Research has found that fewer people are showing alcohol dependence, but more are entering treatment for harmful use.
This research was conducted by the Health Research Board, who have said that 8,798 treatment cases were found for alcohol use in Ireland last year, a slight increase from the previous year, which showed 8,745 treatment cases.
Between 2017 and 2025, it was found that the demand for alcohol treatment had increased across those eight years, with 8,798 cases treated. However, alcohol dependence has reportedly decreased in that time, from 72% in 2017, to 42% last year.
Despite this, increases were found in both hazardous use (almost 10% to 16%) and harmful use (16% to 30%).
In that period, median alcohol consumption has also decreased in that period, but the proportion of cases consuming alcohol on a daily basis rose by 15% between 2017 and 2025 (from 43% to 58%).
The median age for the treatment population has continued to increase for that same period, going from 41 years in 2017 to 43 years last year.
However, the proportion of males being treated for alcohol abuse as a main problem has steadily decreased from 2017 to 2025 (65% to 60%).
Last year, almost one third of these cases also reported using drugs along with alcohol, with cocaine the most common drug of choice to using alongside alcohol. These figures are also in line with 2024's findings.
Cocaine (72%) was found to the most common drug used in 2025, following by cannabis (50%), benzodiazepines (17%) and opioids (10%). It also found that cocaine use had increased by 30% between 2017 and 2025, running from 42% to 72% in that time.
The study found that a nine year trend from 2017 to 2025 shows an increase in cases of polydrug use, rising from 20% in 2017 to 32% last year.
Last week, it was revealed that emerging scientific evidence was showing that Ireland's ongoing low risk guidelines for alcohol consumption may need to be revised. This comes following newly published research from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
The authority suggested in their recent review that these current recommendations on weekly alcohol intake may no longer reflect the most updated understanding of health risks associated with drinking. More on this story here.
