Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 October 2024
374. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the extent to which drug abuse has been measured on a county-by-county basis in each of the past five years to date; the level of increased use or dependency on illegal drugs that has been measured on a county by county basis in each of the past five years to date, the level of increased use or dependency on illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43886/24]
View answerThe Healthy Ireland Survey 2023 included a module on Drug Use which provided the most recent prevalence information for Ireland. A representative sample of approximately 7,500 individuals aged 15 and older participated in the survey. However, the survey does not contain information on drug use on a county basis.
Some of results included in the survey showed that 21% of respondents report lifetime illicit drug use, 7% reporting illicit drug use in the last year, and 3% reporting illicit drug use in the last month. The most prevalent illicit drugs used within the last year were cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy or MDMA, magic mushrooms and ketamine.
I announced an additional funding of €4.2m in Budget 2025 (full year €5.4m) for new drug initiatives under the national drugs strategy. The new initiatives will expand community-based drug services, roll out integrated community alcohol treatment services on a national basis, develop harm reduction responses and support drug prevention programmes and public health awareness campaigns.
