Cocaine use in the Republic has doubled in the past two years, according to a report to be published today.
The Drug Treatment Centre Board's 2003 annual report shows that 8.6 per cent of drug tests it carried out were positive for cocaine.
This compares with a figure of 6.9 per cent in 2002 and 4.4 per cent in 2001.
A total of 163,701 urine and blood samples were tested for drugs of abuse by the National Drug Treatment Centre in 2003.
Eight specific tests were carried out on each sample, including analysis for morphine, opiates such as heroin, benzodiazepines, methadone, cannabis and cocaine.
Of 902 cases assessed and treated at the centre, located on Pearse Street in Dublin, 92 per cent were using opiates as their main drug.
Benzodiazepines, including relaxant drugs such as valium and sleeping tablets such as zimovane, accounted for 3 per cent of these cases.
Commenting on the results, Dr John O'Connor, clinical director and consultant psychiatrist at the centre, said: "This continued trend, showing an increase in cocaine use for the third consecutive year, is a major cause for concern."
The increase in cocaine figures reflects its greater availability and increasing popularity among young people.
Figures published in Birmingham in England this week, based on 80,000 samples, showed cocaine use had doubled in the past seven years.
According to Dr Eamonn Keenan, consultant psychiatrist with the drug treatment centre, some of the increased cocaine use had arisen because drug dealers deliberately flooded the market with cocaine last year, while at the same time created a shortage of heroin.Asked whether there was any sign that cocaine was replacing ecstasy, he said: "Anecdotally there is evidence of increased cocaine use in the clubbing scene."
Because use of cocaine often leads to a loss of inhibitions, Dr Keenan warned that a resulting carelessness in sexual practice was likely to lead to an increase in the levels of sexually-transmitted diseases.
"We are also seeing cases of deep venous thrombosis and abscess formation amongst intravenous users of cocaine," he said.
In 2003, 1,462 people attended the drug treatment centre, representing a 9.6 per cent increase on 2002.
A total of 902 were entered into a treatment programme with twice as many males as females treated.
Most service users were aged 20 to 29, while 6 per cent of those attending the centre were aged from 10 to 19. Some 20 per cent of clients were registered as homeless.