Dublin drug treatment centre reports rise in popularity of drug cocktail
drug treatment centre in Dublin is reporting a rise in the number of people addicted to a cocktail of alcohol, cocaine and benzodiazepine pills.
The Coolmine Therapeutic Community's annual report for 2012 shows that 42% of clients are addicted to the cocktail compared with a third of all clients the previous year.
There was a sharp decline in the use of heroin in the Dublin area. However, it says opiates remain the primary drug for the rest of the country.
CTC treated one thousand people in 2012, when new admissions increased by over a third and they are now treating many third-generation family members.
The centre says it is most worried by the increase in the number of people addicted to the cocktail of drink, cocaine and benzodiazepine pills, which are prescription drugs used for treating depression and mental illnesses.
The figure increased from 33% to 42%.
It's calling on the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries to contribute to funding programmes like CTC in order to prevent and treat addiction in Ireland.
