Health Research Board statistics reveal that cases have risen to record highs in the last two years.
HRB treatment data also shows that cases of homeless people presenting for treatment have almost doubled and that abuse of benzodiazepines (tranquilisers) continues to rise.
The drug figures found that the total number of treatment cases involving cocaine as the main problem drug rose from 666 in 2012, to 1,026 in 2015, and to 1,138 in 2016 — up 71% on 2012.
The rise is greater among new cases (the rest have been treated previously), with cocaine numbers increasing by 91%, from 297 to 568, in the same period.
Since 2014, there has been a steady increase in the proportion of cases reporting cocaine as a main problem drug, rising from 8% (708 cases) of all cases in 2013 to 12% (1,138) of all cases in 2016,” said Dr Suzi Lyons, HRB senior researcher.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, The Irish Examiner, 30/05/18
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