THE number of people calling the HSE’s drug and alcohol helpline has hit record levels.
And the service has seen an explosion in contacts about cocaine.
The HSE helpline handled almost 6,000 calls in 2023, its latest annual report shows.
This is the highest annual total since the facility was launched 28 years ago — and an 18 per cent annual rise.
Nine in ten callers were first time users of the service, with around half seeking help or support for themselves.
Alcohol was a feature in 53 per cent of all calls in 2023 ahead of cocaine (21 per cent), cannabis (12 per cent), opioids (11 per cent) and benzodiazepines (8 per cent).
In contrast, alcohol was only mentioned in 16 per cent of calls in 2009, with cocaine referenced in just two per cent of contacts that year.
Chiefs said they got nearly a third more calls…