The number of men seeking treatment for cocaine addiction more than doubled in the first quarter of this year, the Chief Executive of Coolmine Therapeutic Centre said.  

Pauline McKeown told Newstalk cocaine has become more popular in Ireland - particuarly among the most marginalised in society.  

There are also claims that the increase in cocaine addiction is due to increased accessibility of the drug.

Taxi driver Michael told Lunchtime Live that is “absolutely true” and said several passengers had asked him if they could take cocaine in their taxi.  

“Every weekend, during the weeknights,” he said. “People going here, there, everywhere.” 

Where to get it

Michael said even though he doesn’t take drugs himself, he’d “absolutely know where to go” to get it.  

“There was a couple of weeks back I found something in the back of my car,” he said. “It was really small scales... used for weighing it out.” 

Dean, who previously had issues with cocaine, said drugs are definitely more accessible.  

“It was everywhere then, and it’s worse today,” he said.  

“Everybody was doing it to get in with the cool kids... you were weird if you didn't take cocaine.” 

Cocaine with razor blade and bank note | usage worldwide

Dean said he has watched cocaine become more widely used and accessible.  

“For the first few years, you would go to the pub, then the nightclub, then go looking for cocaine,” he said. 

“Roll on a few years, you’d be taking it in the pub, and then the nightclub... another few years, you wouldn’t go out without it.” 

Increased addiction

He said the increased accessibility will lead to more addiction.  

“You walk down the road anywhere and ask a handful of people and they’ll put you in contact with someone,” he said.  

“Even me still today, you could pick seven or eight numbers and you’d find it.” 

Drugs like cocaine and weed are not considered as dangerous as other drugs, according to Dean. One texter said cocaine has become a “posh” drug to take.  

Dean said the best way to prevent people from using drugs is to “school them on addiction”.  

“Young people don’t have a clue about addiction,” he said.

“If you asked them why they’re taking it, nine times out of 10, they’ll say, ‘well they take it and I want to hang out with them’.”