A United Nations report on the levels of drug use worldwide indicates an alarming level of illicit drug use in Ireland.
The report states Ireland has the highest levels of ecstasy and amphetamine use in Western Europe, with 2.4 per cent or 72,000 of people aged 15 and over using the drug at least once a year. The Irish figure is the equivalent of four times the European average.
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Ireland has the highest levels of ecstasy and amphetamine use in Western Europe
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Ireland has, along with England, the highest level of cannabis use in Western Europe, with 9.4 per cent of those 15 and over using the drug.
The Republic also has the third-highest level of cocaine use at 1.3 per cent, and the use of opiates - including heroin - is the ninth highest in Western Europe at 0.3 per cent of those aged 15 or over. The Netherlands, known to many as the drugs capital of Europe due to its relaxed laws on the use and sale of cannabis, scored better than Ireland at 13th in the league with only 4.1 per cent of those aged 15 and over using the drug.
Labour Party spokesman on Education and Science Mr Joe Costello described the findings as "very alarming" and condemned the Government for what he called its "lethargic" approach to drugs policy. He called for an increase in the number of gardaí dedicated to tackling drug supply and for an expansion of rehabilitation and treatment places.
The report was conducted by the research section of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme.
The report comes as trends in the prosecution of drugs users across Europe are changing. Many countries, including Britain, are moving towards a policy of non-prosecution of those caught possession of small amounts of cannabis.
