The report, which was published today, also finds a sustained rise in use among older people. In 2022, it was estimated that approximately 19,460 people in Ireland had problem opioid use. The report finds that use among 15-34-year-olds continues to decline, while levels of problem opioid use among people aged 35-64 have increased, with over three-in-four problem opioid users in this category.

Commenting on the report, lead author Dr Michael Hanrahan, who was commissioned by the HRB to conduct this research at University College Cork, said:

“The continued decrease in opioid use among younger people, particularly in the 15-24 age group, is positive, and may be due to several factors. For example, we know from other studies that heroin, which is the main opioid used in Ireland, is viewed more negatively by young people. Also, improvements in addiction services may be helping to break the cycle of young people introducing their peers to opioids.

“The rise in opioid use within the 35-64 age group suggests an ageing cohort effect, as the proportion of those in this older age group has increased by almost one third since 2014. This increase is in line with the HRB’s 2023 drug treatment figures, which show that opioids were the main drug generating treatment demand for people aged 40 years or older, whereas in earlier years it was 35 years or older.”

Main findings

• In 2022, it was estimated that approximately 19,460 people in Ireland had problem opioid use
• A significant majority of these people were male (68%)
• Over three-quarters (75%) were in the older age group of 35-64-year-olds
• There were an estimated 11,100 problem opioid users in county Dublin in 2022, a rate over three times higher than in the rest of Ireland

HRB Chief Executive Dr Mairead O’Driscoll concludes: “The HRB continues to provide a clear picture of the level of drug use within the population and trends among users. This enables policy makers and service providers to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and predict where action is needed.”