Ireland sees surge in cocaine addiction

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by Change | 3 Sep 2009

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There has been a five-fold increase in the number of cocaine users seeking addiction treatment in Ireland during the five years to 2007, official figures have revealed.

addiction recovery services in Ireland are seeing a rapid growth in the number of people seeking out addiction treatment for cocaine abuse, it has been revealed.

Figures compiled in a study carried out by the country's Health Research Board have found the number of people seeking addiction treatment for cocaine use rose five-fold between 2002 and 2007.

The statistics suggest that a growing number of people are choosing to use cocaine socially on weekends or as part of a binge involving other substances.

The rise suggests rehab clinics in the country need to be given more support to help people suffering from cocaine addiction.

Meanwhile, the research also found that heroin use - which is currently far higher than cocaine addiction - began to level out during the period covered.

Recent figures published by the Belfast Telegraph revealed 1,984 people in Northern Ireland sought addiction treatment services during 2007/08, including over 120 children.

However, campaigners warned that this could be merely the tip of the iceberg, with many more people still hiding their drug addictions and refusing to seek out addiction treatment services.

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