Recession 'causing sharp rise in number of addiction problems'

A leading Irish addiction centre says financial worries and the recession have triggered a sharp rise in the number of addiction problems here.

Tabor Lodge in Cork also reports a marked rise in the number of women seeking help for alcohol and drug addiction.

It says over half of the people in treatment are aged between 18 and 35, while treatment for gambling has doubled in the past 15 years.

It has also expressed concern that over 80% of people it helps are dual addicted, meaning they are alcohol and drug or alcohol and gambling addicted.