Health and lifestyle survey:THERE HAS been no reduction in smoking rates in the Republic over the past five years, according to the latest study on the health and lifestyle of the Irish population.
The Slán survey of more than 10,000 adults published yesterday found that while rates of smoking decreased between 1998 and 2002 from 33 per cent to 27 per cent, the rates recorded last year had gone back up to 29 per cent.
Prof Hannah McGee of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, who was part of the research team, said the increase was not statistically significant but it was disappointing that the reductions between the first and second Slán surveys had not continued.
Current smoking rates could not be explained by inward migration, she said, as only 13 per cent of the study sample were non-Irish.
Smoking rates are highest among young women in the lowest social classes - 56 per cent of women aged 18 to 29 in the lowest socio-economic class are smokers compared with 28 per cent of women in the same age group in the highest social classes.
Dr McGee said the figures showed the State was still not winning the battle against smoking.
Prof Luke Clancy, of anti-smoking group ASH Ireland, said he was very concerned. "These figures are quite alarming and urgent action is needed."
The survey found more than one-quarter of adults (28 per cent) were binge drinking or having six or more drinks at least once a week. However, this had fallen dramatically from 45 per cent in 2002. The rates of binge drinking were higher among younger age groups and highest among men under 30 years, at 48 per cent.
The survey shows the percentage of people consuming over the recommended weekly alcohol limit (21 units for men and 14 units for women) has decreased over the course of the three surveys from 15 per cent in 1998 to 13 per cent in 2002 to 8 per cent in 2007.
It indicates that the percentage of drivers who reported driving a car after consuming two or more standard drinks in the past year decreased from 16 per cent in 2002 to 12 per cent in 2007. However, among men under 30 the percentage remained static at 18 per cent. Among men over 65 the percentage doing so actually increased from 12 to 15 per cent.
The percentages using cocaine over the previous year dropped from 3 per cent in 2002 to 1 per cent in 2007. Use of marijuana over the previous year remained the same last year as in 2002 at 5 per cent of the population.
The latest Slán survey looked at the mental health of the population for the first time. Six per cent of those surveyed reported experiencing major depression within the past year. More women (8 per cent) than men (5 per cent) were likely to have suffered depression.
Depression rates were reported as highest at 15 per cent among women aged 18 to 29 years in the lowest social class groups.
Two-thirds of people surveyed said they wouldn't want people to know about it if they were experiencing a mental health problem because of the stigma. More younger people reported not wanting others to know.
Other issues looked at by those behind the survey, which was commissioned by the Department of Health, included use of health services. Three-quarters of those surveyed had visited a GP in the past year, just over half had visited a dentist, while 9 per cent had attended a complementary or alternative medicine practitioner.
Participation in community activity was also examined. The survey found it had decreased from 59 per cent in 2002 to 55 per cent in 2007. The drop among younger age groups was most significant, declining from 71 per cent to 58 per cent among 18- to 29-year-olds in the past five years.
In terms of social support, 78 per cent reported having three or more close friends whom they could count on, while 74 per cent said they would find it easy to get practical help from neighbours if it was needed. However 14 per cent of people surveyed reported feeling lonely over the past month.