Few young people use illicit drugs in the North Eastern Health Board region, but they smoke and drink more than the national average, according to a new report.
The board, which published the report, is to meet retailers, local authorities and schools to discuss the issues raised by the report.
It found that 40 per cent of 16year-old boys smoked, compared with 26 per cent nationally. Thirty four per cent of 16-year-old girls smoked, compared with 23 per cent nationally.
In the survey, 1,500 teenagers from 21 schools in Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan answered questionnaires.
A quarter of 13-year-olds said they took one or more drinks a week, as did 81 per cent of 17-year-olds. The overwhelming majority - 92 per cent - said they had never used illicit drugs. Adolescents who were regular smokers and drinkers were offered illicit drugs more frequently than those who were not.
They were 12 to 15 years old when first offered drugs, usually at discos, on the street or at house parties. In just over half of cases the offer came either from a "best" or "very good" friend or from someone their friend knew.
Boredom was one of the main reasons given for using drugs.
Among the measures to be taken by the board in response to the report are:
giving intensive help to families affected by drug abuse;
introducing a new prevention programme for parents, and;
changing health promotion programmes to encourage positive peer pressure against drugs.