Minister for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy, Catherine Byrne, TD, today welcomed the release of the regional results of the 2014/15 Drug Prevalence Survey. The new Bulletin presents the key findings at a local level from the fourth drug prevalence survey of households by Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (RDATF) in Ireland and Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) in Northern Ireland. It provides a breakdown of prevalence rates by region for illegal drugs, tobacco, alcohol, sedatives, tranquillisers and anti-depressants and gambling.

The Bulletin indicates that recent and current levels of illegal drug use increased in most Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (RDATF) areas between 2010/11 and 2014/15. It also found that cannabis was the most frequently used illegal drug in all RDATF areas in the year prior to the survey and that, after cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine were the most frequently reported illegal drugs for recent use.

The Chair of the NACDA, Professor Catherine Comiskey, stated: “In examining the regional data, we see that prevalence of illegal drug use varies across RDATF areas. A comparison of the 2014/15 figures with the 2010/11 figures shows an overall increase in recent and current use of cannabis, ecstasy and anti-depressants for many regions. There are some exceptions, in particular the Mid-Western RDATF area, which has seen reductions or similar rates to 2010/11 for recent and current use of cannabis, ecstasy and anti-depressants”.

In welcoming the bulletin, Minister Byrne commented, “The results of the 2014/15 Drug Prevalence Survey will help to strengthen the evidence base of the new National Drugs Strategy. I understand that the Steering Committee established to oversee that process is at the final stage of its deliberations. I expect to receive its final report by the end of March and I hope to bring my proposals to Government on the new Strategy after that.”

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