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Friday 8 December 2023 Dublin: 10°C

# Health Research Board

This year
2023
Citizens’ assembly chair says urgent step change in approach to drug use is needed
The panel is halfway through its programme of work after a weekend of meetings in Malahide.
Cocaine overtakes opiates to become Ireland's 'most common' problem drug
Cocaine was reported over 4,000 times as the most common problem drug in treatment cases in 2022.
Last year
2022
More than three-fold increase in number of children being admitted for eating disorders
The number of psychiatric admissions related to eating disorders increased from 33 in 2018 to 116 in 2021.
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder 'may be detectable years before illnesses begin'
A new study led by UCD suggests the possibility of earlier intervention and even prevention of the illnesses.
'Tipping point': Surge in cocaine use in Ireland as it overtakes heroin as main problem drug
The number of cases of people seeking treatment for problem cocaine use has tripled between between 2015 and 2021.
Report finds one in three young drinkers in Ireland have an alcohol use disorder
The number of young people abstaining from alcohol has increased from 11% in 2002 to 26% in 2019.
All time
More people are using cocaine and ecstasy, but slightly fewer are using cannabis
Men are more than twice as likely as women to use drugs, according to a new survey.
People in Ireland drink, on average, the equivalent of 40 bottles of vodka a year
Every person in Ireland aged 15 and over drinks, on average, 10.8 litres of pure alcohol each year, according to new figures.
Adolescents who use e-cigarettes three-to-five times more likely to start smoking, new review says
The Health Research Board’s review will help inform Department of Health policy.
7,500 cases of problem alcohol use were treated in Ireland last year, with an increase in cases involving cocaine
There is already concern around the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on alcohol misuse.
Many Irish people 'may be in denial' about the amount of alcohol they drink
Only a third of regular binge drinkers in Ireland recognise their drinking as harmful.
Children being admitted to psychiatric units increases by a fifth, from 408 to 497
Depression remains the most common diagnosis among children, followed by neuroses, eating disorders and schizophrenia.
Treatment for problem use of cocaine has tripled since 2013
Cocaine has risen from the third to second most common problem drug between 2013 and 2019.
Almost 800 people died from drug use in 2017, new figures show
A third of overdoses involved alcohol while more than half involved prescription drugs.
Nearly 55,000 cases of problem alcohol use treated in Ireland over seven years
The figures show the number of cases treated between 2012 and 2018 across the country.
Older people, men and those in rural areas at higher risk of dying in residential fires, report finds
The Health Research Board found there were 101 fires recorded in closed inquest cases between 2014-2016.
A third of children admitted to psychiatric units in 2018 had depression
Depressive disorders were the most common diagnoses recorded for all admissions, accounting for 24%.
736 people died directly as a result of drugs in 2016
Of the total number, 549 were male and 187 were female.
There are at least 40,000 problem gamblers in Ireland
The proportion of problem gamblers in Ireland is far lower than in Northern Ireland, according to data from the Health Research Board.
Research shows 21 people a day seek treatment for problematic alcohol use
Experts say the figure may be heavily underreported.
Two people died every day in 2015 over drug use with alcohol the number one drug
Almost 20,000 potential life years were lost in 2015 alone.
The average person in alcohol treatment in Ireland is 41, male and started drinking at 16
The Health Research Board has published new figures on alcohol use between 2009 and 2015.
The number of people seeking treatment over cocaine use at highest since 2010
The report found cannabis to be the second most common drug among those treated between 2009 and 2015.
Drug-related deaths: 62% increase in fatalities over ten-year period
Alcohol remains the single most common drug implicated in deaths between 2004 and 2014.
Girls make up vast majority of young people seeking psychiatric help for eating disorders
Some 87% of people under the age of 18 presenting with eating disorders are female.
'It's like a death': Divorced people are at higher risk of psychiatric illness in Ireland
Although divorced people accounted for only 4% of all psychiatric admissions, they had the highest rate compared to married or single people.
These counties have the highest numbers of people treated for alcohol abuse
Figures published show a drop in the number of cases of alcohol abuse in Ireland.
Could magic mushrooms be used to treat pneumonia patients?
Irish researchers are attempting to find out.
Irish cancer study reaches 'the Oscars of the radiation oncology world'
The clinical trial has shown how to reduce hospital visits for patients with a certain kind of tumour.
Don't know how to help grandparents with dementia? Ask them about the olden days
It’s the little things.
The county with the most people seeking treatment for alcohol abuse? Waterford
A new study has found that an average of 8,000 people a year seek treatment for alcoholism in Ireland.
One person dies from a drug overdose every day in Ireland
New figures on drugs-related deaths in Ireland show that the number of people who have died from cocaine misuse has halved in four years.
Intervention to change unhealthy behaviour could save Irish lives
The research into behavioural intervention is one of six major projects given a total of €9 million today.
Irish researcher tells why lack of sleep is bad for the heart
It’s not so much your blood pressure, as it is how sleep deprivation affects how blood pumps around your body. Yes, science.
Study of Irish babies notes impact of even mild lack of oxygen at birth
The new information should be used to provide early intervention for those babies who medics previously didn’t believe to be at risk of later developmental difficulties.
Breast cancer patients who stop oral hormone therapy at threefold risk of recurrence
Study by Trinity College Dublin scientists found that taking the treatment consistently over five years has real benefits for survival.
Trial sees volunteers befriend mental health service users
A controlled trial saw that a small investment led to big benefits for building confidence and reducing isolation.
€1.5 million research investment into healthcare quality and patient safety
The research project aims to identify the most immediate and important safety and quality issues in the health service and improve care by developing changes in policy and practice.
New research looks at flu vaccines and antibiotic misuse
The Health Research Board published its Picture of Health for 2012 today.
Decrease in Irish psychiatric admissions
Depressive disorders accounted for almost one in three admissions, as unskilled workers remain the most likely group to be admitted.