times per week (26% vs. 17%) (24). Over the past decade, both weekly drinking and binge drinking have decreased across all men (24). However, issues remain, among younger men, with 50% reporting recent binge drinking (24), and middle-aged men (35-49), represent the largest group seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems (26). Data shows that men make up the majority (64%) of those in alcohol treatment, with 28% reporting concurrent drug use, mainly cocaine (68%) and cannabis (47%). More affluent men tend to consume similar or more alcohol than less affluent groups, but those from less affluent backgrounds experience more negative consequences, with high rates of unemployment (48%), homelessness (10%), and early school leaving (22%) among men in treatment (26). Overall, despite reductions in consumption, alcohol-related issues persist across all ages, especially among younger binge drinkers and middle-aged seeking treatment. 

Drug Use - In 2022-2023, nearly 1 in 10 (9%) males reported using an illegal drug (excluding sedatives or tranquillisers) in the past year, with usage highest among young men aged 15-24, at 23% (25). Usage remained relatively high (17%) in men aged 2534 and declined with age thereafter. Cannabis was the most commonly used substance among younger men (15–24), while cocaine use peaked in the 25–34 age group (8%), suggesting distinct patterns of use across different age cohorts. In 2023, 104 individuals sought treatment for problem drug use—an increase of 47% since 2017— with men accounting for 69% of cases (25). Cocaine was the most frequently reported drug among male treatment seekers in 2023 (excluding alcohol), representing 39% of drug-related treatment cases. This marks a near threefold increase since 2017, with men comprising 72% of those receiving treatment for cocaine. Couse of substances is also common. Many in treatment reported concurrent alcohol use, and the number of men citing both cocaine and alcohol as problem substances more than doubled, rising by 116% between 2017 and 2023 (25). 

P.48 Figure 18 reveals an overwhelming public consensus that society should talk more about male suicide (75%), loneliness (71%) and men’s mental health challenges (62%). These findings align closely with both qualitative focus group insights and earlier quantitative data showing widespread concern about men’s wellbeing across demographics. It’s especially telling those issues like drug addiction, divorce and custody, and school underperformance also draw significant public support for greater discussion. In contrast, only one topic, male online influencers, is viewed by a notable minority as already over-discussed. This shows that the public is not only aware of the challenges men face, but may actively want these issues brought into the spotlight, destigmatised, and addressed more seriously.
 - Figure 18. Public perceptions on talking more about men’s health issues and Figure 19. Public perceptions on the biggest pressures facing men in Ireland today 

P.54 There was continuing concern that boys are not fully equipped for pressures from drugs, social media culture and high profile “bad influence” role models online. 

P.65 table 11.  data on drug use from the Healthy Ireland surveys 2014-15 and 2024