Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
471. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the large increase in numbers of people presenting to services identifying as being addicted to smoking crack cocaine, he will provide additional funding for residential treatment services. [43503/23]
View answerThe 2019-20 Irish National Drug and Alcohol Survey published by the HRB notes that, ‘overall, recent cocaine use had increased significantly among males and to a lesser extent among females.’ The survey indicated that 2.3 percent of the population reported use of the drug in the last year.
The number of people accessing treatment for cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine has increased steadily. The most recent figures published by the HRB indicate that Cocaine was the most common drug reported in 2022, accounting for 34.0% of all cases, a 25.7% increase from 2021. Cocaine was also the most common main drug among new cases in 2022, like the previous two years.
Enhancing access to, and the delivery of, drug and alcohol services in the community is a strategic priority under the national drugs strategy for the period 2021-2025. The strategic action plan 2023-2024 sets out the key actions to progress under this priority.
In 2022, €850,000 in additional funding was provided for an HSE-led initiative to reduce the health-related harms from cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine. The funding supports models of best practice in cocaine treatment, including the development of training programmes for addiction service staff nationally. It also provided for the establishment of targeted interventions in disadvantaged communities worst affected by cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine.
gov.ie - Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy announces €850,000 for HSE-led initiative to reduce the health-related harms from cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine (www.gov.ie)
I recently announced additional funding of €500,000 to expand the provision of community-based services for cocaine and crack cocaine. This new funding will build on last year’s HSE led €850,00 cocaine initiative. This funding has provided for a geographical spread of cocaine services in each CHO.
gov.ie - Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy announces increased funding of €500,000 for cocaine services (www.gov.ie).
Furthermore, Budget 2023 provided an additional €0.9m in funding to ensure the sustainability and increase the capacity of residential treatment services. This funding will be used to commission additional treatment episodes. The Government is committed to the maintenance and expansion of residential addiction treatments/episodes.
