Dublin Faces Alarming Surge in Crack Cocaine Addiction

The city experiences an unprecedented rise in crack cocaine use, prompting urgent calls for specialized support services.

Dublin is grappling with a severe crack cocaine crisis, as indicated by alarming statistics released by the Health Research Board (HRB). The number of individuals seeking treatment for crack cocaine usage skyrocketed from 173 cases in 2017 to 1,201 in 2023, marking a staggering 594% increase. A significant factor contributing to this crisis is the reported 80% increase in women seeking help for problematic crack cocaine use.

Ferghal Connolly, a recovering addict, shared his harrowing journey into addiction that began with social drinking and escalated through various substances before leading to heroin and crack cocaine. Daithi Doolan, a Sinn Féin councillor and member of the South Inner City Drug and Alcohol Partnership, described the situation as a full-blown crisis affecting local communities. He cited alarming trends, highlighting drug-related intimidation negatively impacting families, underlining the pervasive nature of drug use in and around schools.

The rise in crack cocaine use in Dublin may be partially attributed to external factors, such as the ongoing geopolitical shifts impacting heroin supply from Afghanistan. In 2023 alone, 4,923 individuals sought drug treatment with cocaine—whether powder or crack—identified as their primary issue.

Cheryl Kelly, an addiction counselor with the Donore Community Drug and Alcohol Team, emphasized the need for tailored support services for women, who often face complex challenges including social stigma and the fear of forced sex work. She noted that female patients often hesitate to access services if they fear interacting with individuals who may have harmed or intimidated them. The HRB reported a dramatic rise in women seeking treatment, from 284 cases in 2017 to 1,387 in 2023, indicating that nearly half of those whose primary issue was crack cocaine were female and predominantly aged 39.

There is a pressing demand for women-only programs in addiction services to foster a safe community for women recovering from drug use. Alan Kinsella, a case worker with Dublin’s Coolmine Therapeutic Community, reiterated the need for targeted programs, voicing that current initiatives constantly face high enrollment due to the pervasive cocaine issue across various social demographics.

As Dublin grapples with this escalating crisis, the call for comprehensive addiction support becomes ever more critical, aiming to provide effective resources and create safe environments for those in need.