As the Cocaine Crisis continues to mount, are we doing enough to tackle the issue? Seán Brennan McLoughlin reports.
The Health Research Board's 2024 study 'Drug Treatment Demand' has highlighted a growing crisis: The ballooning consumption of cocaine on the island. The drug remains Ireland’s most treated drug and the 3rd highest in usage. To many in their 20s, this comes as no shock, as you'd find it hard not to spot a few well-powdered noses whether at the local, the club, or the office cubicle. The question stands, what is to answer for this sudden change? And are our authorities, our college and our unions prepared for the onslaught?
The HRB's study concludes that, besides alcohol, cocaine is the definitive "problem drug". Cocaine accounted for 39.8% of all reported cases in 2024, marking a 7.3% increase from the prior year. Amongst problem drug users seeking treatment, those aged 20 - 44 are the largest group seeking help for cocaine dependency. According to another report, cocaine use has increased by 475% among 17-20 yr olds and over 75% of those who used cocaine at age 17 years continued to use it at age 20 years.
The most rapidly growing demographic is women, with those seeking treatment for cocaine increasing an outstanding 426.1% since 2017. With these figures in mind it's apparent that cocaine is rapidly expanding in our younger communities, targeting those least experienced and thus most vulnerable.
Accounting for these changes is complex, with numerous mixed ideas. One of note is that of polydrug usage, with 3 in 5 of those seeking treatment for drugs in 2024 having dependencies on two or more. The combination of multiple dependencies both increases risks to health and well being, along with prolonging their rehabilitation. The normalisation of the substance, also highlighted by Andrea Beyer-Fraile in a previous University Observer article, again enhances associated dangers, with its seeming lack of immediate harmful effects enabling those least experienced to leave the issue unchecked.
In curbing this rapid ascension, our government has affirmed action. In January of 2024, €800,000 was allotted into the development of recovery communities, with a focus on personal recovery support and coaching to best fight the trend. UCD Student Union mirrors this approach. Welfare Officer Emilia O'Hagan included harm reduction in her manifesto, proposing drug testing kits and awareness campaigns to replace stigma with visibility.
Though both national and college-based responses show promise, it's unclear whether they’ll meaningfully impact the statistics.