Twice as many people were treated for alcohol misuse as for all other drugs combined in the south and south-east health board regions, a new study has found.
The study, from the Health Research Board, found an increase in the number of women and girls seeking treatment between 2000 and 2002, and that those seeking help were getting younger.
In both health boards 40 per cent of those reporting alcohol use had been treated previously, indicating that this was a chronic health problem.
The incidence of people seeking help with alcohol misuse was highest in Co Carlow (33 people per 10,000) and lowest in Cos Cork (8.7) and Wexford (8.6).
This may be due, say the authors, to the fact that fewer counsellors were employed in Wexford and Cork, or "it may be a true difference".
The numbers describing alcohol as their main problem drug rose steadily in both areas, from 1,010 in the south-east in 2000 to 1,472 in 2001 to 1,498 in 2002.
In the southern region the numbers increased from 719 in 2000 to 852 in 2001 and to 1,160 in 2002.
About one in five of those giving alcohol as their main problem reported using at least one other drug in 2001 and 2002.
Cannabis was the most commonly used narcotic, followed generally by ecstasy and benzodiazepines.
In both regions the proportion of new female cases increased, by 7 per cent in the southern region and by 4 per cent in the south-east.
The numbers coming forward for treatment under the age of 18 were also found to be rising.
While 23 under-18s sought alcohol treatment in the south-east in 2000, this figure increased to 83 in 2001 and fell again to 78 in 2002.
In the southern region the number of under 18-year-olds seeking alcohol treatment increased from eight in 2000 to 22 in 2001 and 24 in 2002.
The Health Research Board said the gathering of such data was beneficial as it indicated the magnitude of the problem to healthcare managers.
"The data presented here will also permit planners to rank alcohol alongside other public health priorities in the population, and to allocate appropriate resources to its treatment," the authors conclude.
