The latest Health Research Board (HRB) figures show 13,295 cases were treated for problem drug use in 2024. This is the highest annual number recorded to date and an increase of 191 cases compared to 2023. 

According to Drug treatment demand in Ireland 2024, cocaine remains Ireland’s most common drug treated (excluding alcohol), accounting for 40% (5,289 cases) of all drug treatment cases in 2024, a 7% increase on 4,923 cases in 2023.  

Cocaine is also the main problem drug for almost half of cases who are new to treatment. However, in 2024, cocaine also accounted for one in three previously treated cases, the highest number recorded to date and an indication of the changing profile of users and how prevalent cocaine use has become in society. 

Opioids (mainly heroin) were the second most common drug people sought treatment for, although the number seeking treatment for opioids has fallen for the second consecutive year. The third most common drug among treated cases was cannabis.  

Commenting on the findings, HRB Chief Executive, Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll, said: 

“The increase in people receiving treatment reflects an expansion of services for problem cocaine use in recent years. This highlights the value of the HRB collecting data and monitoring trends, because it helps service planners to pinpoint and address treatment issues that require attention.” 

Cocaine trends over time (2017 – 2024) 

Since 2017 there has been a 250% increase in cases receiving treatment for cocaine as their main problem drug. There has been a 300% increase in people returning for cocaine treatment as their main problem drug from 692 cases in 2017, to 2,764 cases in 2024. The number of females seeking treatment for cocaine has risen 426%, an increase from 284 cases in 2017 to 1,494 cases in 2024. 

Dr Suzi Lyons, Senior Researcher at the HRB, said: 

“Looking at cocaine treatment over time reveals some important trends that can inform drug treatment provision. For example, the rise in previously treated cases indicates sustained use of cocaine and may also explain an increase in the age group seeking treatment for cocaine from 20-39 years in 2023, to 20-44 years in 2024.”  

Identifying trends like this allows service planners to better understand demand and ultimately put targeted measures in place to reduce the harmful effects of drug use for people who are caught in addiction, their families and society.” 

The report shows that the profile of people seeking treatment was different among powder and crack cocaine users. Where powder cocaine was the main problem drug, one in five cases were female, 39% were employed and the median age entering treatment was 32 years of age. Where crack cocaine was the main problem drug, almost half were female, 7% were employed and the median age entering treatment was 40. 

Age and drug use 

In 2024, cannabis was the main problem drug for cases aged 19 years or under; cocaine was the main problem drug for cases aged 20-44 years; opioids were the main problem drugs for cases aged 45 years or over. This highlights an aging cohort of opioid users continuing to require treatment.  

Polydrug use (use of more than one drug) 

Polydrug use was reported in three in five treatment cases (60%) in 2024. 

Cannabis (40%) was the most common additional drug, followed by cocaine (37%), alcohol (36%) and benzodiazepines (30%). 

The most common drugs used together were cocaine plus alcohol, followed by cocaine plus cannabis, followed by opioids plus cocaine. 

ENDS 

For more information or interviews, please contact: 

Martha Connolly, Content and Media Specialist, Health Research Board 

e mconnolly@hrb.ie m +353 85 859 0250  

NOTE TO EDITORS 

The Health Research Board (HRB) is Ireland’s lead funding agency supporting innovative health research and delivering data and evidence that improves people’s health and patient care. We are committed to putting people first, and ensuring data and evidence are used in policy and practice to overcome health challenges, advance health systems, and benefit society and economy. 

Drug treatment demand in Ireland 2024 is the latest annually updated bulletin from the HRB’s National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) on cases of treated problem drug use (excluding alcohol) in Ireland. It covers the eight-year period of 2017-2024.  

*It is important to note that “case” refers to a treatment episode and not one person. This means the same person could be counted more than once in a calendar year if they had more than one treatment episode that year.