The number of people seeking treatment for alcohol and drug misuse in the south east rose slightly last year, according to new figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE).
A total of 2,951 individuals contacted treatment services run by HSE South during 2007, up from 2,836 the preceding year.
Of those seeking treatment, 2,621 people were assessed and/or treated, while 223 individual's contacted services about another person's alcohol or drug problem. In addition, 64 people were treated for other addiction problems such as gambling.
The
Overview of Drug Misuse 2007report covers the five counties of the south east region: Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary.
The report gives a breakdown of alcohol and drug misuse based on information supplied from statutory and voluntary treatment services, education and prevention services and supply and control agencies.
The main problem substances for which clients were treated in the south east region last year were alcohol, cannabis, heroin and cocaine.
According to the data, treatment for alcohol-related problems remains high at 64.2 per cent, while cannabis-misuse accounts for 12.2 per cent. However, while figures for alcohol and cannabis misuse are falling, the number of individuals contacting health services over heroin and cocaine addiction is continuing to rise.
Last year, 236 individuals were treated for heroin addiction in the south east region, equivalent to 10.4 per cent of all treatments. Meanwhile, 154 people, or 6.8 per cent of individuals seeking treatment for substance problems, were treated for cocaine addiction.
The HSE said some of the increase in the cocaine figures may be due to highly publicised cocaine deaths late last year and the ensuing media awareness campaign. There were also increases in the numbers and percentages of those who use MDMA and amphetamines.
Included for the first time in the latest report are clients who exited or were discharged from the treatment services during the year. These show that 1,435 or 63.4 per cent of treated clients were discharged from services in 2007, with 658 individuals having completed treatment.
Just over a quarter of all treated clients discharged refused to have further treatment sessions or did not return for more sessions while 13 per cent considered themselves stable on exit.
According to the report, the majority of clients contacting treatment services were male, although there was a slight increase in the number of females contacting the services from 2006 to 2007.
Those between the ages of 20 and 24 years remain the highest age group attending treatment services overall, followed by those between the ages of 25 and 29 years.
Fine Gael's spokesman on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Michael Ring said the fact that less than half of those joining addiction treatment programmes in the south east finish the course is further evidence of the weakness of the National Drugs Strategy.
"We are coming to the end of the current National Drugs Strategy yet there are still just minimal services available for those seeking help. There are few dedicated residential beds to stabilise or detoxify drug
addicts and alcoholics, with absolutely no dedicated residential services in nine counties," said Mr Ring.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party said the drugs crisis in the south east needed to be tackled head-on.
"While drug abuse was at one stage, primarily confined to cities and large towns, the problem is now present to some extent or other, in just about every parish in the country," said Sen Phil Predergast, Labour Party Senator, Tipperary South.
"The numbers of young people experimenting with drugs in our towns, villages and cities is growing at an alarming rate. However, the political will of the present government to fight the problem of substance abuse has clearly evaporated," he added.
