Figures from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) for treated problem drug use in Ireland for 2007 by HSE area of residence are currently available on the HRB website.¬1 

• 13,620 cases were treated in 2007, of whom 5,977 entered treatment in that year.  The majority of cases attended outpatient services.
• The prevalence of treated problem drug use among 15–64-year-olds living in Ireland per 100,000 of the population increased by 4%, from 426 in 2006 to 445 in 2007.
• New cases entering treatment are an indirect indicator of recent trends in problem drug use.  The incidence of treated problem drug use among 15–64-year-olds living in Ireland per 100,000 of the population increased from 75 in 2006 to 80 in 2007.
• An opiate (mainly heroin) was the most common main problem drug reported by cases entering treatment in 2007.
• The majority (67.1%) of cases treated in 2007 reported problem use of more than one substance, which was slightly lower than the 2006 figure (71.1%).  Alcohol was reported as an additional problem substance in 40% of all treated cases.
• Many problem drug users in treatment are young and male, have low levels of education and are unlikely to be employed.
• Almost 14% of all new cases treated in 2007 were aged under 18 years, a slight increase on the 2006 figure. Almost 3% of previously treated cases were aged under 18 years, as in 2006.
• Significant improvements in the NDTRS data collection processes and procedures mean that the HRB is now able to report on the information collected from treatment centres on a more regular basis.