Report highlights south-east's substance abuse scourge

Almost one in 10 people treated for drug and alcohol misuse in the south east were under the age of 18, a report revealed today.

The study of the Health Service Executive’s treatment services showed three times as many men as women sought help, the same pattern for the last four years.

The fifth annual Overview of Drug Misuse report for 2004 showed 2,549 people were treated in centres across Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, more than 200 more than the previous year’s figures.

The main reason for referral was for alcohol-related problems at 68.4%, while 111 or 5.1% of clients had injected drugs. The report showed that of those who had injected 39 or 30.7% had shared equipment.

Clients aged 60 years and over are down to 1.8% in 2004 compared with 4% in the previous reporting years. And as in other years the majority of clients attending the services are aged between 20 and 29 years.

Tony Barden, Regional Drugs Co-ordinator HSE South East, said the figures followed patterns of abuse of alcohol for the rest of the country.

“Once again, alcohol is the main drug for which treatment is sought in the South Eastern Health Board region. This would appear to reflect the ongoing abuse of alcohol across the country,” he said.