Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As the Deputy will be aware, cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug which can make people feel more alert, energetic and confident. Cocaine can cause a range of acute health-related problems and even sudden death. It is highly risky for anybody with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Even perfectly healthy young people can have a fit or heart attack after consuming too much cocaine. Repeated sniffing of cocaine powder irritates the nose and can cause a breakdown of nasal cartilage.

Less than 7% of the population has ever used cocaine in their lifetime. Some 2% of the population has used cocaine in the past year. In 2022, 4,084 cases were treated for cocaine use. That is an increase of 800 or 26% on 2021. Cocaine accounts for 34% of all drug treatment cases.

In partnership with the Ana Liffey Drug Project, the HSE has developed a harm reduction campaign focusing on the dangers of cocaine at . The campaign - Cocaine: Drug and Alcohol Information and Support in Ireland - seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of using both powder cocaine and crack cocaine and to reduce the harms associated with the use of the drug. In 2023, the HSE has partnered with a number of festivals to put in place the Safer Nightlife harm reduction programme. This multi-component campaign involves outreach at festivals, back-of-house drug checking, media awareness and a social media campaign.

Drug prevention and education is a cornerstone of the national drugs strategy. I recently launched a €1.5 million drug education funding scheme, which supports evidence-based initiatives that engage with people who may be at risk of using drugs in a variety of contexts. I also recently announced funding of €500,000 to expand cocaine services. Enhancing access to drug services in the community and increasing awareness of the harms associated with drug use are a priority under the national drugs strategy. This demonstrates my commitment to a health-led response to drug use. We need to increase that funding and keep developing the education programme.

See this speech in context