The Health Research Board reports that the number of cases treated for alcohol addiction last year was the highest in more than ten years, reports RTE.
According to the most recent statistics available from the HRB National Drug Treatment Reporting System, 8,163 alcohol treatment cases were reported in 2023 compared to 20,163 instances in 2023.
According to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr. Suzi Lyons, a researcher with the HRB, a considerable portion of these instances now involve individuals who misuse both alcohol and another medication.
In 2023, one in four patients additionally mentioned using alcohol and other drugs problematically, reports RTE.
Cocaine continues to be the most often reported extra substance; in 2023, there were 1,310 cases of cocaine and alcohol mixed together, up from 607 cases in 2017.
“Even though the numbers are up and may be an underestimation of the true figures of people who need treatment, it is actually positive because what we see are people who are seeking treatment earlier before they become alcohol dependent and experience the worst harms of problem alcohol use,” Dr Lyons said, reports RTE.
The percentage of all cases categorised as “alcohol dependent” decreased from 72% in 2017 to 61% in 2023, according to HRB statistics.
In 2023, men made up six out of ten cases; however, their median age at presentation was 42 years old, as opposed to 44 years for females.
One in three instances involved paid work, whereas nearly half of the patients were classified as jobless.
More than half (51%) of parents whose children were 17 years of age or younger had at least one kid living with them when they started therapy.
Additionally, changes in treatment for the seven-year period from 2017 to 2023 are examined in the HRB data, reports RTE.
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