The National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS) annual report on the activities of Irish psychiatric units and hospitals 2023, published by the Health Research Board (HRB) Mental Health Information Systems Unit,1 shows that the rate of new admissions to inpatient care for alcohol disorders has remained stable.

In 2023, 606 cases were admitted to psychiatric facilities with an alcohol disorder; of these cases, 253 were treated for the first time. Figure 1 presents the rates of first-time admissions between 2003 and 2023 for cases with a diagnosis of an alcohol disorder. Trends over time indicate an overall decline in first-time admissions. In 2023, two-thirds (66.4%; n=168) of cases of first-time admissions for an alcohol disorder were male and 93.7% (n=237) were voluntary.

In 2023, 845 cases were also admitted to psychiatric facilities with a drug disorder. Of these cases, 394 were treated for the first time. Figure 2 presents the rates of first-time admissions between 2003 and 2023 for cases with a diagnosis of a drug disorder. The admission rate in 2023 was higher than in 2022, which was the lowest rate recorded since 2008. It should be noted that the report does not present data on drug use and psychiatric comorbidity; it is therefore not possible to determine whether or not these admissions were appropriate.

Similar to previous years, the rate of psychiatric first-time admissions with a diagnosis of a drug disorder was higher for men (11.6 per 100,000 population) than for women (3.8 per 100,000 population). In 2023, 83.2% (n=328) of psychiatric first-time admissions of cases with a diagnosis of a drug disorder were voluntary.

Figure 2: Rates of psychiatric first-time admissions of cases with a diagnosis of a drug disorder per 100,000 population in Ireland, 2003–2023
Source: Daly et al. (2024)1

1    Daly A, Lovett H and Lynn E (2024) National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS) annual report on the activities of Irish psychiatric units and hospitals 2023. Dublin: Health Research Board. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/42203/