200% rise in demand for cocaine addiction treatment since 2017
Landscape' The Addiction 'changing For Researchers In Treatment Said The Soaring Of Services Is In Ireland Cocaine Demand Use
Ireland’s problem with cocaine is getting worse, with a 200% surge in the number of people needing treatment for addiction to the drug since 2017.
There has also been a sharp increase in the number of women getting hooked on cocaine, according to the latest report from the Health Research Board.
The board has detailed a record-high 13,103 cases of people being treated for problem drug use last year, with cocaine the most commonly reported problem, and almost 40% of cases involving people who were never treated before.
Researchers said the soaring use of cocaine is “changing the landscape” in demand for addiction treatment services in Ireland.
More people than ever are receiving help for cocaine addiction, with cases of people being hooked on powder cocaine and crack cocaine both surging.
In the case of crack cocaine, the number of addiction cases has risen almost 600% since 2017.
Of these, two-in-five people were employed and the median age entering treatment was 31-years-old.
For crack cocaine cases, nearly half were women and the median age was 39-years-old.
“This is compounded by the fact cocaine is also the second most common additional drug that people seek treatment for along with another drug,” board research officer Dr Anne Marie Carew said.
“This points to a growing future need for treatment for cocaine.
“The sharp increase in cocaine cases among females is a concern, and highlights a growing need for prevention measures, especially around crack cocaine. Females entering drug treatment are more likely to be living with dependent children.
“Understanding the complex issues they face will help to identify the integrated services they require.”
In contrast to cocaine, the board said the proportion of new cases reporting cannabis or opioids as their main problem drug has decreased in recent years.
However, for those returning to drug treatment centres, opioids are still the leading problem drug in this category.
The report added: “Powder cocaine cases resided in every county in Ireland.
“47.1% of all cases entering treatment for powder cocaine resided in Dublin, followed by Cork (7.6%), Tipperary (4.9%) and Limerick (4.7%).”
The consultant psychiatrist and head of addiction services at St John of God Hospital, Prof Colin O’Gara, said there’s been a consistent year-on-year increase in presentations involving cocaine.
“It’s up to a peak now,” he said.
“The newest development is the big concern around crack cocaine now.”
He added that crack cocaine had often been associated with more deprived communities, but said that that is no longer the case and it is “starting to spread at a really alarming rate”.
The junior health minister, Colm Burke, said further investment in the national drug strategy was expanding access to treatments across the country.
“We have prioritised targeted investment to ensure services are available to those who need them,” Mr Burke said.