A new study published in PLOS One explores how family dynamics and extracurricular involvement influence stimulant drug use among Irish adolescents.1 Drawing on data from the 2020 Planet Youth Survey, the researchers examined nearly 5,000 secondary school students across Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon in order to assess lifetime use of cocaine and ecstasy, and to identify associated social and environmental factors.

Background

Cocaine and ecstasy remain among the most commonly used stimulant drugs worldwide, with both substances posing serious health risks, including cardiovascular complications, neurological damage, and heightened risks of both depression and suicidality. Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable period, as brain development is ongoing and social influences are especially strong. Internationally, Ireland ranks near the top in Europe for adolescent cocaine use, with prevalence levels higher than the continental average.

The Planet Youth Survey, modelled on the successful Icelandic Prevention Model, anonymously gathered information from students about their drug use, mental health, home life, and leisure activities. The researchers focused on two outcome measures: lifetime use of cocaine and lifetime use of ecstasy. They then explored how these outcomes correlated with home environment factors such as parental monitoring, rule-setting, and intergenerational closure (the extent of connectedness between families), as well as involvement in extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, volunteering, and after-school clubs.

Key findings

Overall, 3.4% of respondents reported having used cocaine and 2.8% had tried ecstasy. While these percentages may appear modest, they are high compared with European norms. Several social and familial factors stood out as significant predictors of stimulant use.

Adolescents who reported being outside after midnight in the previous week were over five times more likely to have used cocaine and over six times more likely to have used ecstasy. Weak parental rule-setting and reduced monitoring were also strongly linked to stimulant use, as was lower intergenerational closure. Importantly, mental health emerged as a significant factor: teenagers reporting ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ mental health were three to five times more likely to have used stimulants compared with peers with positive mental health.

Participation in extracurricular activities showed a protective effect, but only for sports. Adolescents who were not involved in organised sports, whether within or outside of a club, were significantly more likely to report stimulant use. Other activities, such as music, arts, or volunteering, did not show significant associations with stimulant use, although lower participation rates in these types of activities may mean that there was limited statistical power to detect relationships.

Implications for prevention

These findings reinforce the importance of a supportive home environment, active parental engagement, and structured leisure opportunities in reducing adolescent drug use. Evidence from Iceland shows that strengthening family bonds, curbing unsupervised late-night activities, and promoting widespread participation in organised sports can substantially reduce substance use among young people.

In the Irish context, the study authors suggest that a recreation card scheme (which would subsidise the cost of extracurricular participation) could help broaden access to protective activities. The recent introduction of mandatory Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) in schools also represents a promising step towards equipping adolescents with resilience and decision-making skills.

Conclusions

The Planet Youth Survey highlights that stimulant drug use among Irish teenagers remains a pressing public health concern. By fostering stronger family oversight, supporting youth mental health, and expanding access to extracurricular engagement, particularly in sports, Ireland may move closer to replicating Iceland’s success in curbing adolescent substance use.

1    Daly FP, Millar SR, Major E and Barrett PM (2025) Prevention of adolescent stimulant drug use: Do the home life environment and extracurricular activities influence this? Findings from the Irish Planet Youth Survey. PLOS One, 20(8): e0330489. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330489

This research has appeared in several articles in the press. Use the link below to access an interview with study lead Dr Peter Barrett on RTÉ Radio 1. https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22541127/