ALCOHOL remains the main drug of addiction in the Mid West, closely followed by cocaine.
That’s according to the Coolmine Therapeutic Community mid-year 2025 statistics.
The data also highlights persistent high demand for services at Coolmine’s residential centres in Limerick and Dublin, with occupancy of both at 100 per cent.
Alcohol continues to be the leading substance for which individuals seek treatment, accounting for 40 per cent of all presentations to Coolmine services to date in 2025.
This represents a slight increase from 37 per cent during the same period in 2024.
Cocaine follows at 31 per cent, with heroin (8 per cent), cannabis (11), and benzodiazepines (9) also featuring prominently.
Regional trends indicate notable differences, with alcohol as the most common substance in the Mid and South West while cocaine remains the leading substance in the East (36 per cent).
“This report provides an important insight into the ongoing addiction challenges across the country,” noted Pauline McKeown, CEO of Coolmine.
“Alcohol and cocaine remain the most prominent substances for which people are seeking help, and demand for our services — especially for women and families — remains incredibly high.”
A total of 1,969 clients accessed treatment and support through Coolmine in the first half of 2025, virtually unchanged from the record-setting demand experienced in 2024. This suggests, Coolmine says, that elevated service levels have become the new norm for addiction treatment in Ireland.
Nationally, 57per cent of Coolmine clients were male and 43 per cent were female, reflecting an increase in female engagement compared to 2024.
Limerick’s residential service for mothers and children in Ashleigh House is currently home to 35 children.
1,794 children were directly impacted by parental substance use and received support, the report explained.
Ms McKeown added that “the sustained pressure on our residential and outreach services shows the scale of need we are responding to every day. We are seeing more people, from more backgrounds, reaching out for support.”
For more information, visit coolmine.ie.
