Addiction

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Drug taker
Available, affordable, potent: Ireland is being hit by 'a perfect storm' of cocaine 
A new HRB study links the availability, affordability, and purity of cocaine being trafficked into Ireland with a massive surge in cocaine-related admissions to hospitals

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

IRISH Smoking 3
We banned smoking. So why can't we get warning labels on alcohol?
Alcohol Action Ireland chief says the powerful drink industry lobby has frustrated plans to put health warnings on its products

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Oliver Davis: Ireland may be in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance
Oliver Davis: Ireland may be in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance
Some academics believe ancient Irish use of psychoactive substances — magic mushrooms, liberty cap, and fly agaric — foreshadows the adoption of psychedelic drugs in modern medicine

Mon, 14 Apr, 2025

Oisin McConville 27/1/2014
Four people a day seek help from problem gambling support group
From January to June, GamblingCare said that 717 problem gamblers were supported through its network.

Fri, 13 Sep, 2024

Hard drugs and alcohol.
More funding needed to address 'escalating addiction crisis', warns recovery group
Recent estimates suggest alcohol-related harm may cost Ireland between €9.6bn and €12bn annually, representing up to 1.9% of GDP

Wed, 04 Sep, 2024

Irish Examiner view: Social media will play major role in US presidential election
Irish Examiner view: Social media will play major role in US presidential election
Voters aged under 30 are one of the key groups that US vice president Kamala Harris will need to woo between now and November

Thu, 25 Jul, 2024

Adolescent drinking beer
Treatment for alcohol abuse at highest level in more than a decade
The HRB 2023 Alcohol Treatment Demand report said there were 8,163 alcohol treatment cases in 2023, compared to 7,421 in 2022

Wed, 24 Jul, 2024

Cocaine, alcohol and gambling addictions 'often go hand-in-hand', says treatment centre
Cocaine, alcohol and gambling addictions 'often go hand-in-hand', says treatment centre
The findings related to cocaine echo a recent report from the Health and Research Board which reported a 200% surge in demand for cocaine addiction treatment since 2017

Wed, 17 Jul, 2024

Irish migration
Amendments to new gambling law include 'flexibility' for GAA and charities 
Helen McEntee's amendments to the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 include flexibility for philanthropic organisations such as the GAA, charities, and other not-for-profit organisations

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

Colman Noctor: The long reach of trauma in our lives
Colman Noctor: The long reach of trauma in our lives
Adult physical illness and fear of rejection as well as vulnerability to autoimmune diseases and addiction may all be linked to early abandonment

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Man Chewing Wet Moist Nicotine Tobacco Snus
At least 20% of professional footballers use snus or nicotine pouches
The survey discovered users often started using the products in a bid to fit in with other, often more senior, teammates

Wed, 29 May, 2024

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Champion Chase Day
'Non-stop, incessant' lobbying to water down new gambling laws 
Government insists legislation is needed as gambling creates a 'tsunami of social problems' and causes 'extraordinary damage' to society

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Letters to the Editor: ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’ is a movie masterpiece 
Letters to the Editor: ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’ is a movie masterpiece 
One reader writes in praise of the film adaptation of John McGahern's final novel, while others consider a range of issues including climate change and mental health 

Thu, 02 May, 2024

Prisoner XL
Life after jail: ‘Government does not care about prisoner rehabilitation’
Corkman who ended up homeless after serving a jail term has co-authored a paper in an academic journal about the lack of support for prisoners making their way to a new life outside

Mon, 29 Apr, 2024

TikTok CEO Fails To Placate US Lawmakers Eager to Ban
TikTok suspends its reward-to-watch feature after EU threats
EU commissioner Thierry Breton had given TikTok 48 hours to respond as he threatened to block the 'addictive' feature

Wed, 24 Apr, 2024

A pint of lager in a pub with a member of staff behind the bar
Zero-alcohol ads and sport sponsorship 'may be breaking the law'
Alcohol Action Ireland claims that the use of the 'parent' alcohol brand's logo breaches Irish health legislation

Wed, 20 Mar, 2024

Mental heath referrals
Rise in school leaving and family strife in teenage addiction
HSE report said it dealt with 60 young people and their families in 2023, up 13% from 2022

Thu, 22 Feb, 2024

Two arrested in Kerry as crystal meth worth €32.8m seized in Port of Cork
Two arrested in Kerry as crystal meth worth €32.8m seized in Port of Cork
It is believed the half a tonne of suspected methamphetamine seized on Friday morning was due to be exported to Australia

Sat, 17 Feb, 2024

TEENAGERS USING CRYSTAL METH
Crystal meth warning after record Cork seizure of 'America's most dangerous drug'
GardaĂ­ and others working with people addiction sound the alarm after an estimated 500kg of methamphetamine was found in Cork

Fri, 16 Feb, 2024

Canada Considers Decriminalizing Marijuana
Irish Examiner view: Drug reformers may suffer buyers’ remorse
Many believe drug use should be regarded as a health issue rather than dragging users through the criminal justice system. But experience from abroad may prompt some second thoughts 

Mon, 12 Feb, 2024

Friends toasting at pub
Sixty-five groups unite to warn Government against liberalising Ireland's alcohol laws
MIDNIGHT ---  Health advocates and academics write open letter to Government raising concerns about the Sale of Alcohol Bill

Thu, 08 Feb, 2024

Cork Prison officers didn't hear emergency alarm after volume turned down 
Cork Prison officers didn't hear emergency alarm after volume turned down 
Prisoner died a short time later because the volume had been reduced to the minimum level possible

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

Higher education project ‘breaking cycle’ of addiction
Higher education project ‘breaking cycle’ of addiction
Over 90 people take part in 'transformational' programme delivered by South East Technological University and charity Tiglin

