Statistics from the Northern Ireland drug misuse database: 1 April 2006 - 31 March 2007

A Statistical Bulletin detailing information on problem drug users presenting to services in the year ending 31 March 2007 has been published.

The bulletin, published by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, reports on information collected through the Northern Ireland Drug Misuse Database (DMD), which was established in April 2000.

Summary

In Northern Ireland during 2006/07:

1,464 individuals presented for treatment and gave their consent for their details to be included in the DMD. This compared to 1,666 the year before, a decrease of 202 individuals or 12%.

The majority (77%) of individuals that presented were male; over one quarter (29%) were aged 21 years and under.

Cannabis was the most commonly reported main drug of misuse. The proportion that reported it as their main problem drug in 2006/07 was 46% compared to 49% in 2005/06.

The same proportion of individuals (14%) reported benzodiazepines as their main drug in 2006/07 and 2005/06.

The proportion of individuals that reported cocaine as their main drug increased to 10% in 2006/07 from 9% in 2005/06.

Heroin was reported as the main drug of misuse by 10% of individuals in both 2006/07 and 2005/06. Over three quarters (78%) of those that presented for treatment in 2006/07 that had heroin as their main problem drug had been treated before.

The proportion of individuals that had ever injected increased to 14% in 2006/07 from 13% in 2005/06.

Notes to Editors:

1. This information was collated by the Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit (DAIRU) of the DHSSPS.
2. A problem drug user is defined as a person who experiences social, psychological, physical or legal problems (related to intoxication and/or regular excessive consumption and/or dependence) as a consequence of their own use of drugs or chemical substances.
3. Drugs are defined as any drug, whether prescribed or not, including solvents and tranquillisers but excluding alcohol and tobacco.
4. The bulletin presents information on the profile of service users; drugs misused by those that presented for treatment; individuals’ previous history of treatment; injecting and sharing by drug users; and previous history of testing for viruses such HIV and Hepatitis.
5. Participation in the DMD is voluntary and individuals have to give consent to their data being included. Information relating to 1,559 individuals that presented to drug misuse agencies was received: in 1,464 cases (94%) individual consent was given for including data within the DMD. Analyses are based on these 1,464 individuals.
6. This is the sixth bulletin reporting on information collect through the Northern Ireland DMD. The next publication is scheduled for 7 October 2008.
7. This publication is available online at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/public_health/statistics_and_research-drugs_alcohol-2.htm
8. Additional Information

Additional information is available from: