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A new report published by the Health Research Board (HRB) found a significant increase in the number of alcohol treatment cases across Ireland in 2023.
Throughout 2023, 8,163 people sought treatment for problem alcohol use, marking a 10% increase on the previous year, and the highest annual total in a decade.
Among first-time treatment seekers, the majority (3 in 5) were classed as alcohol dependent. However, the proportion of all cases that were classified as alcohol dependent has decreased, from 72% in 2017, to 61% in 2023.
The report also lifts the lid on the worrying trend of ‘poly drug use’ – with 1 in 4 individuals reporting problem use of another drug alongside alcohol.
Key findings
As well as the rise in alcohol treatment cases, the report also found that:
- Many people in treatment had been drinking more in a typical day than is recommended in accordance with the HSE low-risk guidelines. Women were drinking more than two bottles of wine (on average) in a typical drinking session (15 standard drinks), with men drinking nine pints of beer or half a litre of spirits (18 standard drinks)
- The median age of people seeking treatment in 2023 was 43
- 6 in 10 cases were male
- Almost half the cases were reported as unemployed people, with 1 in 3 cases involving individuals in paid employment
Additionally, the number of individuals using another drug alongside alcohol increased from 1 in 5 in 2017, to 1 in 4 in 2023.
Cocaine was the most-used drug alongside alcohol, followed by cannabis, benzodiazepines, and opioids. The number of people using cocaine alongside alcohol has also more than doubled since 2017, from 607 to 1,310 cases.
Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll, HRB Chief Executive, said: “Alcohol continues to be the drug that most people seek treatment for.
“By monitoring demand for treatment and which drugs people mix with alcohol, we can identify changes in behaviour over time. This helps to inform policy and provision of treatment in line with people’s needs.”
The dangers of poly drug use
Dr Suzi Lyons, Senior Researcher at the HRB, says the increase in the proportion of cases where other drugs were used alongside alcohol is “a concern”.
“Mixing drugs complicates treatment and can impede recovery,” says Lyons.
The report found that the most common drugs used together were:
- Alcohol plus cocaine
- Alcohol plus cannabis, and
- Alcohol plus cocaine and cannabis
Additionally, the type of drugs used alongside alcohol varied by age, with individuals aged 19 or under, and those aged 35 or over reportedly choosing cannabis. While mixing cocaine use with alcohol consumption was most prevalent among 20-34-year-olds.
Consuming alcohol alongside other drugs can be extremely risky, due to the differing effects that individual drugs have on the body, and the way that these drugs interact with each other when consumed simultaneously.
For example, when cocaine and alcohol are consumed together, this causes cocaethylene to be formed in the body; a metabolite that is only present when cocaine has been used alongside ethanol (the intoxicating agent in alcoholic drinks).
This can intensify the effects of both drugs and increase the risk of health complications including heart attacks, strokes, respiratory issues, and liver damage.
It can also increase the potential for violent and impulsive behaviour, risky behaviours, and accidents. This is because alcohol is a depressant that can impair judgment and coordination, while cocaine is a stimulant that can create a false sense of alertness and increase unpredictable behaviour.
Related: Buyer beware – what are users really getting when they buy drugs on the street?
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