28-05-2025
Number of women seeking treatment for cocaine addiction in Ireland soars by over 400%
Cocaine was the main problem drug for those entering treatment
The number of women in Ireland seeking treatment for cocaine addiction has soared by more than 400%.
The latest Health Research Board (HRB) figures show that there has been a 426% rise in the number of women presenting for treatment over the last eight years.
There were 284 cases in 2017, rising to 1,494 cases last year.
Jo-Hanna Ivers, a Professor at Trinity College Dublin, and an addiction specialist, said that more women are seeking treatment for addiction as their mindsets are changing.
'It came from a place where remember, women were not showing up for treatment,' she told Newstalk Breakfast.
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'So, we're still in a position where we're closing a gap. We're seeing more women present for treatment that need it, but I still think that's a gap.'
She explained that female addicts often fear what will happen to their children should they enter treatment.
'We're in a society clearly where a woman will be more stigmatised, particularly a woman who has children,' she said.
'There's a perception among women who use drugs that, 'If I seek treatment, that's going to trigger some response around child protection.'
'As a mother myself, that's a real concern, you could imagine how that would hold someone back.
'I think those things are changing slowly but not quick enough.'
In 2024, there were more people treated for problem drug use, than in any other year on record, with 13,295 cases in 2024, up 191% on the year prior.
Cocaine was the most common drug used by those receiving treatment, with two in five cases related to the drug.
A total of 5,289 people were treated for cocaine use last year, up 7% from 2023.
Overall, there has been a 250% increase in people receiving treatment for cocaine as their main problem drug since 2017.
It is also the main problem drug for almost half of those who are new to treatment.
Meanwhile, there was a 300% rise in people returning to treatment for cocaine addiction since 2017.
The figures show that 39% of those seeking treatment for powder cocaine were employed, with the median age of those entering treatment was 32.
Meanwhile, 7% of those entering treatment for crack cocaine were employed, with a median age of 40.
Cocaine was the main problem drug for 20-44 year olds, while for those under 19, cannabis was the main problem drug, while cocaine.
The study also found that for those 45 or older, opioids were the main problem.
The most common drugs used together were cocaine and alcohol, followed by cocaine and cannabis, followed by opioids and cocaine.
