e number of people who reported ever using any form of cocaine for lifetime prevalence in Ireland has increased from 3% of the population in 2002/3 to 5.3% in 2006/7.
The most common way of obtaining cocaine remained through family and friends; however the percentage of people obtaining the drug in this manner increased from 33% in 2002/3 to 49% in 2006/7 significantly among women from 24% in 2002/3 to 70% in 2006/7.
The information is contained in Bulletin 4 2006/7 Drug Prevalence Survey: Cocaine Results, released today by John Curran, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy.
This is the second All Ireland Drugs Prevalence Survey, following that commissioned in 2002/3 by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) in Ireland and the Public Health Information and Research Branch (PHIRB) of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland. Bulletin 4 also examined cocaine use in relation to age of first use, regular use of cocaine, reasons for stopping use, method of taking it, where it is obtained, ease of obtaining, attitudinal information, perceptions of risk attached to trying the drug and gives a profile of cocaine users.
Launching the report, Minister Curran welcomed the results stating “the results now available give us comparative figures to monitor trends in cocaine use across the population for the first time. The availability of a regional breakdown of data will help us target interventions more effectively. The challenge is to ensure that the lower rates are kept at such levels while the problem is tackled comprehensively in the areas of higher use.”
“I take this opportunity to emphasise the risks to the physical and mental health of any person using cocaine, risks that are often ignored or underestimated by users. Cocaine use is linked to heart conditions, strokes and to various other physical complaints that vary depending on the route of administration of the drug. Frequent use of cocaine can also have a powerful effect on the user’s mental health, through depression, anxiety and paranoia.”
“Apart from damaging themselves, users cause social and economic harm to their families and to the communities that bear the brunt of the behaviour and criminal activity associated with the supply and use of cocaine.”
Key findings:
* Nearly 1 in 4 respondents (23%) personally know someone who takes cocaine
* Cocaine powder (5% lifetime use) accounted for the majority of reported use, only 0.6% reported lifetime crack use among all respondents.
* Prevalence rates among young adults were three times those of older adults (8.2% compared to 2.7%) respectively for cocaine powder and/or crack combined.
* Male respondents reported higher prevalence rates for cocaine powder and/or crack combined than females across all time periods. The lifetime prevalence rate for males (7%) was double the rate for females (3.5%).
* The average age respondents reported that they had first used cocaine powder was 22 years (22 for males and 21 for females). The average age of first regular use of cocaine powder was 20 years (21 for males and 20 for females).
* All current cocaine powder users reported ‘snorting’ the drug.
* The period of time between first using cocaine and becoming regular users (lag) was just one year across gender and age groups.
* Those in social grade C1 had higher than expected lifetime and last year cocaine use.
Some differences of note since the last survey are:
* As in 2002/3 the majority obtained cocaine powder from family or friends (33% in 2002/3 and 49% in 2006/7 with a significant increase among females from 24% to 70%.
* An increase in current users (last month use) reporting use of cocaine at least once per week (4-9 days) from 16.6 % in 2002/3 compared to 24.6% in 2006/7.
* 7% of current cocaine users reported daily use in 2006/7 whereas no-one reported daily use in 2002/3.
* More than twice as many females obtained cocaine powder in a disco/bar/club in 2006/7 (50%) compared to 20% in 2002/3.
* A larger proportion of older adults obtained cocaine powder in the house of friends in 2006/7 (82%) than in 2002/3 (28%).
* Fewer people reported regular use of cocaine powder (14%) in 2006/7 than in 2002/3 (19%).
* More people tried to stop and failed (10%) in 2006/7 than in 2002/3 (7%).
* 8.5% reported stopping as part of a rehab programme, fewer people reported cost as a motivating factor in stopping use.
* The proportions reporting knowledge of risk or harm attached to trying cocaine or crack once or twice has not changed in the last four years for those who had used the drug.
* However, for those who had never used cocaine there was a statistically significant drop (from 87% in 2002/3 to 83% in 2006/7) in the proportion reporting ‘great risk’ with trying cocaine. This was surprising.
* A significant increase since 2002/3 from 14% to 23% in those who personally know someone who takes cocaine.
Source: National Documentation Centre on Drugs, 20/10/2008 Report by: National Advisery Commitee on Drugs
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