Combined addiction to cocaine and gambling 'the big issue in Ireland', claims counsellor

International research shows that people with gambling addictions are 15 times more likely to die by suicide. File picture: iStock

Dual addiction to cocaine and online gambling is now “the big issue in Ireland” and is devastating lives, a leading addiction counsellor has said.

Michael Guerin has seen an eight-fold increase in women seeking treatment for gambling addiction in just four years in the Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment centre while there has been a 20-fold increase in people seeking treatment for gambling and drug or alcohol addiction in that time.