The Health Research Board published a paper today entitled ‘Treated problem alcohol use in Ireland 2005-2010’. Figures from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) show that the number of cases of treated problem alcohol use rose 43% in the period between 2005 and 2010. There were 42,333* cases treated for problem alcohol use in those six years. Half of the treated cases had started drinking by the time they were 16 and one in five cases reported problem use of other substances such as cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and benzodiazepines.
Key findings from the report include:
- 42,333 cases were treated for problem alcohol use in the six-year period. There were 5,525 cases in 2005 which rose to 7,866 cases in 2010, an increase of 43%.
- 22,626 (53%) were new cases who had come for treatment for the first time, while 18,396 (44%) were treated previously.
- 61% increase in cases who had been treated previously, from 2, 229 cases in 2005 to 3,583 cases in 2010.
- Half of all cases treated were aged 39 years or younger.
- 145% increase in new cases aged under 18, from 109 cases in 2005 to 267 cases in 2010.
- Half of all cases treated had started drinking alcohol by the time they were 16.
- 50% of new cases had used alcohol for 19 years or more before seeking treatment.
- 40% of cases were drinking on a daily basis.
- The proportion of all cases in employment fell from 39% in 2005 to 24% in 2010.
Read Full Report (PDF)
