Over 5,000 treated for drug and drink abuse

UTV ~ Tuesday 06/09/2005

Over 5,000 people in Northern Ireland are being treated for drug or alcohol misuse, it was revealed today.

A first ever Census of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services compiled details on the extent of the drink and drugs problem.

The data will be used to help the British government in the development of its new drink and drugs strategy.

The study found that 5,064, were undergoing treatment for the misuse of drink, drugs or both when a `snapshot` was taken on March 1 this year.

It showed that approximately six in 10 were attending treatment centres for alcohol-only related problems, 20% for drug-only problems and 19% for both.

Almost two thirds of patients were male and 35% female, the vast majority, 95%, were over 18.

However of particular concern will be the news that over 250 youngsters under the age of 18 were under treatment for misusing drink or drugs.

One in 10 of those being treated for drug misuse are under 18. They also account for two per cent of those being treated for alcohol misuse and 10% of those being treated for misusing both.

Rob Phipps, co-ordinator of the Regional Alcohol and Drugs Strategy Team, said the need for the census had been "driven by the need to get a clear picture of the situation."

He said: "The problem has always been there but going public is a reminder to the public that drug misuse and alcohol misuse causes real harm.

"The findings were not a surprise to us, we have been aware of the nature and scale of the issue."

Mr Phipps said alcohol in particular was "a major public health issue".

While more men than women were being treated for its effects, binge drinking and the `ladette culture` was increasing the problems among females, he said.

"What we are seeing is a drinking culture which is changing and evolving.

"There are more drinks targeting the 18-30 age range which you would expect to appeal to young females," said Mr Phipps.

On the drugs front he said there were problems with heroin abuse in certain parts of Northern Ireland, but also with increasing use of cannabis within the local population there was a growing number of people with problems.

The census was published as a study by DrugScope showed the average price of on ecstasy tablet in Belfast has plunged from £10 to £3 in the past year.

The price of most drugs varied widely across the UK, the charity said, but Belfast tended to be at the top end of the scale.