Opiates and cocaine treatment on the increase

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people treated for opiates (including heroin) addiction in Offaly, according to figures released by the Health Research Board. The research of heroin and cocaine treatment pinpoints the midlands, southeast and northeast as the areas facing the greatest problems. A total of 67 new cases who reported opiates as their main problem substance entered treatment during 2002 to 2007 in the county. This was 1.4% of the national total. However, taking the Local Health Office figures into account, which include Offaly and Laois, the number of new cases is the eight highest in the country, only behind Dublin and Cork. During the same period, 190 new cases entered treatment in Laois/Offaly, who reported opiates as their main problem substance. This was 33.5 cases per 100,000 population. Cocaine is also a growing problem in Offaly. Between 2002 and 2007, a total of 15 new cases entered treatment who reported cocaine as their main problem substance. This was 1% of the national total. On average, there were 5.6 cases a year in the 15 to 64 age bracket per 100,000 population occur in the county. When the Local Health Office of Laois/Offaly are used, there's a further increase, as 26 new cases entered treatment who reported cocaine as their main problem substance, by local health office area of residence during that same time. This was 1.8% of the national total. The midlands' figures are beginning to creep up, especially in areas north of Offaly such as Kildare and Meath. One-fifth (10,764) of all cases treated for problem drug use between 2002 and 2007 reported cocaine as a problem substance. The number of cases who reported cocaine as their main problem substance increased by 502%.