Overview

In this seven-year period, 63,187 cases were treated. The number of cases rose from 8,806 in 2010 to 9,892 in 2015. In 2016 the number of cases fell to 9,227.

• The proportion of new cases decreased from 42.5% in 2010 to 38.2% in 2016.
• The majority of cases were treated in outpatient facilities (63.4%) over the period, similar to previous years.
• The proportion of cases treated in prison decreased from 10.6% to 8.0% over the reporting period.
• The proportion of cases treated in residential facilities increased from 14.0% in 2010 to 20.4% in 2016. 

Main problem drug (excluding alcohol):

• Opiates (mainly heroin) were the most commonly reported drug. The proportion of cases treated decreased from 58.1% in 2010 to 47.0% in 2016.
• Cannabis was the second most common drug among those treated. The proportion of cases who reported cannabis increased from 23.0% in 2010 to 26.4% in 2016.
• Cannabis is the most common drug reported by new cases.
• Cocaine remains the third most common drug reported. In 2016, 12.3% of cases reported problem cocaine use, the highest proportion since 2010.
• The proportion of cases who reported benzodiazepines as a main problem drug increased from 4.1% in 2010 to 9.7% in 2016.
• The proportion treated for Z-drugs increased from 0.1% in 2010 to 1.1% in 2016.
• Reported problem use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) as a main problem peaked in 2010, at 2.5% of all cases treated, and dropped to 0.4% of all cases treated in 2012. Since then it has increased slightly to represent 0.8% of all cases treated in 2016.