Census of drug and alcohol treatment services in Northern Ireland, 2007

The Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit (DAIRU) conducted the first Census of statutory and non-statutory drug and alcohol treatment services in Northern Ireland on 1 March 2005, to establish the number of people in treatment for drug and/or alcohol misuse.¹
A comprehensive list of statutory and non-statutory drug and alcohol treatment services was developed by a steering group in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Drug and Alcohol Coordinators. Participating organisations provided a wide range of services, which included detoxification and residential care.

The census provides a "snap shot" of the figures for those in treatment only and may not be used to estimate numbers in treatment over the course of the year.

The second Census of statutory and non-statutory drug and alcohol treatment services in Northern Ireland was conducted on 1 March 2007.²

The summary of findings for those in treatment for drug and/or alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland on
1 March 2007 is as follows:

There were 5,583 individuals in treatment for drug and/or alcohol misuse.
Of all those in treatment on 1st March 2007;
- Approximately three fifths (62%) were in treatment for alcohol misuse;
- One fifth (20%) were in treatment for drug misuse; and
- Just under one fifth (18%) were in treatment for both drug and alcohol misuse.
Approximately two thirds (66%) of individuals in treatment were male; 34% were female.
The majority of those in treatment were aged 18 years or over (85%), whilst 15% were aged under 18 years.
Almost two thirds (64%) of those in treatment were attending statutory agencies; 31% attended non-statutory services and 5% were attending prison-based services.
Almost all (98%) of those in treatment on 1st March 2007 were attending non-residential treatment services.
Of those individuals in residential treatment services 1% were in treatment in specialist addiction treatment services.
Between 1 March 2005 and 1 March 2007, the number of individuals in treatment increased by 10% from 5,064 to 5,583; those in treatment aged under 18 years more than trebled from 271 to 847 over the period.

Treatment type of individuals in treatment on 1 March 2005 and 1 March 2007

Treatment type	1 March 2005		1 March 2007		% change
Treatment type	Number	%	Number	%
Drugs only	1,030	20	1,118	20	+9
Alcohol only	3,074	61	3,476	62	+13
Drugs and alcohol	960	19	989	18	+3
Total	5,064	100	5,583	100	+10

Gender of individuals in treatment on 1 March 2005 and 1 March 2007

Gender	1 March 2005		1 March 2007		% change
Gender	Number	%	Number	%
Males	3,292	65	3,686	66	+12
Females	1,772	35	1,897	34	+7
Total	5,064	100	5,583	100	+10

Health and Social Services Board area (HSSB) treatment on 1 March 2005 and 1 March 2007

HSSB area	1 March 2005		1 March 2007		% change
HSSB area	Number	%	Number	%
EHSSB	1,754	35	1,624	29	-7
NHSSB	1,108	22	1,382	25	+25
SHSSB	863	17	1,320	24	+53
WHSSB	921	18	859	15	-7
Prisons	186	4	257	5	+38
Hospital Inpatients System	232	5	141	3	-39
Total	5,064	100	5,583	100	+10

Service type of treatment on 1 March 2005 and 1 March 2007

Service type	1 March 2005		1 March 2007		% change
Service type	Number	%	Number	%
Non-statutory	1,280	25	1,741	31	+36
Statutory	3,598	71	3,585	64	0
Prisons	186	4	257	5	+38
Total	5,064	100	5,583	100	+10

Comments or queries regarding the data contained in these publications should be addressed to DAIRU.

Reference

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Census of drug and alcohol treatment services in Northern Ireland: 1 March 2005. Belfast: NISRA, 2005. www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/census-drug-alcohol-treatment-mar05.pdf accessed 30 October 2007.
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Census of drug and alcohol treatment services in Northern Ireland: 1 March 2007. Belfast: NISRA, 2007. www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/census-drug-alcohol-treatment-mar07.pdf accessed 30 October 2007.

PDF version