Middle-class users of cocaine were reluctant to seek help, Minister of State Noel Ahern told the Dáil.
Mr Ahern, who has responsibility for the national drugs strategy, said that cocaine use was not happening just in the traditionally disadvantaged areas.
"It is also being used in middle-class areas. It is difficult to get people to avail of treatment. They are much slower to realise they have a problem.
"They think recreational cocaine use is for the film star set, with no health difficulties attached. This is entirely untrue." Mr Ahern said cocaine was a very dangerous drug, leading to mental and physical health problems, including heart attacks and strokes.
"It is difficult to get that through to people. Many people are reluctant to admit they are 'druggies' and avail of services. It is similar to the problem with alcoholics. We could cope better and tailor services to people's needs if we could make them realise and admit they have a problem."
Sinn Féin spokesman Seán Crowe said there was a need to look at the use of recreational drugs. Alternatives such as cafes and youth clubs must be provided. He added that a survey showed clearly that there was growth in the use of drugs. "The 2004 survey found that 14 per cent of projects reported seeing clients with what they described as problematic cocaine use. However, 62 per cent of projects are now reporting such problematic cocaine use. Two years ago, 92.6 per cent of projects reported existing clients were using cocaine."
Mr Crowe suggested that there was a lack of proper analysis of the information available. "There clearly is a gap between what some community groups are doing and what we seem to have officially. The worrying thing for community activists, or those involved in the anti-drugs campaign over the years, is that the problem is worsening.
"The survey discusses the emergence of crystal meth and 10 projects report on the local availability of crack cocaine. However, the Garda does not seem to have information on the spread of crack cocaine."
Mr Ahern said he did not disagree with anything contained in the survey referred to by Mr Crowe. The Government, he said, was working in partnership with community groups and the local drugs taskforces. About €70 million was being spent annually on projects recommended and suggested at community level.
"While we take on board their suggestions about what is required, the drugs problem has not gone away and will not go away. It is a case of trial and error, and if anyone has the total solution, they should let us know what it is."
