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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:58 am
Time: 11:58 am
Results for drug abuse and crime (ireland)
1 results foundAuthor: Lyons, Suzi Title: Close to Home: A Study on the Misuse of Drugs and Alcohol in the Midland Region Summary: The Midlands Regional Drugs Task Force (MRDTF) commissioned this study in order to establish an evidence base for drug-related issues in the Midlands region to inform the development of appropriate strategies and to respond to these issues in four selected communities. A rapid situation assessment technique was used, bringing together information from several different sources as well as interviews and focus groups with key informants in four selected communities. The key findings include the following. The MRDTF area covers four counties with a population of approximately one-quarter of a million people, and has seen a rise in its population and a change of ethnic mix over the past years. Overall it has marginally lower educational levels and housing occupancy than the national levels. One in five of the population in the MRDTF area has used an illegal drug at least once in their lifetime. Younger adults, especially men used illegal drugs, however it is shown that a proportion of women have used legal drugs. The majority of alcohol and drug use appears to start before the age of 18. The serious impact of this is clear: two out of every five drug-related deaths in the MRDTF area was a person aged 20 to 29 years of age. Alcohol use is also very prevalent among the population and was the main problem substance treated in the region (2004 – 2007). It was also implicated as an additional substance in many cases treated for polysubstance use. Alcohol (in conjunction with another drug or substance) was implicated in over onequarter of drug-related deaths in the region. Cannabis was the most commonly used drug in the general population, but the data indicated that ecstasy, cocaine and heroin was also available in the region, along with a range of other illegal and legal drugs. Cocaine use emerged as a newer trend. An opiate (mainly heroin) was the main problem drug treated in the region. Heroin and other opiates were implicated in over one-third of all deaths due to poisonings reported in the MRDTF area between 1999 and 2005. While the number of people who sought treatment for benzodiazepine addiction was very small, there was evidence that it was being abused in the MRDTF area and has been implicated in more drug-related deaths in the area than any other substance. Benzodiazepines were used by opiate and alcohol users. Polysubstance use among drug users in the region was evident. The upward trend in prosecutions for heroin in the two Garda Divisions comprising the MRDTF area indicated that the heroin market has spread to these four counties. Although the number of prosecutions for cocaine was lower it follows a similar upward trend. Details: Offaly, Ireland: Midlands Regional Drugs Task Force, 2010. 111p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/13108/1/MRDTF_Report_Close_to_home.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/13108/1/MRDTF_Report_Close_to_home.pdf Shelf Number: 121060 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug Abuse and Crime (Ireland)Drug OffendersDrug Offenses |