Young generation in Ireland less likely to drink than their parents and grandparents
However, over one in five of those aged 18 to 24 used cannabis in the past year, making them the biggest users of the drug which is a concern to doctors due to its side-effects as well as potential mental health impacts.
When it comes to smoking, those aged 45 to 54 were more likely to smoke daily than any other age group at 13.3pc.
Overall, almost a quarter of those aged 18 to 34 vaped daily or occasionally, showing the grip that it has on people in their twenties in particular. Across the population, over three-quarters regard their general health to be 'good or very good' last year. Just slightly over one in two people aged 18 to 24 considered their mental health to be 'good or very good'.
The percentage of people aged 18 years and over who considered their general health to be 'good 'or 'very good' was highest for HSE Dublin and South East region at 78.5pc and lowest for HSE Dublin and Midlands at 72.5pc.
Approximately 18.7pc of people aged 18 years and over had been diagnosed with a specific neurodiverse condition, or suspected they were neurodiverse.
Someone may consider themselves to be, or be diagnosed as, neurodiverse if they are autistic, have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyspraxia – which affects physical co-ordination – or other conditions such as being sensitive to noise or lighting.
Across the broad range of visits to health professionals, females aged 18 years and over were more likely to have visited a health professional than males in the past 12 months. For GP consultations, 84.7pc of women compared to 74.2pc of men had a consultation in the past 12 months.
Those aged 75 years and over, at 92pc, were almost three times more likely to have used prescription medicines in the two weeks before completion of the survey, in comparison with those aged 18 to 24.
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