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Ireland is a nation of heavy drinkers while our consumption of ecstasy is the second-highest in the world, the latest Global Drug Survey has revealed.

The detailed study claims that the country’s reputation for heavy drinking is “well-deserved” while cannabis remains Ireland’s illegal drug of choice.

The disclosure that Ireland had higher rates of drinkers at risk of dependence on alcohol than all other countries surveyed will be a major cause of concern to health authorities here.

The country’s dysfunctional relationship with alcohol is also confirmed in the finding that Irish people had the highest rates of getting drunk and of attending A&E departments afterwards.

The Global Drug Survey report states: “Ireland’s reputation for heavy drinking is well deserved.

“Not only did Ireland have higher rates of drinkers at risk of dependence, they report needing to drink more alcohol than almost any other country to get as drunk as they would want to be but they also had the highest rates of getting more drunk more often than they wanted to.”

(Image: Carole Gomez)

The report also states that drinkers are often afraid to go their own GP in case “their doctor would tell them to drink less” so instead go to the A&E after drinking.

Around 2.8% of the Irish surveyed said they sought emergency treatment after drinking within the last 12 months - with Brazil the next highest, at 2.2%.

The research found that cannabis remains the country’s illegal drug of choice despite it being more expensive here, €25 a gram, than in most other countries.

But it appears that Irish users prefer the natural product rather than going for the synthetic variety which is less than half the price but is more damaging to health.

(Image: DESIREE MARTINDESIREE MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images)

In another finding that will worry the medical profession the survey found that consumption of ecstasy in Ireland is the second-highest in the world.

It says 1.98 ecstasy pills are taken per session here, with only Australia higher at 2.10 pills.

But there is some good news as the report showed Ireland was well behind most other countries when it came to tobacco consumption.

Less than 10% of Irish people said they smoked - compared to almost 15% in France and Canada, and over 20% in the US.

The online survey was completed by 2,392 people here making it one of the most comprehensive studies on drug use in this country.