Addictions to cocaine, alcohol and gambling “often go hand-in-hand”, a residential treatment centre has warned, as it highlighted a dramatic surge in poly-addiction cases last year.
The Rutland Centre based in Dublin said that over three in five (62%) of people who presented to it last year did so with multiple addictions, which was a significant increase from 48% in 2022.
It said that alcohol addiction remained the predominant addiction at the centre with presentations remaining consistently high, while 16% of service users came forward for help with a cocaine addiction.
A further 20% of admissions were for gambling addiction, with the Rutland Centre saying that it hopes to introduce a specific outpatient programme for gambling to address the growing this growing need.
It also highlighted that one in five individuals presenting were struggling with three or more substances and behaviours.
“It’s typically alcohol plus something else, or cocaine plus something else,” Rutland Centre CEO Maebh Mullany said. “It’s very difficult for their family to get a hold of it. Something we see that makes it more challenging for people.
The findings related to cocaine echo a recent report from the Health Research Board which revealed a 200% surge in demand for cocaine addiction treatment since 2017.
She said that these poly-addictions can have multiple effects on our bodies, including our physical health and mental health, and also increase the risk of overdose and suicidal ideation.
Ms Mullany stressed that their data shows high completion rates for their support programmes.
“Families will be worried about loved ones, or worried about themselves,” she said. “It’s a difficult step to seek out help but there are services out there. Our message would be to people is that it can definitely change, you can turn your life around.”
Responding to the figures around gambling in particular, Labour senator Mark Wall said it highlighted “the scale of the affliction nationwide”.
“Government must invest more resources for gambling addiction support services,” Mr Wall said. “There are only a handful of services available to people at present, and these services are struggling to meet the growing demand.
“Problem gambling is an addiction and it should be treated as such. It needs to be treated as a public health issue and we need to ensure that there are adequate supports in place to help those suffering from addiction.”
The Government is expected to pass long-awaited legislation to establish the country’s first ever gambling regulator in the autumn, which will have sweeping powers to help protect against gambling harm in the country. This includes a social fund, derived from gambling companies to support problem gambling services.
“Gambling rates are growing,” she added. “The impact of gambling on families is quite extraordinary and devastating. The stories we hear, they’d break your heart. [A social fund] is badly needed.”
