More than half of the 60,000-plus people treated for problem drug use between 2009 and 2015 sought help for addiction to heroin.
According to the latest drug treatment figures from the Health Research Board, opiates — mainly heroin — were the most commonly reported drugs. While the number of cases treated for problem opiate use remained stable over the period, the proportion of cases treated decreased from 60.6% in 2009 to 47.8% in 2015.
Cannabis is the second most common drug cited among those seeking treatment with the number of cases increasing by 72% from 1,616 in 2009 to 2,786 in 2015. Cannabis is also the most common drug reported by new cases.
The third most common drug reported is cocaine. In 2015, 10.4% of cases reported problem cocaine use, the highest proportion since 2010.
The number of cases reporting benzodiazepines as the main problem drug rose by 185% from 306 cases (4.1%) in 2009 to 873 cases (8.8%) in 2015.
Source: Conall Ó Fátharta, The Irish Examiner, 11/05/17
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