Lifetime, recent, and current drugs use on rise

Lifetime, recent, and current drug use has risen significantly, according to the State’s official national drug prevalence study.

Lifetime usage — defined as someone who has taken a drug at some stage in their life — has increased for virtually all drugs, with the exception of alcohol and tobacco, which have noticed reductions.

The Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland survey shows “significant” increases in last-year (recent) and last-month (current) use, particularly in relation to drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, opiates (excluding heroin and methadone), and anti-depressants.