Minister Hildegarde Naughton welcomes publication of alcohol treatment data
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 1 August 2023
- Last updated on: 3 August 2023
Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing, and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton, has today welcomed the publication of the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) data on Alcohol Treatment for 2022.
The report, produced by the Health Research Board, reveals that 7,421 cases were treated for problem alcohol treatment in 2022, with new cases accounting for 44.2% of the total.
It also shows an increase in the number of cases reporting problem use of other drugs in addition to alcohol, rising from 1,628 in 2021 to 1,796 in 2022. Cocaine surpassed cannabis as the most common additional reported drug.
Welcoming the publication of the report, Minister Naughton said:
"Data from the NDTRS illustrates the ongoing importance of a public health-centred response to harmful alcohol use and substance misuse.
"The repercussions of harmful alcohol use and drug use are widespread, causing both short and long-term damage to families and communities.
"The causes of this problem are multi-faceted and there is no single solution, which is why this department is investing in integrated services and providing increased community-based supports to those directly and indirectly impacted."
The NDTRS bulletin also reveals that the median age at which cases entered treatment was 42 years. Only 1% of all cases were aged 17 years or younger, a decrease from 1.6% in 2016. Among parents with children aged 17 years or younger, over half (51%) had at least one child residing with them at the time of treatment entry.
The majority (60.2%) of cases were treated in outpatient facilities, with the number of outpatient cases increasing from 4,183 in 2021 to 4,469 in 2022.
Minister Naughton added:
"I note with great concern that in 2022 so many of those people seeking treatment for alcohol use were parents, so it is essential that alcohol services provide community-based resources to promote recovery and improve wellbeing.
"For this reason, funding has continued to increase in order to meet this need, with €4 million provided in 2023 to expand community and residential addiction services, among other initiatives.
"Under the Slaintecare Healthy Communities programme, new integrated Alcohol Services are being rolled out in community settings and I’m confident that we will quickly see the benefits of these vital supports."
Two new integrated alcohol services are currently being established in Community Healthcare Organisations 3 (Clare, Limerick, Tipperary) and 4 (Kerry and Cork).
In these areas, a community-based team will deliver counselling and psychoeducational interventions to adults with problematic alcohol use, provide family support, and develop integrated alcohol treatment pathways. An evidence review has been commissioned to review effective interventions and is being led by Prof Catherine Comiskey at Trinity College Dublin.
Funding allocated in 2023 includes €750,000 to mitigate the impact of drugs and alcohol on children, families and communities, €900,000 to ensure sustainability and to increase capacity of residential treatment services, €850,000 to expand integrated care pathways for high-risk drug and alcohol users, including gender-specific services and €1 million to strengthen monitoring of emerging drug trends and to expand community-based services.
Anyone with concerns regarding their own drug and alcohol use, or that of a family member or friend, should seek support from your GP, local services or contact the drug and alcohol helpline for support, information and guidance on 1800 459 459. Further information can be found on drugs.ie and askaboutalcohol.ie.
Notes
The NDTRS is the national surveillance system that records and reports on cases of drug and alcohol treatment in Ireland. The HRB report presents NDTRS data on treated problem alcohol use for the year 2022.
Public Health Alcohol Act 2018
The Public Health Alcohol Act 2018 seeks to address the negative impacts of consumption on public health. It contains a suite of measures designed to reduce alcohol consumption and limit the damage to the nation’s health, society and economy.
The primary policy objectives of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 are to:
- reduce alcohol consumption to 9.1 litres of pure alcohol per person per annum
- delay the initiation of alcohol consumption by children and young people
- reduce the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol
- ensure the supply and price of alcohol is regulated and controlled in order to minimise the possibility and incidence of alcohol related harm
Measures that have been implemented to date include structural separation, the regulation of sports sponsorship, restrictions on certain promotional activities and minimum unit pricing.
Most recently, regulations were signed in May to introduce comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products sold in Ireland. The law provides that the labels of alcohol products will state the calorie content and grams of alcohol in the product. They will warn about the risk of consuming alcohol when pregnant and will also warn of the risk of liver disease and fatal cancers from alcohol consumption. The labels will direct the consumer to the HSE website, www.askaboutalcohol.ie, for further information.
There is a three-year lead-in time built into the law in order to give businesses significant time to prepare for the change. The law will apply from 22 May 2026.
HSE Alcohol Programme
The HSE Alcohol Programme aims to achieve a healthier and safer Ireland by working to reduce individual and population alcohol use and health inequalities, and protecting children, families and communities from alcohol-related harm. The Ask About Alcohol website and campaign is a key element of the programme and provides factual information to people on the benefits of reducing alcohol consumption for their physical and mental health.