Problem drug use outside Dublin almost trebled between 1998 and 2002, a new study by the Health Research Board (HRB) finds.
Problem cannabis use trebled while opiate use increased steadily. The study says chronic drug use "increased each year" in five of the seven health boards outside the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
The research, which looks at trends within the population of treated drugs users, finds the numbers being treated increased from 789 in 1998 to 2,261 in 2002. This represents an increase in the incidence of treated problem drug use, from 24.8 per 100,000 of the population in 1998 to 69.7 per cent in 2002.
The total number of problem drug users tracked through the four years were 7,545 cases.
The incidence of problem drug use was highest in the Southern Health Board area, followed closely by the South Eastern Health Board area, says the report.
The Western Health Board had the lowest incidence indicating lower drug use rates than in the rest of the State, but may also indicate lower access to or uptake of treatment services. "This requires investigation," the report says.
The report says previously treated cases are an indicator of chronic drug use among the population. From 1998 to 2002 the number of previously treated cases returning to or continuing in treatment "increased each year in five of the health board areas".
Just the Mid Western and North Eastern Health Board areas saw a fall in chronic drug use - of 9 and 10 per cent respectively - in 2002 compared with 2001.
Overall, the number of cases reporting cannabis as their main problem drug "increased substantially from 392 (49.7 per cent of total cases) in 1998 to 1,328 (58.7 per cent) in 2002. This was the most frequently reported main problem drug.
Dr Jean Long, senior researcher in the Drugs Misuse Research division of the HRB said the increase was "considerable".
"It is vital that treatment services cater for a wide spectrum of illicit drugs and are capable of adjusting treatment approaches to reflect changing patterns of problem drug use as well as polydrug use."
While the number of new cases reporting cocaine as the main problem drug increased from just six in 1998 to a relatively low 42 in 2002, "the rate of increase indicates the early stages of an epidemic across these health board areas," said Dr Long.
In 1998 ecstasy was the second most prevalent drug being used by those presenting for treatment, accounting for 138 in total or 17.5 per cent.
In 2002 opiates had replaced ecstasy as second most prevalent drug, accounting for 439 cases or 19.4 per cent of the total, as compared with 116 cases or 14.7 per cent in 1998.
The report notes, however, opiate use was highest in regions bordering the Eastern Regional Health Authority, with ecstasy use higher than opiate use the further from the east one looked.
"This depicts the gradual spread of opiate use outside the Eastern Regional Health Authority." This trend is currently being researched by the board.
