Irish illegal drug usage nears top of European league
The World Drug Report 2005 puts Ireland in joint third place for cocaine and joint sixth place for ecstasy out of 30 European states.
The report, published by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said Europe was “particularly vulnerable” following a rise in cocaine production last year.
It said Ireland had a higher annual drug prevalence rate than the world average for four of the main five illegal drugs.
In relation to Europe, Ireland is above the average for three of the five drugs cannabis, amphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine and opiates (mainly heroin).
The report, using more recent data from Ireland (2003), removes us from first place of the EU drug table for ecstasy and amphetamine, where we have been in previous reports, based on 1998 figures.
The data shows that in Ireland the annual prevalence rate (drugs used in the last 12 months) for the 15-64 age group was:
* 1.1% for cocaine (average 0.7%), placing us joint third with five other countries.
* 1.1% for ecstasy (average 0.7%), placing us joint sixth with another country.
* 0.6% for opiates (average 0.5%), putting us joint ninth with three other countries.
* 5.1% for cannabis (average 5.6%), placing us in 18th position.
* 0.4% for amphetamine (average 0.6%), putting us in 18th place.
Our figures compare favourably to Britain, which is in the top three for all five drugs, with prevalence rates often double that of Ireland.
Using garda 2003 price figures, the report says the average price on the street for a gramme of cocaine was €65 and that the average price of an ecstasy tablet was €9.
The report said cocaine production increased, albeit slightly, between 2003 and 2004, the first increase since 1999. This was due to greater production in Peru and Bolivia.
“This is a worrying loss of momentum for both countries, which had already made significant progress to curb coca production,” said the report.
It said that while the 2% increase in Peru and Bolivia was not a real problem in 2004, ongoing increases could “eventually weaken the progress made in the region”. This would have serious implications for consumer markets, it said.
“Europe is particularly vulnerable, having already seen a steady growth of its cocaine markets over the last decade.”
It said 14 European countries, including Ireland, noted a rise in cocaine use in 2003. The report said that “a particular challenge” would be to control the spread of crack cocaine.
It said while opium production grew in recent years in Afghanistan, the signs for 2005 were slightly more positive.
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