Alcohol Accounts for Over Half of Addiction Treatment Cases in South-West Ireland

• New data from Coolmine Therapeutic Community reveals that alcohol accounts for 53% of all addiction treatment presentations in the South-West region, significantly higher than the national average of 40%, as services across Ireland operate at full capacity.

Ireland's addiction treatment services are experiencing sustained record demand, with alcohol remaining the primary substance driving people to seek help, according to mid-year statistics released today by Coolmine Therapeutic Community. The data shows particularly high rates in the South-West region, which includes Cork, where alcohol accounts for more than half of all treatment presentations.

The comprehensive report reveals that 1,969 clients accessed treatment and support through Coolmine services in the first half of 2025, maintaining the record-high levels seen in 2024. This sustained demand suggests that elevated service requirements have become the new normal for addiction treatment across Ireland.

Alcohol continues to dominate as the leading substance for which individuals seek treatment nationally, accounting for 40% of all presentations to Coolmine services in 2025, up from 37% during the same period last year. However, the South-West region shows a markedly higher rate at 53%, the highest regional percentage in the country.

Cocaine follows as the second most common substance nationally at 31%, with cannabis at 11%, benzodiazepines at 9%, and heroin at 8%. In contrast to the South-West's alcohol-dominant pattern, the East region sees cocaine as its leading substance at 36%.

Pauline McKeown, CEO of Coolmine:

"This report provides an important insight into the ongoing addiction challenges across the country. Alcohol and cocaine remain the most prominent substances for which people are seeking help, and demand for our services, especially for women and families, remains incredibly high."

The gender breakdown shows 57% male and 43% female clients nationally, reflecting an increase in female engagement compared to 2024. This shift represents a continuing trend towards more women seeking addiction treatment services.

Family impact remains a critical concern, with Coolmine's services supporting 305 families across all programmes in 2025 to date. The organisation reports that 1,794 children have been directly impacted by parental substance use and received support services. Additionally, 37 parents participated in the Parents under Pressure programme, whilst 35 children currently reside with a parent undergoing treatment.

Residential services are operating at maximum capacity, with both Ashleigh House, the dedicated residential programme for women and mothers with young children, and Coolmine Lodge, the male residential therapeutic community, reporting 100% occupancy. Community-based services in Dublin are also nearing full capacity, reflecting what the organisation describes as "growing and urgent need for accessible, high-quality recovery services."

Dublin's outreach services have seen a particularly sharp increase, with a 15.6% rise in client presentations. The service supported 414 individuals through specialised programmes including Assertive Traveller Outreach, Private Emergency Accommodations Team, and Genio programmes in the first half of 2025. A significant portion of this demand relates to housing and emergency accommodation issues, mirroring wider trends reported by homeless support organisations.

McKeown added:

"The sustained pressure on our residential and outreach services shows the scale of need we are responding to every day. We are seeing more people, from more backgrounds, reaching out for support."

The statistics paint a picture of addiction services under sustained pressure, with the South-West region's particularly high alcohol treatment rates suggesting local communities face significant challenges. With services operating at or near capacity and demand showing no signs of decreasing, the data underscores the ongoing nature of Ireland's addiction crisis.

McKeown concluded:

"Our teams continue to meet this need with compassion and professionalism. At Coolmine, we believe in the power of recovery and are committed to ensuring people across Ireland can access the support they need to transform their lives."

Coolmine Therapeutic Community provides community, day, and residential addiction treatment services across Ireland. The organisation takes a holistic approach, addressing addiction as a root cause of social exclusion whilst tackling both substance dependence and socioeconomic barriers.

For more information or to access support services, visit www.coolmine.ie.