Ireland participated in the European Web Survey on Drugs for the first time last year with the aim of capturing recreational users who may not experience dependency issues, as well as niche user groups such as those consuming psychedelic-type drugs.

The online survey was undertaken across 30 European countries between March and May 2021. It collected data from those who experiment or occasionally use drugs at festivals, parties or clubs as well as those who use drugs in a more regular, intense way.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) managed the recruitment of the survey sample, with 5,762 people in Ireland responding to the survey.

The results have been published online today, with cannabis coming out on top as Ireland's most used drug for 36 percent of survey participants. Almost 25 percent of Irish drug users reported using ketamine, with over 33 percent of 18 to 24-year-old males reporting using it last year.

Cocaine and ecstasy were the second and third most popular drugs for Irish users in nightlife settings, research shows. 36 percent of respondents had used one drug, while 20 percent used two and 44 percent used three or more.

European web survey on drugs 2021: Irish results
Among the survey sample of people who have used drugs in the last year, cannabis was the most commonly used drug, followed in order by cocaine, ecstasy, and ketamine.
https://t.co/5zoMNKRQ2L pic.twitter.com/VkhzpWf84L

— Drugs Library (@HRBdrugslibrary) August 4, 2022

Among cannabis users, 96% used cannabis herb, almost half used cannabis edibles, one in four used cannabis oil/extract, and one in five used cannabis resin. Cannabis edibles were used by 55 percent of 18-24-year-olds, and males aged 18-24 were most likely to use greater amounts of cannabis herb.

One in four cannabis herb users surveyed use it daily or nearly every day, with a further 35 percent using it at least once a week.

Some 8% of respondents who use cocaine reported frequent or weekly use of cocaine. On the occasions when they use cocaine, weekly users use twice as much cocaine as those who use it less than monthly.

One in five survey respondents who use ecstasy usually use tablets or pills, 25 percent usually use powder/crystals, and just over 40 percent use both. 18 to24-year-olds are most likely to use powder or crystals; those aged 35 and over are most likely to use tablets or pills.

Ketamine use was reported by almost 25 percent overall respondents. More than one-third of 18 to 24-year-old male-identifying participants reported using ketamine last year.

The predominant reasons for using cannabis cited were to reduce stress/relax (80 percent); to get high for fun (76 percent) or to improve sleep (57 percent). For cocaine, 88 percent of users take it to get high, for fun or to socialise (70 percent).

European web survey on drugs 2021: Irish results
Main reasons for using cannabis & Cocainehttps://t.co/5zoMNKRQ2L pic.twitter.com/dX7JT40Pbs

— Drugs Library (@HRBdrugslibrary) August 4, 2022

For cannabis herb users, most people went directly through a dealer (86 percent), social media (22 percent) or the dark web (nine percent). 87 percent of users bought cocaine through direct contact with a dealer or source.

45 percent of cannabis herb users reported increased use during the Covid-19 lockdowns, but almost one-in-three decreased their use. More than one in 10 ecstasy users increased use, with just over 60 percent using the drug less frequently, presumably because nightlife decreased heavily.

And higher use was reported by more than one-quarter of cocaine users, with nearly 50 percent reducing their use.

It was undertaken when Covid-19 restrictions were in place in Ireland, including the closure of nightlife settings, which may have impacted findings.

The survey is not a general population study and so can't be viewed as representative of the broader public as a whole. The goal is to investigate the behaviour of a particular sub-group of the population who identify themselves as drug users.