Census results: 1,282 received drug/alcohol addiction treatment in Western Health Trust area

Over 1,200 people  were receiving treatment in the Western Health Trust area - which includes Derry -  for drug and alcohol addition in September last year, newly released figures reveal.

The figures are contained in the resullts of a census carried out on 1 September  by the Department of Health, Social Services and PUblic Safety.

The Census summarises information collected from 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.

A total of 8,553 persons  (1,282 in the Wester Trust area) were reported to be in treatment for misuse of alcohol and/or drugs - an increase of 45% from 1 March 2012 when 5,916 were receiving treatment.

Some of this difference can be explained by a higher number of organisations contributing to the Census (70 in 2012; 93 in 2014), however a direct comparison of the 63 organisations that contributed to both the 2012 and 2014 Censuses showed a 30% increase in clients between the two years.

Over a quarter of clients (28%) were receiving treatment in the Belfast Trust area, with 23% in the Southern Trust, 18% in the South Eastern Trust and 10% in the Northern Trust.

Of those in treatment for alcohol and/or drugs, almost three-fifths (57%) were males aged 18 and over, a third (33%) were female aged 18 or more and a tenth were aged under 18 (6% male; 4% female).

Almost half (45%) were in treatment for alcohol only, while a third were in treatment for drugs only and a quarter (24%) were in treatment for both drugs and alcohol.

Over half of clients (54%) received treatment through non-statutory organisations, with 42% receiving treatment through statutory organisations.

The majority (93%) of those aged under 18 received treatment through non-statutory organisations.

The majority of clients (95%) were being treated in a non-residential setting.

The proportion of clients in treatment for both drugs and alcohol increased from 18% in 2007 to 24% in 2014, while the proportion of clients in treatment for drugs only also increased from 20% to 31%. The proportion of clients in treatment for alcohol only decreased from 62% in 2007 to 45% in 2014.