Cocaine use has doubled in Ireland since 2013, with use of ecstasy and amphetamines also on the rise.

The latest National Drug and Alcohol Survey (NDAS) from the Health Research Board (HRB) has found that more people are using stimulants, while binge drinking remains high.

However, the report also found a reduction in smoking for the fifth year in a row.

It finds that cocaine use has doubled in the last 20 years – with men aged 25 to 34-years-old most likely to take it.

Meanwhile, nine out of ten people who took cocaine in the last year did so while drinking.

Drugs

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning HRB Research Officer Dr Deidre Mongan said illegal drug use in Ireland is similar to what it was in 2014 – with 7% of the adult population admitting to taking drugs in the last year.

“While the number of people using illegal drugs has remained stable since 2014, we have seen a number of changes in the types of drugs people are using,” she said.

“So, while cannabis remains the most common drug in Ireland, its use has decreased slightly since 2014.

“However, we have seen an increase in the use of stimulants – particularly cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy, as well as LSD.”

Cigarettes and Alcohol

She said there has been a small increase in people who abstain from alcohol altogether – and another decrease in the percentage of people who smoke.

“When we look at drinking patterns among those who do drink the story is less positive,” she said.

“One in five drinkers meets the criteria for an alcohol use disorder and our levels of binge drinking remain high.”

The report also found that men are twice as likely to use drugs as women.

Meanwhile, people are now taking a wider variety of drugs – with one-quarter of those who reported using drugs in the past year saying they had used at least three different ones.

It found that, while there is little difference in the prevalence of drugs in the most and least deprived areas, communities with high levels of deprivation are disproportionately impacted.