NUMBER OF COCAINE USERS SEEKING TREATMENT DOUBLES

THE number of people seeking treatment for cocaine abuse has doubled,
according to new national figures.

The data shows that 311 people reported cocaine as their main drug of
abuse in 2003, compared to 155 in 2002.

A further 2,244 people said cocaine was a secondary problem drug in
addition to their main drug of abuse, such as heroin. This compares
to 1,716 in 2002 an increase of 30%. The two figures combined show
that 2,555 people reported cocaine as one of their problem drugs in
2003, compared to 1,871 in 2002.

Of the 2,555, some 1,929 lived in the eastern region (Dublin, Kildare
and Wicklow), while 613 lived elsewhere in Ireland.

The figures taken from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System
(NDTRS) were published by the Health Research Board (HRB).

In a report, Dr Jean Long of the HRB said: "Analysis from the NDTRS
indicates a sustained increase between 1998 and 2003 in the number of
treated cases reporting cocaine as a problem drug, particularly as an
additional problem drug among opiate users."

Heroin accounts for the vast majority of abused opiates.

Dr Long said the number of cases where cocaine was the primary
problem drug jumped by 262%, from 86 in 1998 to 311 in 2003.

This included 157 new cases in 2003, compared to 65 in 2002 a rise of
140%. The remainder of the case load is made up of previously treated
cases.

The number of cases where cocaine was an additional problem drug rose
by almost 400%, from 454 in 1998 to 2,244 in 2003.

"When cocaine was reported as the main problem drug, cannabis,
alcohol and ecstasy were the most common additional problem drugs,"
said Dr Long.

But where cocaine was an additional problem drug, the main drug was
heroin, followed by cannabis and ecstasy, she said.

Tony Geoghegan of Merchants Quay Ireland, the largest voluntary
treatment centre, said: "It's probably an underestimation. It's only
showing people presenting for treatment and, of course, there's an
awful lot more people using cocaine and not presenting for treatment."

Mr Geoghegan said there were factors why cocaine users might not be
showing up for treatment. He said they generally didn't get into
difficulty as quickly as, for example, heroin users.

He said there was also a general perception that there was no
treatment for cocaine.

"This isn't the case, it's just that there isn't a medical
substitution treatment available, as with heroin."

He said there were counselling-based techniques, which could be used
along with holistic therapies, relaxation techniques and, in severe
cases, anti-depressants to treat cocaine.