Half of those treated for problem drug use on heroin

More than half of the 60,000-plus people treated for problem drug use between 2009 and 2015 sought help for addiction to heroin.

According to the latest drug treatment figures from the Health Research Board, opiates — mainly heroin — were the most commonly reported drugs. While the number of cases treated for problem opiate use remained stable over the period, the proportion of cases treated decreased from 60.6% in 2009 to 47.8% in 2015.

Cannabis is the second most common drug cited among those seeking treatment with the number of cases increasing by 72% from 1,616 in 2009 to 2,786 in 2015. Cannabis is also the most common drug reported by new cases.