OPIATE abuse is increasing in Dublin, while cannabis and ecstasy are most commonly used elsewhere, according to the first report on treated drug misuse in the State.
The study, Treated Drug Misuse in Ireland, showed more than 80 per cent of people treated in the greater Dublin area used opiates, mainly herpin. In the rest of the State about half of those treated named cannabis and ecstasy as their primary drug of misuse. Just 16 per cent of these used heroin.
The report, from the Health Research Board, examined "problem" drug users who sought treatment rather than all those who misuse drugs.
Alcohol or tobacco misuse was not included. Figures are based on (those treated in 1995.
The report showed there was a rise of 21 per cent for treatment in Dublin, but noted there had also been an increase in the number of treatment places.
Just under two thirds of those treated were under 25.
The authors said the findings again emphasised the underlying social and economic deprivations which, particularly for the people attending drug treatment centres in Dublin, appeared to be major influences in their association with drugs.
Most users in the Dublin area: were treated for opiate abuse, most likely heroin.
Eighty seven per cent said opiates were their main drug. The number who smoked opiates had increased by 9 per cent, while the numbers injecting had fallen.
The profile of a person attending a drug treatment centre in Dublin remains that of a young, poorly educated, unemployed male who injects heroin and lives in an inner city area, according to the report.
They start using drugs aged 15 to 19 years and the drug was most likely to have been an opiate.
"If females are isolated, the profile is similar, except that females were proportionately far more likely to be living outside of their parental families and to be living with drug misusers who were male," it stated.
Outside Dublin, the profile was similar. The drug abuser was most likely to be an unemployed male with an average age of 23. But he was less likely to have left school early.
"He would be far more likely to be in treatment for misuse of cannabis or ecstasy rather than for heroin misuse.
More than two thirds of these were living at home. Over 66 per cent were unemployed.
Nearly 40 per cent of those treated outside of Dublin were teenagers and the majority were male.