The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published a Statistical Bulletin summarising information from the Census of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services in Northern Ireland.

This is the third census which 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 on 1 March 2010.

Key Findings

•In Northern Ireland on 1March 2010 there were 5846 individuals in treatment for drug and/or alcohol misuse.
•Of all those in treatment on 1 March 2010, just under three fifths (57%) were in treatment for alcohol misuse; just over one fifth (22%) were in treatment for drug misuse; and approximately one fifth (21%) were in treatment for both drug and alcohol misuse.
•Approximately three quarters (73%) of individuals in treatment were male; 27% were female.
•The majority of those in treatment were aged 18 years or over (89%), whilst 11% were aged under 18 years.
•Just over half (55%) of those in treatment were attending statutory agencies; 42% were attending non-statutory services and 4% were attending prison-based services.
•Almost all (98%) of those in treatment on 1 March 2010 were attending non-residential treatment services.
•Between 1 March 2007 and 1 March 2010, the total number of individuals in treatment increased by 5% from 5583 to 5846.