The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) has found that cocaine use is on the rise in Ireland.
Dr Des Corrigan, Chairperson of the NACD launched the new report entitled Cocaine Use In Ireland - An Overview of Trends and Treatment Approachesin Dublin today.
According to the report, at least 3 per cent of the population have used cocaine, with the figure for crack at less than 1 per cent.
Cocaine use among men increased from 1.8 per cent in 1998 to 3 per cent in 2002 while in women it increased 1.3 per cent to 1.9 per cent over the same period.
"The challenge to the prevention networks and the treatment services of incorporating another drug with serious social, personal and health consequences into their case mix should not be underestimated." Dr Corrigan said.
Although the number of people reporting cocaine as their main problem drug remained small at 1 per cent of all cases attending drug treatment, there has been a 6 per cent increase in the numbers reporting it as a secondary problem drug, according to the Drug Treatment Centre Board.
The report also found there was substantial multiple-drug use including alcohol, cannabis, benzodiazepines and heroin.
Ms Mairéad Lyons, director of the NACD ,said: "the perceptions of cocaine as a safe drug need to be addressed given the level of risk behaviours associated with sharing equipment for injecting, snorting and smoking."
"Drug treatment services across the sectors face an enormous challenge in managing problem cocaine use amongst the opiate drug treatment population," Ms Lyons concluded.