SOBERING DATA ON ADDICTION

8% rise in booze treatments last year

- DANNY DE VAAL

A TOTAL of 7,421 cases were treated for problem alcohol use last year while cocaine is now the main drug paired with booze, sobering data reveals.

Male heavy drinkers usually opt for beer followed by spirits and women prefer spirits before switching to wine, revealed the Health Research Board.

A new HRB report shows the number of treatments delivered for alcoholics was eight per cent higher in 2022 when compared with figures from 2021.

Some of the cases featured the same person receiving an intervention on multiple occasions.

There has also been a 35% increase since 2016 in the number who have problems with booze along with another drug.

Cases rose from 1,328 seven years ago to 1,796 last year, with some involving the same individual more than once.

Researchers found cocaine had surpassed cannabis as the most common drug used when people abused alcohol.

Other drugs used by people while battling alcohol abuse included benzodiazepines mainly prescription medicines and opioids.

However, the type of additional problem drugs depended on the person's age.