Alcoholism ‘has become the exception among addicts’

Addiction to multiple drugs is becoming such a problem that gardaí, medics, and treatment specialists almost hanker for the days when middle-aged alcoholics were their biggest problem and pubs were the epicentre of socialising.

Speakers at the Trends and Future Challenges of Addiction conference agreed being an alcoholic alone is the exception for addicts seeking treatment and that the majority also use street drugs and/or painkillers and benzodiazepines.