26 March 2009 - Drug use in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland 2006/2007

The Bulletin, ‘Drug Prevalence Survey: Sedatives or Tranquillisers, and Anti-Depressants Results’ was published jointly with the National Advisory Committee on Drugs in Ireland. It relates to a survey carried out jointly in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland between October 2006 and May 2007.

Key Findings:

The key findings relating to sedatives or tranquillisers, and anti-depressants prevalence in Northern Ireland in 2006/07 are:

• Prevalence rates were higher among older adults. The lifetime prevalence rate for older adults aged 35-64 (26%) was more than twice than that of young adults aged 15-34 (12%) for sedatives or tranquillisers and was also higher for those using anti-depressants (27% for older adults and 14% for young adults).
• Females reported higher prevalence rates than males for lifetime and last month use of sedatives or tranquillisers, and across all time periods for anti-depressants.
• The average age respondents reported that they had first used sedatives or tranquillisers was 30 years for both males and females. The average age respondents reported they had first used anti-depressants was 34 years for males and 31 years for females.
• Approximately two-in-three (66%) current users of sedatives or tranquillisers, and nearly nine-in-ten (87%) current users of anti-depressants, took them daily or almost daily.
• The vast majority of current users got their sedatives or tranquillisers (95%), and anti-depressants (96%), on prescription.
• Respondents who were separated, divorced or widowed reported higher lifetime prevalence rates for sedatives or tranquillisers, and anti-depressants.
• Associations were found between various indicators of deprivation and prevalence rates for sedatives or tranquillisers, and anti-depressants across all three time periods. Prevalence rates were higher among those in the lower socio-economic classifications, those not in paid work and those with low education attainment or no qualifications.

Notes to Editors:

1. The main focus of the survey was to obtain prevalence rates for illegal and other drugs, including sedatives or tranquillisers, and anti-depressants, on a lifetime (ever used), last year (recent use) and last month (current use) basis. Attitudinal and demographic information was also sought from respondents.

2. The questionnaire and methodology for this survey were based on best practice guidelines drawn up by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The questionnaires were administered through face-to-face interviews with respondents aged between 15 and 64 normally resident in households in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI).

3. Fieldwork for the survey was carried out between October 2006 and May 2007 and the final achieved sample was 6,969 (4,967 in ROI, and 2,002 in NI). The response rate for the survey was 65% in ROI and 62% in NI.

4. To maximise its representativeness of the general population, the achieved sample was weighted by gender, age and former Health Board Area in ROI; and gender, age and Health and Social Services Board area in NI.

5. The measurement of the combined group of sedatives, tranquillisers and anti-depressants was changed between 2002/03 and 2006/07. In 2002/03 this drugs category was measured using one question while in 2006/07, two questions were asked and a more expansive list of drug categories was used (see technical report for further details). Given this change in measurement, comparative analysis between 2002/03 and 2006/07 is not appropriate.

6. First results from the 2006/2007 Drug Prevalence Survey were published in January 2008 (which presented prevalence rates for all drugs including sedatives or tranquillisers, and anti-depressants), Regional Drugs Task Force (Ireland) and Health and Social Services Boards (Northern Ireland) Results were published in June 2008, Cocaine Results were published in October 2008 and Cannabis Results were published in December 2008.

7. This publication is also available online

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