Cocaine’s Rise, Mental Health’s Gap

What’s up, second-gen crew? Una Mulally’s latest Irish Times piece is sounding the alarm: Ireland’s young people are swapping pints for cocaine, and a lack of mental health support from the HSE might be fueling the surge. Alcohol’s down 34% since 2001, but Ireland’s now joint-fourth globally for cocaine use, especially among 15–34-year-olds, per a UN report. Mulally points to a public health crisis, with cocaine topping treatment lists and inadequate HSE resources leaving youth stranded. Ireland’s got a heart for standing up – think Palestine solidarity or Kneecap’s bold bars – so why’s this drug wave hitting so hard? Second-gen Gen Z, you’re Gen Flow, ready to call out gaps and build a fairer Ireland.

Mulally’s Claim: Cocaine’s Up, HSE’s Mental Health Support’s Down

In her June 23, 2025, Irish Times*column, Una Mulally says Ireland’s youth are drinking less – 4.5% less in 2024 alone, 34.3% since 2001, per the Drinks Industry Group. Only 21% of 18–24-year-olds drink often, vs. 31% of adults, per Red C polling. Why? You’re health-savvy, cash-strapped, stuck at home due to housing woes, and big on mental health. But the darker twist is cocaine’s rise: Ireland’s joint-fourth globally, per a 2023 UN report, and Europe’s top for 15–34-year-olds. The Health Research Board (HRB) says cocaine was the most common drug in 2024 treatment cases, up 7% from 2023, with a 426% spike in women seeking help since 2017. Mulally ties this to a lack of HSE mental health resources, saying young people, more open about mental health (66% sought treatment in 2024, per St Patrick’s), are left hanging, turning to cocaine instead of therapy. She calls for a non-judgmental public health fix.

For second-gen Gen Z, this might hit home. You’re at raves, seeing cocaine passed around, or on Insta, spotting #CocaineIreland posts next to #MentalHealthMatters cries. Mulally’s saying the HSE’s not stepping up with enough mental health support, pushing some toward drugs. But does this hold up, or is it a stretch?

Is Mulally’s Article Plausible?

Mulally’s data is solid, but the mental health link needs a closer look. The alcohol drop is legit – HRB’s 2023 report showed a 30% decline since 2001, and 2024’s 4.5% dip tracks with the Drinks Industry Group’s findings. Red C’s stat (21% of youth drinking often) vibes with global sober-curious trends, like a 2024 Guardian piece on UK youth sipping less. Reasons like housing costs and mental health focus are backed by social posts from #SoberIreland, showing that your crew prioritises wellness.

The cocaine surge is even clearer. The UN’s 2023 World Drug Report ranks Ireland high for cocaine, though “joint-fourth” is a bit loose – Australia and the US top it. HRB’s 2024 data confirms cocaine as the top treatment drug (3,356 cases in 2023, up 7%), with a 400%+ rise in women’s cases since 2017, close to Mulally’s 426%. HSE helpline calls for cocaine jumped from 2% (2009) to 21% (2023), per RTÉ. The median age (32) and 39% employed users show it’s mainstream, not fringe.

So, is the HSE’s mental health gap really fueling cocaine’s rise? That’s where Mulally’s argument gets shaky. She points out that young people are more open about mental health, with many seeking treatment, but doesn’t show how HSE resources are falling short. There’s evidence linking mental health struggles like anxiety to cocaine use, and HSE has poured money into addiction services – millions in recent years. Still, some say these efforts are stretched thin, with counsellors overwhelmed by demand. Mulally’s idea that weak mental health support pushes youth toward cocaine makes sense, but it’s more of a hunch than a fact, missing hard proof like therapy waitlist data. Blaming HSE feels like an opinion, not a slam-dunk cause.

Ireland’s Heart: See Through the Haze

Ireland’s got a soul that cuts through hype. From recognising Palestine in 2024 to Kneecap’s pro-Palestine bars at Coachella 2025, you stand for what’s right. Cocaine’s allure – quick highs, social clout – can feel like an escape, but it’s a trap, like risky tanning pills pushed on TikTok, per the Irish Cancer Society. Mulally’s right that mental health gaps might push some toward drugs, but your second-gen roots – stories of migration, resilience, and beating bias – give you the clarity to question this.

The Drinks Industry report says you value authentic connections, not just highs. HRB data shows cocaine users often face anxiety or trauma, but HSE’s stretched – counsellors are burned out, and therapy waitlists can drag. Ireland’s empathy, from supporting global causes to local mental health pushes, demands better. You can call out the gaps Mulally sees and push for more HSE funding or decriminalisation, like the 2023 Citizens’ Assembly suggested.

Second-Gen Gen Z: Reset the Vibe

Mulally’s article nails your maturity – less booze, more self-care – but cocaine’s rise shows the system’s failing you. Ireland’s legacy of standing tall, proves you can fight back. Whether it’s saying no to a line at a festival or hyping sober hangouts, you’re redefining what’s cool. Your dual identity – blending heritage and Irish pride – lets you demand better mental health support and shut down drug hype. You’re not just dodging cocaine – you’re building a culture where everyone’s got a shot at feeling whole.

Take inspiration from Ireland’s past: challenge what’s broken, like activists did. Use Gen Flow to spark change – maybe it’s joining HSE’s drug outreach or pushing for more counsellors. Ireland’s a fairness leader; you can make it a mental health one, too, by choosing healing over highs.

Your Voice, Your Power

Second-gen fam, you’re Ireland’s future. Drop a 300–500-word piece at equalityworx.com/submit about tackling cocaine’s pull or demanding better HSE mental health support. Post a TikTok or X clip with #EqualityWorxVibe and tag @EqualityWorx—we’ll spread it wide. You’re Gen Flow, turning Ireland’s heart into action, beyond the drug haze. Let’s make it a movement! ✊ #EqualityWorxVibe