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File photo Shutterstock/Canna Obscura

Cannabis remains most commonly used illegal drug in Ireland

Levels of drug use in Ireland have increased in recent years.

LEVELS OF ILLEGAL drug use have risen by 1.9% between 2010/11 and 2014/15.

The findings are included in Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland, a study published today, and arise from data collected in the fourth Drug Prevalence Survey.

The results indicate that cannabis continues to be the most commonly used illegal drug and that the use of new psychoactive substances has dropped significantly.

Catherine Byrne, Minister for Health Promotion and the National Drugs Strategy, welcomed the publication of the findings.

She said some of the issues raised in the report are addressed by plans laid out in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery – the government’s strategy on tackling substance abuse from 2017-2025. 

“The strategy commits to developing targeted, appropriate and effective services for young people at risk of substance misuse, focused on socially and economically disadvantaged communities,” Byrne said. 

She noted that the strategy’s initial focus will be to prevent the use of benzodiazepines among young people.

I am aware that services on the ground are concerned about the rapid increase in numbers of young people taking benzodiazepines in combination with other substances.

In November 2015, a report compiled by the Oireachtas Justice Committee recommended that the possession of drugs for personal use be decriminalised. 

The key findings of the cannabis results are as follows: 

  • 26.4% of Irish adults aged 15+ report using an illegal drug in their lifetime with 7.5% using an illegal drug in the past 12 months
  • Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug with lifetime usage of 24%, last year usage of cannabis 6.5%, and 3.7% using this within the past month – these prevalence figures are considerably higher than any other form of drug
  • Among people who used cannabis in the last year, 24.3% are classified as cannabis dependent; cannabis dependence is higher in males who used in the last year than females (26.8% vs 16.7%)
  • Among people who used cannabis in the last year, 32.1% meet the criteria for cannabis abuse; rates of cannabis abuse are higher among males (33.9%) than females (26.4%)
  • Most respondents (74.5%) agree that people should be permitted to take cannabis for medical reasons; males are more likely to agree with this statement than females (77% vs 72.1%); older adults are more likely to agree than young adults (78.4% vs 73.9%) and over 65s (64.2%); this is a sizeable increase when compared to the 2010/11 survey (65.8%)
  • The majority disagree with recreational use of cannabis (66.4%, down from 69.2% in 2010/11)
  • 74.3% (73.1% in 2010/11) disapprove of people smoking cannabis occasionally

The key findings of the prescription drugs report are as follows:

  • Prevalence is highest in Ireland among females and the elderly with 8% of women and 8% of those aged 35-64 reporting use of sedatives or tranquillisers; antidepressants prevalence is also highest for both groups at 7%
  • Most people obtain these medications from their GP; there are indications that some people could be taking them in a way that is counter to recommended practice guidelines and thereby putting their health and wellbeing at risk
  • Almost a fifth (19.9%) of Irish adults have used other opiates in the past month, with 43.4% doing so in the past 12 months and 61.5% having done so at some stage during their life
  • Use of other opiate is significantly higher among females across all the time frames; this could be attributed to the fact that over-the-counter pain medication is included in the category; the majority of respondents report getting other opiates without a prescription in a chemist

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    Mute páraicS
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    Feb 1st 2020, 11:29 AM

    Aggravated burglary? The man was known to his attackers!

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    Mute John Considine
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:29 PM

    @páraicS: that’s not a good defence.

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:40 PM

    @páraicS: glad the gardai ard on it

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    Mute páraicS
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    Feb 1st 2020, 1:03 PM

    @John Considine: My point is it wasn’t a burglary. They went there with the intention of attacking the man In question. What they did is abhorrent but burglary it wasn’t!

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 1:18 PM

    @páraicS: look up burglary in the law will before commenting

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    Mute superdooper
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    Feb 1st 2020, 1:59 PM

    @páraicS: it definitely was a burglary. You need to look up the definition

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:34 PM

    Dragging somebody out of bed and dousing them in petrol is attempted murder. How can it be aggravated burglary when nothing was stolen?

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    Mute superdooper
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:00 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: that’s not what burglary is. Look up the definition

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:10 PM

    @superdooper: a man was doused in petrol and set alight. Aggravated Burglary should be the least of their worries, Greivious Bodily Harm at least if not attempted murder , I think the maximum sentence should apply here if found guilty.

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:24 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: enter as trespassers wih intent to commit an arrestable offence.. dont have to steal anything.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:54 PM

    @Martin Gordon: We know that they entered the premises and did commit an arrestable offence…. attacking a man with a machete and an exhaust pipe then dousing him in petrol setting him alight..
    Why are you defending these scxm ?? Say what it is ….

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:09 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: it’s an aggravated burglary

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:12 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: I’m not defending. it is what it is. it is also attempted murder. I’m not saying it isn’t that. the attempted murder is the arrestable offence in the burglary. look up aggravated burglary. educate yourself.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:12 PM

    @Martin Gordon: idiot

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:16 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: thank god you dont work for the Dpp

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:57 PM

    The whole sentencing system should be reformed. Longer sentences for crimes. Life for murder should be life.
    There was a time when you saw a garda it meant something. Now there is no fear. Two garda shot at during week. Thats atemted murder.

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:20 PM

    @Dave Barrett: the sentencing and grammar systems by some commenters on here
    leave a lot to be desired.

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Feb 1st 2020, 4:07 PM

    @WreckDefier: Can we get a job like yours. always wanted to be in the grammar and spelling police. Ops! I forgot the I before always.

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Feb 1st 2020, 5:17 PM

    @Dave Barrett: In fairness it’s hard to miss atemted which murdered attempted

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    Mute calvin healy
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    Feb 1st 2020, 11:40 AM

    Share the info you have with the gardai so.

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    Mute Michael Bannon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:35 PM

    THERE IS NO REAL PUNISHMENT FOR aggravated burglary.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:44 PM

    @Michael Bannon: maximum sentence 14 years

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:26 PM

    @Michael Bannon: if they are caught they will be charged with more than aggravated burglary, like assault causing serious harm etc..

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 3:19 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: maximum sentence for aggravated burglary is life. not 14 years. just another thing you’re wrong about.

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 1st 2020, 8:44 PM

    @Michael Bannon: life sentence Michael.. literally the maximum sentence punishment there is. back to law school for you.

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    Mute Jason Quinn
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 6:57 AM

    @Martin Gordon: really Mr Gordon the vile piece of filth that ended my mum’s life in 02 is getting out soon and has been out on 2 day releases

    My mum will never have a day release.

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Jason Quinn: sorry to hear that. I’m just stating facts to people who are putting up wrong facts. unfortunately our justice system is very flawed. and life does not mean life.

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    Mute Sos
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:25 PM

    I know people are saying these guys were at their wits end but this was a barbaric attack. To go back out and get the petrol is controlled. That’s not just losing the head.

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    Mute Ger Buckley
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    Feb 1st 2020, 12:57 PM

    Think these 2 guys voluntarily made statements to the guards a few weeks ago.

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    Mute John O Brien
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    Feb 1st 2020, 5:48 PM

    He deserved a lot more that a drop of petrol for what he did.

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    Mute DazLock
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    Feb 1st 2020, 2:55 PM

    Aggravated Buggary

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    Mute Anna69
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    Feb 1st 2020, 11:08 PM

    waiting here boys…

    http://69-chat.club

    only 18+

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    Mute Alan Mooney
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    Feb 2nd 2020, 10:02 AM

    @Anna69: anna.. Men are wrong and misspelling words on the internet.. We’ve no time for your sexy shenanigans

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