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Cocaine Use in Ireland: Trends, Impacts, and Policy Recommendations (2007)

This joint report by the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) and the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) provides a comprehensive analysis of cocaine use in Ireland as of 2007. It highlights trends in prevalence, demographic patterns, and the impact of cocaine on health and society. The report references a wide array of data sources and emphasizes the need for better addiction services and community awareness. Key findings include rising cocaine usage across various social strata, increasing treatment-seeking behavior, and urgent health risks associated with cocaine use.

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Cocaine Use in Ireland: Trends, Impacts, and Policy Recommendations (2007)

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  1. A Joint Report by the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) and the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  2. Background to the report • Late 2005 Minister asked NDST and NACD to prepare joint briefing on cocaine • Data from a wide range of sources • Population Survey, NDTRS, FSL, AnGS, C&E, ROSIE, HIPE, other research, literature • Report compiled by Justine Horgan PhD researcher at the NACD NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  3. Methodological issues • Some data focus on ‘problem drug use’ • Routine statistics generated for a specific purpose • Hard-to-reach and problem drug users may be excluded from household surveys • Cocaine user focus group - MQI NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  4. Indicators show upward trend Prevalence in Ireland • Adult population • NACD/DAIRU 2002/2003: ‘last year’ use at 1% • SLÁN 1998-2002 ‘last year’ cocaine use up and • 1998: males 1.8% vs females 0.6% • 2002: males 3.0% vs females 1.9% • Young people • ESPAD 1999 at 2%; 2003 at 3% lifetime use • CLAN 2005: 6% of 3rd level college students used ‘last year’; males 9%; females 4%. • Gender gap narrowing NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  5. Large increase in cocaine related offences Source: An Garda Síochána Annual Reports from 1999-2005 NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  6. Large increases in seizures made by An Garda Síochána Source: An Garda Síochána Annual Reports; 1999-2005; Personal Communication 2006 NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  7. Increase in number of seizures Customs & Excise Source: Annual Reports of the Revenue Commissioner 2000-2005 NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  8. Increase in levels seeking treatment for cocaine Source: National Drug Treatment Reporting System NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  9. Increase in levels seeking treatment for cocaine Source: National Drug Treatment Reporting System NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  10. Other indicators • Medical Bureau of Road Safety • 2002: 9 cases • 2005 86 cases • Hospital In-Patient Enquiry • 1999 52 cases • 2004 222 cases NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  11. Who is using cocaine? • Cocaine is across all social strata • NACD Bulletin 4: cocaine use evenly distributed across SEGs • Polydrug use cases seeking treatment • Methadone maintained • 45% of ROSIE cocaine users on entry to treatment were in the Methadone Modality NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  12. Testing positive for Cocaine Source: Drug Treatment Centre Board NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  13. Why should we be concerned? • Health • Community NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  14. Health Risks: Occurrence of adulterants in cocaine Fluctuating purity range 3%-83% in 2005 Source: Forensic Science Laboratory NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  15. Health Risks • Physical health problems affecting heart, lungs, brain kidney and nose. IV-use can lead to abscesses, clots, HIV & Hep B/C infections • Mental health problems: depression, anxiety, agitation, compulsive behaviour, paranoia, aggression • Combined with alcohol – more toxic effects • Binge use leading to problematic behaviour • Crash • Problem of quick dependence: economic & social harm, public nuisance, violence crime NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  16. Problem drugs use - NDS • “… drug misuse or problem drug use refers to drug use which causes “social, psychological, physical or legal difficulties as a result of an excessive compulsion to continue taking drugs”.” National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 Building on Experience (p. 24). NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  17. Reports from the Community • National Drug Trend Monitoring System • 90% report cocaine availability in community • 81% report their contacts use cocaine • 71% report cocaine as most frequently used drug • 50% report cocaine as drug which has seen greatest increase in community • CityWide Cocaine Survey 2004/2006 Follow-up • Increased use in community (irregular heroin supply) • Drugs transaction less visible but intimidation increased • Concerns re physical & mental health deterioration • Alcohol & cocaine combined leading to increased aggression and violence in the community (NACD Community Drugs Study) NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  18. Key Issues • Reorientation of addiction services from being opiate focussed to all encompassing • Specific interventions in acute problem areas • Harm reduction services need to adapt to added burden • Training and development of staff to enhance competencies & capacity to address cocaine • Optimum number of personnel in Garda Drug Units • Roll out local policing fora in LDTFs as per guidelines • Information of cocaine harms needs to be disseminated • Data collection by smallest area – DED • Understanding diffusion of cocaine and other drugs NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  19. Progress • Information presented to the IDG • HSE plan to make all drug treatment facilities accessible for all drug addiction • HSE considering 2 cocaine specific services • NDST are pursuing issue through implementation of cocaine specific initiatives • Other issues raised in the report are being pursued through ongoing work of the IDG NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  20. Treatment works • ROSIE study shows that even those treated for heroin dependence reduced their cocaine use • Whilst there is no drug of substitution psychosocial interventions such as CBT are shown to be effective • Other therapies play a role in recruitment and retention in treatment • The NDS is showing positive outcomes: Capture Recapture Study; Community Study; ROSIE NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  21. Thank youto all our collaborators and to the NDST NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

  22. NACD and NDST 8th March 2007

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