The number of calls and emails to the HSE’s Drug and Alcohol Helpline increased by almost a third last year.

According to details released to Newstalk under the Freedom of Information Act, there were more than 5,500 contacts in 2019.

This helpline is a free and confidential listening and email service for people with concerns about drug or alcohol use.

The level of use of the service has increased sharply in recent years – rising from 4,300 in 2018 to 5,557 last year.

In 2019, 39% per cent of the calls and emails were related to alcohol and a significant number were connected to young people.

Alcohol Action Ireland spokesperson Eunan McKinney said the statistics are not surprising.

“We know that the younger cohort are the heaviest binge drinkers in the EU,” he said.

“The level of alcohol consumption across the board throughout the whole population continues to be very high.

“55% of the drinkers in Ireland continue to have a harmful relationship with alcohol.”

In the five years between 2014 and 2019, there was a five-fold increase in the number of contacts about alcohol and cocaine.

During the same period, contacts about cannabis rose by 62%.

The number of calls and emails about prescription tablets, such as benzos and anti-depressants, is almost three times higher than in 2014.