Skip the NI Direct Bar
Skip navigation

Statistics from the Northern Ireland drug addicts index 2008

Thursday, 5 March 2009

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published a Statistical Bulletin summarising information from the Northern Ireland Addicts Index.

People are registered on the index if they are known to be, or if a medical practitioner considers them to be, addicted to one or more of 14 controlled drugs. These controlled drugs include Heroin, Cocaine, Methadone and Morphine.

Information included in this bulletin includes:

  • The number of persons registered at 31 December 2008 and the number of new notifications and removals in 2008.
  • Gender and age of the person registered.
  • Health and Social Care Trusts where registered.
  • Drugs used, injecting behaviour, and duration on Index.

Key Findings

The key findings in this bulletin are:

  • There were 281 persons registered on the Addicts Index at 31 December 2008, an increase of 24 from 257 persons registered at 31 December 2007.
  • There were 212 re-notifications in 2008, compared to 206 in 2007. There were 69 new notifications to the Addicts Index in 2008. Forty-six cases were removed from the Addicts Index during 2008.
  • The gender profile in 2008 is similar to that in 2007 where 83% of addicts were male in 2008, and 81% in 2007. The age profile was also similar, with 25% of registered addicts being aged 29 years and under in 2008, compared to 29% in 2007.
  • Heroin was the most frequently used notifiable drug, reported by 77% of all addicts registered at 31 December 2008. Methadone (25%) and cocaine (6%) remain the next most commonly reported drugs.
  • In 2008, 51% of those registered addicts whose injecting behaviour was known reported currently injecting. This is an increase from 44% in 2007.
  • Of the 281 addicts on the Index, 69 were registered within the last year. One hundred and thirty nine addicts have been registered between one and five years. The remaining 73 addicts have been registered between six and 19 years.

Notes to Editors:

1. This information was collated by the Public Health Information and Research Branch (PHIRB) on behalf of the DHSSPS.

2. The Addicts Index Statistical Bulletin will be published on an annual basis. The next publication is scheduled for 4 March 2010.

3. This publication is also available online at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety websitelink to external website

Additional Information

Additional information is available from:

Public Health Information and Research Branch

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Annex 2

Castle Buildings

Stormont

Belfast BT4 3SQ

Telephone: 028 9052 2520

Fax: 028 9052 3288

E-mail: phirb@dhsspsni.gov.uk

4. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 02890 520579, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.