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Census of drug and alcohol treatment services in Northern Ireland: 1 March - statistical bulletin

Tuesday, 14 August 2007

A Statistical Bulletin containing information from the second Census of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services in Northern Ireland has been published today.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) bulletin summarises information collected in a Census of statutory and non-statutory drug and alcohol treatment services to establish the number of persons in treatment in Northern Ireland for drug and/or alcohol misuse on 1 March 2007. A previous Census was conducted in March 2005.

Information included in this bulletin is:

  • The number of persons in treatment on 1 March 2007 and the type of misuse.
  • Gender and age group of the individual was collected as well as Health and Social Services Board, residential status (non-residential treatment, residential treatment including Specialist Addiction Treatment Services) and type of addiction service (Statutory, non-Statutory).

This publication is also available online at

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/public_health/statistics_and_research-drugs_alcohol-2.htm

Key Findings

  • In Northern Ireland on 1 March 2007 there were 5583 individuals in treatment for drug and/or alcohol misuse.
  • Of all those in treatment on 1 March 2007 approximately three-fifths (62%) were in treatment for alcohol misuse; one-fifth (20%) were in treatment for drug misuse; and just under one-fifth (18%) were in treatment for both drug and alcohol misuse.
  • Approximately two-thirds (66%) of individuals in treatment were male; 34% were female.
  • The majority of those in treatment were aged 18 years or over (85%), whilst 15% were aged under 18 years.
  • Almost two-thirds (64%) of those in treatment were attending statutory agencies; 31% attended non-statutory services and 5% were attending prison-based services.
  • Almost all (98%) of those in treatment on 1 March 2007 were attending non-residential treatment services. Of those individuals in residential treatment services 1% were in treatment in Specialist Addiction Treatment Services.
  • Between 1 March 2005 and 1 March 2007, the number of individuals in treatment increased by 10% from 5064 to 5583; those in treatment aged under 18 years more than trebled from 271 to 847 over the period.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. This information was collated by the Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit (DAIRU) within the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. This is the second Census of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services in Northern Ireland.

Additional Information
Further information is available from:
Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Annex 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont, BT4 3UD
Tel: 028 9052 2501
Email: DAIRU@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Internet: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/public_health/statistics_and_research-drugs_alcohol-2.htm

Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 028 905 20571. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.