Many Irish teens take drugs rather than drinking, and social ­media accelerates this trend

Many young women take cocaine as they feel it’s not as damaging as alcohol. Photo posed/Getty

Many young women take cocaine as they feel it’s not as damaging as alcohol. Photo posed/Getty

Younger people who are self-conscious of their body image are turning to illegal drugs over ­alcohol to prevent weight gain, a GP has said.

Dr Garrett McGovern, a specialist in addiction, told the Sunday Independent cocaine use has now become “normalised beyond belief” in Ireland, particularly among young people.