506. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recently published report from the Health Research Board, National Drug Treatment Reporting System: 2015-2021 Drug Treatment Data, showing rapidly increasing drug use in Ireland; and if he will consider a different legal approach based on decriminalisation. [61089/22] 

507. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recently published report from the Health Research Board, National Drug Treatment Reporting System: 2015-2021 Drug Treatment Data, showing rapidly increasing drug use in Ireland; and if he will consider a different legal approach based on decriminalisation. [60570/22]

Frank Feighan, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 and 507 together. 

The Department of Health has a variety of sources to monitor drug trends including the National Drug and Alcohol Survey, which is conducted every four years to survey the general population aged 15 years and over, about the prevalence of drug use in Ireland. 

The survey examines the use of a variety of drugs including alcohol and tobacco. The results of the 2019/2020 survey show that overall, the use of illegal drugs has remained at a similar level to that recorded in the 2014/15 survey. An increase has been seen, however, in the use of cocaine and ecstasy. 

The most recent report from the National Drug Treatment Report System (NDTRS), published by the Health Research Board in June 2022, presents trends on treatment for problem drug use (excluding alcohol) for the seven-year period from 2015 to 2021. The data are compiled by the national surveillance system that records and reports on numbers and types of cases presenting for drug and alcohol treatment in Ireland. 

Significant numbers continue to access treatment for cannabis, 2,299 episodes were provided to people in 2021. Cannabis, behind opioids and cocaine, was the third most common main drug reported by people accessing treatment in Ireland, accounting for 21.3% of cases treated in 2021. In addition, presentations to Child and Adolescent Addiction Services indicate that cannabis is the main substance causing harm for those under the age of 18. 

The increase in number accessing treatment demonstrates the continuing demand for health services to address the harmful effects of drug use, the types of drugs that are most impactful on people who require treatment, and the social factors associated with problematic drug use. 

The increase in treatment services reflects the government’s commitment to a public health response to drug use and the additional resources committed to services. The total numbers receiving treatment in the community has increased, with 70% of cases now treated in outpatient facilities. 

In Budget 2023 I secured €4 million in new development funding to expand the provision of drug and alcohol services to meet changing patterns of drug use and emerging trends. This investment will expand community-based drug and alcohol services, ensure the sustainability and increase the capacity of residential treatment services, mitigate the impact of drugs on children, families and communities and strengthen drug monitoring and harm reduction. Full details are set out in the Budget factsheet [https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/37177/] 

We cannot be complacent about the risk to health posed by illicit drugs. The Government is committed to a public health approach to drug use, that will lead to better outcomes for individuals and society.