‘High’ heroin use by young in regional cities

Cities outside Dublin are experiencing “high” usage rates of heroin and other opiates, according to an official prevalence study.

The age profile in regions outside Dublin is also much younger, with one in six users in the South and South East aged 15-24, compared to less than 4% in Dublin.

Research shows that the national estimate of opiate users rose by 9% between 2011 and 2014, from almost 17,400 to nearly 19,000 people.