THE NUMBER of people seeking treatment for cocaine and heroin use in the southeast continued to increase last year, according to a newly published report from the Health Service Executive (HSE).
It confirms an additional 53 people sought treatment for cocaine use in counties Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary South last year when compared with 2006 figures. Overall, some 154 people were treated for cocaine use in the region in 2007 compared with 101 in 2006.
An additional 37 people also sought treatment for heroin use in the southeast region last year, bringing the number seeking treatment for heroin use there last year to 236.
The HSE report, which will feed into a national report to be produced later by the Health Research Board on the number seeking drug treatment services across the State in 2007, states that “some of the increase in the cocaine figures may be due to highly publicised cocaine deaths late last year and the ensuing media awareness campaign”.
These included the deaths of two young men who had attended a house party in Waterford city.
Overall, yesterday’s report says the total number assessed and treated by drug misuse services in the southeast in 2007 was 2,621, an increase of 115 on the previous year. As in previous years the majority of clients contacting the services were male, although there was a slight increase in the number of females contacting the services between 2006 and 2007.
Most of those attending the services were in their 20s, although 20 of those treated were in the 12-14 year age bracket, 93 were aged 15-17 years and 121 were aged 18-19 years.
The main problem people were treated for was alcohol abuse for which 1,453 people were referred, accounting for 64.2 per cent of all those referred. The other main substances for which people were treated were cannabis 276 (12.2 per cent of those treated), heroin 236 (10.4 per cent of those treated) and cocaine 154 (6.8 per cent of those treated).
The report says: “The numbers being treated for both alcohol and cannabis have decreased since 2006 with cannabis numbers decreasing each year since 2003. Cocaine and heroin figures continue to increase, though some of the increase in the cocaine figures may be due to highly publicised cocaine deaths late last year and the ensuing media awareness campaign. There are also increases in the numbers and percentages of those who use MDMA and amphetamines [mainly ecstasy and speed].”
The report says that by the end of last year, 1,435 (63.4 per cent) of treated clients were discharged from the services. The majority of discharged clients completed treatment – 658 (45.8 per cent) – but 368 (25.6 per cent) refused to have further treatment sessions or did not return within a specific time period and 200 (13.9 per cent) did not wish to attend further treatment sessions because they considered themselves to be stable. The majority of clients were stable on exit/discharge from services.
The report also shows more than 10,000 bed days were used in acute hospitals in the southeast region in 2006 by patients with alcohol or drug problems, as well as those admitted for self-poisoning.