HSE Health and Wellbeing

This updated HSE resource was developed with HSE healthcare professionals working in this area and is grounded in current evidence and best practice. The guide offers practical advice to help parents and caregivers talk to children about alcohol and drugs. It also provides some useful guidance on how to support children when faced with peer and […]

Adolescence is a time when young people explore new ideas and behaviours and develop greater independence. Your child’s brain continues to develop until their mid-20s. Using alcohol or drugs during adolescence can affect the developing brain and can increase the risk of long-term emotional problems and difficulties with learning, planning and memory. While young people can be […]

The rapid rise in vaping and nicotine pouch use among teenagers has become a growing concern for parents, educators and health professionals. The popularity of vaping among teenagers has grown significantly in recent years. Current research indicates that one in five young people aged 15 to 18 uses e-cigarettes, while many more have experimented with […]

This HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing podcast, Professor Bobby Smyth, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Senior Counsellor, Emer Loughrey, discuss the updated HSE Alcohol and Drugs: A Parent’s Guide. They explore how parents can approach conversations about substance use with their children, covering current trends among young people in Ireland, the risks of adolescent […]