Council of Europe, Co-operation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs (Pompidou Group)
Abstract
This report draws together data from a number of sources, including drug treatment data, crime statistics, drug seizure figures and forensic science information to estimate cocaine prevalence in Ireland. The author concludes that unlike heroin users, cocaine users are middle class and not involved in crime. There is no pattern of street seizures or regular dealing of cocaine and the author concludes that a household survey would not be a cost effective means of assesing further information regarding the prevalence of cocaine. The author recommends the collection of basic information on non-fatal overdoses from Accident and Emergency departments, and the administration of a questionnaire to cocaine users in contact with Dublin's treatment centres. Following the administration of the questionnaire, the feasability of a snowball approach to cocaine prevalence research should be evaluated
