Drugs survey reveals that levels of recent drug use have risen slightly
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Recent levels of all illegal drug use have risen in Ireland by 1.9% between 2010/11 and 2014/15. Today’s findings are revealed in the study “Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland”, arising from data collected in the fourth Drug Prevalence Survey.
Results released today relating to Cannabis, Polydrug and New Psychoactive Substance use and Prescription Drug Use indicate that Cannabis continues to be the most commonly used illegal drug and that the use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has dropped significantly.
Minister for Health Promotion and the National Drugs Strategy, Catherine Byrne TD, said:
“I welcome the publication of the findings of these three surveys, which serve to inform us of trends in drug use and inform policy formulation and future planning and action."
"The publication in 2017 of “Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery – a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025” was an important milestone in emphasising and progressing a health-led, person-centred approach to drug and alcohol use in Ireland."
“A number of actions in “Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery” address the survey findings, especially the continuing need for preventative measures that focus on young people. The strategy commits to developing targeted, appropriate and effective services for young people at risk of substance misuse, focused on socially and economically disadvantaged communities."
“In progressing our strategy and its priority actions, I secured €1 million annually for this new fund. The initial focus of the fund will be to prevent the use of benzodiazepines among young people. I am aware that services on the ground are concerned about the rapid increase in numbers of young people taking benzodiazepines in combination with other substances. This new funding will enable services to reach out to these young people and give them the supports that they need.”
The key findings of the Cannabis Results:
The key findings of the Prescription Drugs report:
The main focus of the survey is to obtain prevalence rates for illegal drugs, such as cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin on a lifetime (ever used), last year (recent use) and last month (current use) basis.
The reports are available on the Item was unpublished or removed
ENDS
Lifetime prevalence = respondent(s) had ever used a drug
Recent use = respondent(s) used drug in the year prior to the survey
Current use = respondent(s) used drug in the month prior to the survey
The general population survey is a collaborative project between the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol and colleagues in the Public Information and Health Research Branch (PHIRB) within the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. On this occasion, the fieldwork was carried out by Ipsos MRBI in Ireland. This survey updates information gathered in the previous surveys carried out in 2002/03, 2006/07 and 2010/2011.
The survey was carried out to the exacting standards set by the EU Drugs Agency.
The population survey is a drug prevalence survey and is intended to reflect drug use in the general population. For the purposes of this survey, we take the general population to mean those aged 15+ and normally residing in households in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It does not include those residing in institutions such as prisons, residential care, nursing homes, hospitals etc.
Problematic drug users may be underrepresented in this type of survey because of the complicated and problematic nature of their lives.