In response to this escalating crisis, the Centre has announced plans to open a dedicated inpatient detox unit later this year. While over 200 people received intensive treatment through Rutland’s residential and outpatient programmes in 2024, the Centre engaged with thousands more through aftercare, free screening clinics, and family support services. Staff answered over 16,800 calls and facilitated over 11,000 aftercare attendances, underscoring the scale of need in Irish society.

Addiction is becoming more complex, with 77% of residential clients presenting with two or more addictions. Alcohol remains the most commonly cited primary addiction, while cocaine use has surged significantly — up from 17% last year to 23% in 2024 - a rise of nearly 40% in just twelve months, signalling one of the sharpest single-year increases the Rutland Centre has recorded for any substance.

This sharp increase reflects both growing prevalence and the urgent need for targeted intervention, particularly among women, who now represent one of the fastest-growing groups seeking treatment for cocaine. According to the Health Research Board's latest drug treatment figures, cocaine is now the most common problem drug among new treatment cases, accounting for over 30% of all new presentations, overtaking cannabis for the first time (HRB, 2024).

“The profile of addiction in Ireland is shifting. It is no longer isolated to one substance or behaviour — we're seeing high rates of poly-addiction, often accompanied by serious mental health challenges,” said Emma Kavanagh, Head of Clinical Services at the Rutland Centre. “The introduction of a medically supported detox service are essential steps in responding to this complexity.”

Men made up two-thirds (66%) of those treated at the Rutland Centre in 2024, with women accounting for 34%. The largest age groups seeking help were adults aged 25 to 44, who together represented more than half of all clients. These figures highlight the age and gender realities of addiction in Ireland today, with younger adults and men continuing to face particularly acute risks.

This presents challenges at many levels. The Rutland Centre must ensure its services address the changing profile and scale of addictions, remain widely accessible and responsive to demand, and deliver sustainable, long-term recovery outcomes. 

The report also revealed:

• 94% of residential clients completed the full treatment programme.
• 89% of those who moved into aftercare remained in active recovery.
• 59 people accessed the Centre’s Stabilisation Group following relapse — with over half successfully returning to mainstream recovery.
• 72 concerned persons, including family members and loved ones, joined the aftercare programme, reflecting the wider impact of addiction on families.
• 37% of clients presented with three or more addictive behaviours.
• Over 90 people celebrated one full year of sobriety at Rutland’s annual Medallion Ceremony.

The Centre also recorded a financial surplus for the first time in years, enabling further investment in free community-based services such as the new Addiction Screening Clinic and Family Intervention & Access Programme (FIA), which supported 45 families in its first four months.