20% have taken illegal drugs

Twenty per cent of people in the midlands have taken illegal drugs, with the number having tried drugs on the increase, according to new figures released this week. The National Drug Prevalence Survey in Ireland 2006/7, looks at Ireland by Regional Drugs Task Force Area, and found that among those surveyed, one out of every fifty people in the four midland counties of Westmeath, Offaly, Longford and Laois, has used an illegal drug in the past month. However, among all adults, aged 15-64 in the Midland Regional Drugs Task Force area, the prevalence rates for any illegal drugs were lower than the corresponding national figures. Males were more likely than females to report lifetime use (24% compared to 15%), last year use (6% compared to 3%) and last month use (2% compared to 1%) of any illegal drugs. Young adults aged 15-34 had higher prevalence rates than older adults aged 35-64 for use of any illegal drugs in each of the time periods examined. Cannabis was the most commonly used illegal drug, 17% of respondents reported ever taking the drug, 4% had done so in the previous year, and 1% in the previous month. Males were more likely than females to have used cannabis in each of the time periods examined. Young adults had higher lifetime, last year and last month prevalence rates than older adults. All cannabis prevalence rates were lower in the MRDTF area than the corresponding national rates. Apart from cannabis, highest levels of lifetime use were recorded for ecstasy (6%); magic mushrooms (5%); cocaine powder and amphetamines (each 4%); solvents and poppers (each 3%); and LSD (2%). Cocaine powder and ecstasy (each 1%) were the most commonly reported drugs used in the last year (besides cannabis). In the month prior to survey cocaine powder (1%) was the most widely reported drug used.