Addiction treatment centre records 'shocking' rise in crack cocaine addicts made up mainly of women

Coolmine CEO Pauline McKeown said addicts 'would be self-medicating through the use of crack cocaine to cover up depression, anxiety, parental stress'

The drug is a smokeable form of cocaine that is chemically altered from cocaine powder to form crystals or rocks. File picture

A leading addiction treatment centre has expressed shock at the increase in people needing treatment for crack cocaine use, saying they account for a quarter of all cocaine users now.

According to data from the Coolmine Therapeutic Centre, crack cocaine represented 12% of all presentations in the East and Mid-West regions during the first half of 2026. That is out of all drugs, including alcohol.