Trends in cocaine use and cocaine-related harms in Ireland: a retrospective, multi-source database study
Abstract Background Increased cocaine supply has coincided with increased global cocaine use. In 2019 Ireland had one of the highest last-year rates of cocaine use in Europe. However, there is a lack of data on the health-related impacts of cocaine use in European countries over time. Methods This r...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23224-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849389186980773888 |
|---|---|
| author | Deirdre Mongan Seán R. Millar Anne Marie Carew Cathy Kelleher Antoinette Daly Suzi Lyons Brian Galvin Bobby P. Smyth |
| author_facet | Deirdre Mongan Seán R. Millar Anne Marie Carew Cathy Kelleher Antoinette Daly Suzi Lyons Brian Galvin Bobby P. Smyth |
| author_sort | Deirdre Mongan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Increased cocaine supply has coincided with increased global cocaine use. In 2019 Ireland had one of the highest last-year rates of cocaine use in Europe. However, there is a lack of data on the health-related impacts of cocaine use in European countries over time. Methods This retrospective, multi-source database study utilised data from national databases to evaluate the following time trends: (1) prevalence of cocaine use; (2) number of cocaine-related hospital discharges; (3) number of cocaine-related psychiatric hospital admissions; (4) treatment demand for problem cocaine use; and (5) cocaine-related deaths. Joinpoint regression was used to examine change points over time and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs). Results Last-year cocaine use among 15–64-year-olds increased from 1·1% in 2002/03 to 2·4% in 2022/23. The number of cocaine-related acute hospital discharges per 100,000 population increased from 1·4 in 2000 to 24·3 in 2023 (AAPC: 13·0%; 95% CI: 11·95, 14·84), and psychiatric hospitalisations increased from 0·2 in 2000 to 2·4 in 2022 (AAPC: 11·1%; 95% CI: 9·41, 15·48). Treatment entrants reporting cocaine as a main problem drug increased from 1·5 per 100,000 population in 2000 to 93·2 in 2023 (AAPC: 17·6%; 95% CI: 15·89, 20·74), while cocaine-related deaths increased from 0·3 in 2000 to 5·6 in 2020 (AAPC: 16·9%; 95% CI: 14·71, 21·70). In general, rates of harm increased from 2000 to 2007, decreased until 2011–2013, and since 2013 have increased significantly and consistently. Conclusions Multiple databases show significant increases in cocaine-related harm since 2000. Responding to cocaine-related health problems and prevention efforts focused on cocaine constitute a public health priority. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e2bc1b21c934cfdbea35edb56a9fe44 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e2bc1b21c934cfdbea35edb56a9fe442025-08-20T03:42:02ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-23224-yTrends in cocaine use and cocaine-related harms in Ireland: a retrospective, multi-source database studyDeirdre Mongan0Seán R. Millar1Anne Marie Carew2Cathy Kelleher3Antoinette Daly4Suzi Lyons5Brian Galvin6Bobby P. Smyth7Health Research BoardHealth Research BoardHealth Research BoardHealth Research BoardHealth Research BoardHealth Research BoardHealth Research BoardDepartment of Public Health & Primary Care, Trinity College DublinAbstract Background Increased cocaine supply has coincided with increased global cocaine use. In 2019 Ireland had one of the highest last-year rates of cocaine use in Europe. However, there is a lack of data on the health-related impacts of cocaine use in European countries over time. Methods This retrospective, multi-source database study utilised data from national databases to evaluate the following time trends: (1) prevalence of cocaine use; (2) number of cocaine-related hospital discharges; (3) number of cocaine-related psychiatric hospital admissions; (4) treatment demand for problem cocaine use; and (5) cocaine-related deaths. Joinpoint regression was used to examine change points over time and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs). Results Last-year cocaine use among 15–64-year-olds increased from 1·1% in 2002/03 to 2·4% in 2022/23. The number of cocaine-related acute hospital discharges per 100,000 population increased from 1·4 in 2000 to 24·3 in 2023 (AAPC: 13·0%; 95% CI: 11·95, 14·84), and psychiatric hospitalisations increased from 0·2 in 2000 to 2·4 in 2022 (AAPC: 11·1%; 95% CI: 9·41, 15·48). Treatment entrants reporting cocaine as a main problem drug increased from 1·5 per 100,000 population in 2000 to 93·2 in 2023 (AAPC: 17·6%; 95% CI: 15·89, 20·74), while cocaine-related deaths increased from 0·3 in 2000 to 5·6 in 2020 (AAPC: 16·9%; 95% CI: 14·71, 21·70). In general, rates of harm increased from 2000 to 2007, decreased until 2011–2013, and since 2013 have increased significantly and consistently. Conclusions Multiple databases show significant increases in cocaine-related harm since 2000. Responding to cocaine-related health problems and prevention efforts focused on cocaine constitute a public health priority.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23224-yCocaineUseTrendsHarmsTreatmentDeaths |
| spellingShingle | Deirdre Mongan Seán R. Millar Anne Marie Carew Cathy Kelleher Antoinette Daly Suzi Lyons Brian Galvin Bobby P. Smyth Trends in cocaine use and cocaine-related harms in Ireland: a retrospective, multi-source database study BMC Public Health Cocaine Use Trends Harms Treatment Deaths |
| title | Trends in cocaine use and cocaine-related harms in Ireland: a retrospective, multi-source database study |
| title_full | Trends in cocaine use and cocaine-related harms in Ireland: a retrospective, multi-source database study |
| title_fullStr | Trends in cocaine use and cocaine-related harms in Ireland: a retrospective, multi-source database study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in cocaine use and cocaine-related harms in Ireland: a retrospective, multi-source database study |
| title_short | Trends in cocaine use and cocaine-related harms in Ireland: a retrospective, multi-source database study |
| title_sort | trends in cocaine use and cocaine related harms in ireland a retrospective multi source database study |
| topic | Cocaine Use Trends Harms Treatment Deaths |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23224-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT deirdremongan trendsincocaineuseandcocainerelatedharmsinirelandaretrospectivemultisourcedatabasestudy AT seanrmillar trendsincocaineuseandcocainerelatedharmsinirelandaretrospectivemultisourcedatabasestudy AT annemariecarew trendsincocaineuseandcocainerelatedharmsinirelandaretrospectivemultisourcedatabasestudy AT cathykelleher trendsincocaineuseandcocainerelatedharmsinirelandaretrospectivemultisourcedatabasestudy AT antoinettedaly trendsincocaineuseandcocainerelatedharmsinirelandaretrospectivemultisourcedatabasestudy AT suzilyons trendsincocaineuseandcocainerelatedharmsinirelandaretrospectivemultisourcedatabasestudy AT briangalvin trendsincocaineuseandcocainerelatedharmsinirelandaretrospectivemultisourcedatabasestudy AT bobbypsmyth trendsincocaineuseandcocainerelatedharmsinirelandaretrospectivemultisourcedatabasestudy |