Sun, 28 Jan, 2024

The Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use
Politicians 'must show courage to oversee decriminalisation of drugs'
Paul Reid says Oireachtas and Government must work out how to implement the recommendations of the Citizen's Assembly on Drugs Use

Thu, 25 Jan, 2024

Casual drug users are the 'driving force' of gangs and gun attacks
Casual drug users are the 'driving force' of gangs and gun attacks
Community activist Philip Jennings talks to Cormac O'Keeffe about the link after the Christmas Eve shooting

Sun, 14 Jan, 2024

Sinn Fein launch alternative health budget
Cork TD warns that people are taking their own lives 'due to drug-debt intimidation'
Thomas Gould says he knows of three young men who died by suicide after being intimidated by drug dealers

Sat, 30 Dec, 2023

Teenager sending email from smart phone in her bed
Irish Examiner view: Listen to teachers’ warnings about children using mobile phones
Waterford primary schools set a fine example for other teachers and parents as minister advocates stricter age verification

Fri, 29 Dec, 2023

Close Up Of Person With Addiction To Online Gambling Or Shopping Using Credit Card And Mobile Phone
Gambling on controlling the runaway betting industry
With the betting industry showing ever-more sophisticated methods of luring in gamblers, especially young people, the new regulatory body will have its work cut out, writes Sean Murray

Tue, 26 Dec, 2023

Drug syringe and cooked heroin
One of the overdoses in recent Dublin spate linked to nitazene opioid
HSE addiction services national clinical lead Eamon Keenan said: 'We are urging extreme caution following a sharp rise in the number of overdoses related to a powder being sold as heroin in the Dublin region.'

Fri, 10 Nov, 2023

Irish Budget 2024
New services for children with mental health and drug disorders
The ‘dual diagnosis’ hubs will provide care for around half of the country

Mon, 16 Oct, 2023

Winning an online bet on a football game
Irish Examiner view: Proposed new gambling legislation is welcome
The scale of the problem, as highlighted in the ESRI report, is compounded by the way online gambling platforms relentlessly target younger and more vulnerable people 

Fri, 06 Oct, 2023

Gambling addicted man with glasses in front of online casino slot machine on laptop computer at night
Gambling has caused problems for 10% of Irish adults — ESRI
The Economic and Social Research Institute report suggests there are 10 times the number of problem gamblers in this country than previously thought

Thu, 05 Oct, 2023

Vector illustration of female alcoholism with unhappy woman sitting at alcohol drink bottle bottom hugging her knees
Letters to the Editor: Alcohol industry must own up to harm
One reader tells of his own family's experience of the harm done by alcohol, while others consider topics including garda rosters, tax equity, and fair pay for doctors and nurses 

Wed, 27 Sep, 2023

Horseracing
S Fergus Finlay: Minister must not cave in to pressure on long overdue gambling legislation
During every critically important sporting event, every ad break features an ad for gambling

Tue, 12 Sep, 2023

HSE confirms 90 drug samples handed in to Electric Picnic surrender bins
HSE confirms 90 drug samples handed in to Electric Picnic surrender bins
It brings to almost 270 the total number of drug samples given over by users at the four music festivals where HSE has operated a drug-checking facility

Sun, 10 Sep, 2023

Gambling study
Over a quarter of Irish 16-year-olds gambling for money
The results show Ireland has the joint fourth highest rate of sports or animal betting, alongside Kosovo, of all 33 countries with data on gambling

Thu, 07 Sep, 2023

Leaving certificate exams
Cabinet members back Foley's plan to support schools that ban smartphones
Education Minister seeks to support schools forbidding the use of smartphones but legislation is not expected

Mon, 04 Sep, 2023

Drug trafficking cannabis marijuana euro bills
S Catherine Conlon: Cannabis and public health — legalisation is not the answer 
The Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use should prioritise the critical and evidence-based interventions supporting prevention and treatment

Wed, 30 Aug, 2023

The Ciara Phelan Podcast: Use of cocaine in society is 'scary', says Rory’s Stories creator
The Ciara Phelan Podcast: Use of cocaine in society is 'scary', says Rory’s Stories creator
Rory O’Connor said he feels sorry for the justice minister who is dealing with a rise in violent attacks and an evident increase in drug use

 Listen | Sat, 26 Aug, 2023

 Listen |
Letters to the Editor: Doubts over our ability to meet rising tide in fish sector 
Letters to the Editor: Doubts over our ability to meet rising tide in fish sector 
One reader responds to an 'Irish Examiner' article about the depletion of Ireland's fishing fleet while others write about Gaelic football, our dependency on alcohol, and the concerns of gardaí 

Sat, 12 Aug, 2023

Adolescent drinking beer
Alcohol treatment reverses recent trend with rise in 2022
Around a quarter of cases involved treatment for alcohol and at least one other drug

Tue, 01 Aug, 2023

Vector illustration of female alcoholism with unhappy woman sitting at alcohol drink bottle bottom hugging her knees
Talk to me: My parent is a functioning alcoholic — I find it difficult to accept how badly she treated us
Growing up with a parent with an addiction can be challenging: as a child of a person with an addiction, you may have taken on some parenting roles

Fri, 21 Jul, 2023

Demand Surges For Weight Loss Drug Ozempic
Can diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic break addictions too?
Doctors are hearing anecdotal reports of reductions in drinking and smoking while taking Ozempic, but experts say that more research is needed, says Donna Lu

Mon, 03 Jul, 2023

Addiction ‘is often a result of childhood trauma’ – Tabor Group
Addiction ‘is often a result of childhood trauma’ – Tabor Group
Tabor Group's annual report shows its two centres in Cork admitted 227 people last year

Sun, 02 Jul, 2023

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Mick Clifford
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