These are some of the most addictive drugs in Northern Ireland
The most addictive drugs in Northern Ireland, according to the Northern Ireland substance misuse database 2019/20, have been revealed.
By Gemma Murray
Published 23rd Nov 2020, 12:22 BST
Updated 24th Nov 2020, 09:47 BST
The findngs come from a report representing people who have made use of - and still make use of - services for drug and/or alcohol misuse for the first time - or the first time in six months in NI.
The majority of clients recorded in the report were male, with only around a fifth of clients presenting to treatment for either drugs only, or for drugs & alcohol, being female (23.2% & 17.7% respectively). However, for those clients presenting to treatment for problem alcohol use only, two-fifths were female (41.9%). Photo: 213726359
According to the PSNI - The number of drug seizure incidents and drug-related arrests recorded by the police showed a mainly upwards trend between 2006/07 and 2019/20. Figures for the latest 12 months show a fall in both seizure incidents and arrests. In 12 months from 1st October 2019 to 30th September 2020: There were 7,690 drug seizure incidents, a decrease of 427 (5.3 per cent) on the previous 12 months. Lower levels of seizure incidents were seen across each class of drugs. Cannabis (Class B) was the most commonly seized drug, followed by benzodiazepines (Class C) and cocaine (Class A). Seven policing districts showed a decrease in drug seizure incidents. There were 3,403 drug-related arrests, a decrease of 219 (6.0 per cent) when compared with the previous 12 months. Nine policing districts showed a decrease in drugrelated arrests, with Belfast City showing the largest decrease.