EU Web Survey Aims To Capture Drug Trends In Ireland

These are some of the questions being asked in the 2024 European Web Survey On Drugs HERE, a fully anonymous survey, which finds the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) teaming up here with HSE Drugs.ie and the Health Research Board.

Running until Monday July 15 and aimed at people 18 and over, this will provide valuable insight into drug trends and the diverse groups of people who now use drugs in Ireland, including the use of newer drugs to the market such as HHC, a synthetic cannabinoid.

Coordinated by the EMCDDA, 36 countries will be taking part in this year’s survey to capture the most current landscape – and to compare trends across regions.

“This initiative aims to gather current information on the most recent drug trends nationally,” Brian Galvin from The Health Research Board reflects. “Focusing on aspects such as commonly used drugs, purchasing behaviours, and motivations for drug use, the survey offers a crucial snapshot of prevalence, trends, and attitudes among people who use drugs.

“The insights from this survey will be invaluable for policymakers to better understand behaviours, develop effective policies, plan new initiatives and monitor impacts.”

Adding to that, Nicki Killeen from the HSE National Social Inclusion Office explains: “It is an extremely important time to conduct research on drug use in Ireland. We know that the landscape has significantly changed with more people now using drugs who may never have received drug education, information or support.

“We hope to understand a number of key areas specific to Ireland, such as the use of ketamine which is increasing but missing from other areas of research. The Irish specific sections will focus on drug information, harm reduction and support needs, drug use in nightlife and the HSE Safer Nightlife Programme as well as on the substance HHC which we currently know very little about.

“An extremely important element of this survey,” she adds, “is asking people if they would use the HSE Safer Nightlife and ‘back of house’ drug monitoring programme.”

In the last survey conducted in 2021, almost 6,000 respondents shared their experiences with a range of drugs, including the re-emergence at the time of nitrous oxide and psychedelic mushrooms.

As happened four years ago, the data from 2024 European Web Survey On Drugs will inform the development of harm reduction responses in Ireland.

Remember, participating is completely confidential and anonymous – so, make sure to have your say!

For information and support relating to your own or someone else’s drug use, go to www.drugs.ie or Freephone the HSE Helpline on 1800 459 459 Monday – Friday 9:30 – 5:30 or email [email protected]

The 2021 European Web Survey on Drugs Results for Ireland can be downloaded here.