CANNABIS OVERTOOK heroin last year as the “most common problem drug” among new cases on treatment programmes.
A report by the Health Research Board, Trends in treated problem drug use in Ireland 2005 to 2010, shows the number of cases entering drug treatment programmes rose by 52 per cent in the six-year period covered by the report.
In 2010, cannabis overtook heroin as the largest “main problem drug” reported in new cases entering the system.
Last year 1,253 cases cited cannabis as their main problem drug compared to 1,172 involving opiates. A total of 7,878 cases entered treatment in 2010.
Overall, heroin was most often cited as the main problem drug, making up 61 per cent of cases entering treatment in that period. One in five cases cited cannabis as their main problem drug while cocaine made up 11 per cent of cases.
However, more than two-thirds of cases, or 68 per cent, reported problem use of more than one substance, most commonly cannabis, alcohol, cocaine and benzodiazepines.
Delphine Bellerose, lead author of the report, said the high proportion of cases using multiple substances “is a challenge for service providers as this group often require repeated episodes of treatment over time”.
Half the cases entering drug treatment between 2005 and 2010 started using drugs at or before the age of 15 while the average age of cases entering programmes last year was 28.
The proportion of cases reporting cocaine or ecstasy as their main problem substance peaked in 2007.
The data show a downward trend in the proportion of cases who reported injecting drugs.