The proportion of the State's population seeking treatment for problem drug use increased by 27 per cent between 1998 and 2002, according to a new report from the Health Research Board (HRB).
The prevalence of treated problem drug use rose by 27 per cent, from 225 per 100,000 people in 1998, to 287 per 100,000 in 2002. More than 33,350 cases were treated, and more than one quarter of the cases were being treated for the first time.
According to Dr Jean Long, senior researcher in the Drug Misuse Research Division of the HRB, the increase in numbers reflects an increased number of places available for treatment, the need for problem drug users to return for repeat treatment, and an increase in service providers reporting treated cases to the HRB.
The number of new cases of treated drug use increased by 24 per cent from 1998 to 2001 but decreased by 6 per cent from 2001 to 2002.
"The decrease in 2002 hides two trends," said Dr Long. "The number of treated cases almost trebled outside Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare between 1998 and 2002, while incidence of treated problem drug use decreased (specifically opiates like heroin) in Dublin."
"The increase outside the eastern region may reflect an increase in availability of treatment services and an increase in drug use, while the decrease in the greater Dublin area is most likely to be a result of a decrease in new opiate users in Dublin," she explained.
Of all the cases treated in the study period, 72 per cent reported using more than one drug which, according to Dr Long is associated with "poorer treatment outcomes".
The research results also show that 50 per cent of patients started injecting before they were 19.
Dr Long pointed out that the mid-term review of the National Drugs Strategy has set a performance indicator to measure the availability of harm reduction facilities in every local health area by the end of 2008.
The report also shows some obvious demographic and economic factors associated with problem drug use across the State.
- Young teenagers initiate drug use with cannabis and volatile inhalants.
- Use of opiates, ecstasy and amphetamines
starts in the mid-to-late teens among users.
- A higher proportion of males were treated for each type of drug, with very high proportions treated for cocaine and cannabis compared to their female counterparts.
- People treated for opiate and benzodiazepine problems have lower rates of employment than those treated for drugs commonly associated with social events such as alcohol, cannabis and ecstasy.