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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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The number of cases of people being treated for problem alcohol use has risen by 8% in a year, latest figures show.
A total of 7,421 cases were treated for problem alcohol use in 2022, according to the latest data from the Health Research Board (HRB) – an increase of 8% on 2021 figures.
Figures show that some men are drinking more in one day than the HSE recommends for one week.
Since 2016, there has been a 35% increase in the number of cases reporting problem use of one or more drugs in addition to alcohol, rising from 1,328 cases in 2016 to 1,796 cases in 2022.
Cocaine surpassed cannabis as the most common additional drug reported in 2022, increasing by 135% between 2016 and 2022.
Speaking about the findings, HRB Chief Executive Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll said: “By demonstrating increased demand in treatment for problem alcohol use along with a rise in polydrug use, our data points to a shift in behaviour over time. By continuing to monitor these trends, the HRB can help inform policy and treatment paths to provide the right support to those who need it.”
Dr Suzi Lyons, Senior Researcher at the HRB, said: “Over 4 in 10 of the cases recorded in 2022 were entering treatment for the first time, and almost 2 in 3 of these new cases were classified as alcohol dependent when they entered treatment”.
Commenting on trends in the type and amount of alcohol consumed, Dr Suzi Lyons said: “Of the 3 in 4 cases who had consumed alcohol in the 30 days prior to treatment, almost 6 in 10 consumed alcohol daily – an increase from just over 3 in 10 in 2016. Women seeking treatment for problem alcohol use are typically consuming 15 standard drinks every day, and show a preference for spirits followed by wine. For men, the figure is 20 standard drinks every day, but they prefer beer followed by spirits. This means many were drinking more in a typical day than HSE low-risk guidelines recommend for one week.”
The report from the HRB National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) presents data on alcohol treatment demand in 2022, and looks at trends in treatment for the seven-year period from 2016 to 2022.
In addition to alcochol misuse, many combine this with drug use.
Cocaine (61%) was the most common additional drug used alongside alcohol, followed by cannabis (49%), benzodiazepines (22%) and opioids (13%).
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