A study on drug use in the Republic and Northern Ireland to be published today is expected to show a significant rise in the use of cocaine in recent years.
The study by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs is understood to show that the proportion of people who have used cocaine at some stage in their life has risen from about 3 per cent to just over 5 per cent between 2003 and 2006/7.
However, the numbers who said they have used it in the past year, or in the past month, are significantly lower. The relatively low proportion of people using cocaine overall may come as a surprise given the apparent surge in the number of cocaine-related deaths over the past year or so.
However, recent research among problem cocaine users shows that up to a quarter of people use it daily, while a third use it several times a week.
Among other drugs, the report is understood to show an increase in the proportion of people who have used cannabis. Decreases in the proportion of people who have used ecstasy and heroin are likely.
Cannabis is still the most widely used drug in Ireland. The report will show that the numbers who have used the drug have increased from 17 per cent to about 21 per cent.
While the number of people who have used heroin is small compared to other drugs, the report will show a sharp decrease of up to 50 per cent among some age groups. The last available figures for the numbers who have ever tried heroin are at about 0.5 per cent.
Ecstasy, too, is expected to show an overall decrease among people who have ever used it. The prevalence rates among younger people may show an increase, however.
The report is also expected to reflect findings in previous research which show that almost twice as many men than women have used illegal drugs.
Illegal drug use is highest among young people. About a quarter of people aged 15-24 have tried illegal drugs at some stage. The proportion of young people who used drugs last year, or last month, is significantly lower.
The report is also expected to show that the proportion of people who have used ecstasy is higher in Northern Ireland compared to the Republic.
However, the proportion who have used cocaine is significantly higher in the Republic than in the North.
Use of sedatives, tranquillisers and anti-depressants is highest among older people in Ireland. About one-fifth of older people have used them at some stage in their life. However, rates for more recent use are higher in the North.
While just 5 per cent of people say they have used cocaine during their lifetime, indicators in other areas, along with anecdotal evidence, have suggested a much steeper rise.
For example, cocaine-related offences, such as supply, theft and public order offences, have soared from 297 in 2002 to 1,224 in 2005, surpassing the number of heroin-related offences.
A report published last year by the Health Research Board (HRB) showed the numbers treated for cocaine use increased tenfold from 48 in 1999 to 482 in 2005.
Cocaine seizures, an indicator of supply, have jumped from 17kg in 2002 to about 270kg in 2006.
