Cocaine use at the debs has become “more and more common” over the years, a journalist has warned. 

Intrigued by anecdotal reports that teenagers were shunning booze in favour of drugs, Irish Farmers Journal reporter Jacqueline Hogge decided to delve into the trend. 

“I’m not sure it’s new but it certainly seems to be a growing issue among school leavers as they make that transition to the next stage of adulthood,” she told Lunchtime Live. 

“The bus driver I spoke to was in the east of the country and he says it’s getting more and more common. 

“He’s been bringing young people to events for the last three or four years. 

“He says the first time he was cleaning the bus after an event, he found 10 to 12 wraps, didn’t know what they were and had to be told it was from the cocaine.” 

A person using cocaine. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Ms Hogge continued that while cocaine use is not a problem at every school or with every child, she suspects that “normally three or four that are causing the trouble”. 

“Where there’s money, there is cocaine,” she added. 

“With young girls in particular, they see it as a body image thing - it’s less calorific than alcohol.

“We had a study a week or two ago, the European School survey project which showed that there has been a sharp decline in alcohol intake. 

“From the young people I spoke to, even ones that are gone from school a couple of years, they said, ‘Well, if drink is down, something else is being consumed.’”

Cocaine is a highly dangerous drug and those who become addicted can develop serious physical and mental problems. 

Anyone who thinks they have a problem can call the HSE’s confidential drug and alcohol freephone helpline on 1800 459 459 from Monday to Friday between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm.

Main image: Lines of Cocaine. Picture by: Alamy.com.