Cannabis is NI's most abused drug

Cannabis is the most common "problem drug" among under 25s

Cannabis remains the most abused drug among people in Northern Ireland who have sought treatment for drug problems, according to new figures.

The annual Drug Misuse Database also found that there was 4% increase in the number of users seeking help for cannabis abuse, compared to last year.

The statistics also showed that 72% of patients who presented for treatment for the first time were male.

The figures are based on data collected from 1,755 patients across NI.

The patients had to give their consent to be including in the survey which covers the twelve month period ending 31 March 2009.

'Gender divide'

AVERAGE AGE OF FIRST TIME USE OF MAIN DRUG Cannabis - 15 years old Ecstasy - 18 years old Cocaine - 21 years old Heroin - 22 years old Other opiates - 26 years old Codeine/paracetamol - 28 years old Other drugs - 32 years old Benzodiazepines - 33 years old

The figures show a significant gender divide in the profile of problem drug users.

Half of the female patients who took part were over 40 years old and 42% of them reported that benzodiazepines were their main problem drug.

Benzodiazepines, which include drugs like valium and temazepam, have a sedative effect and can be proscribed to treat anxiety.

Male clients were more likely to be younger and cited cannabis abuse as their biggest problem.

'Reduction'

The increase in the abuse of cannabis appears to buck the trend however, as the number of people reporting abuse of benzodiazepines fell by almost a third.

There was was also a slight decrease in the number seeking treatment for cocaine addiction.

Overall, there was 12% reduction in the number of people included in the latest database, down by 229 compared to the year before.

Half of of the patients seeking help for drug problems were unemployed and a further 17% were in receipt of other benefits.

Geography also appeared to play a part in the figures.

In the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area, 45% of those surveyed reported that benzodiazepines was their main problem drug while among heroin users across the five trusts, the Northern Trust area had the highest proportion of people which cited it as the substance they abused most.

The Northern Trust includes the town of Ballymena, which has had a widely reported problem with heroin over the last few years.

As well as those seeking help for drug problems for the first time, the survey also included data from returning patients requiring treatment for the first time in six months.

More than a quarter (27%) of those who took part had previously undergone treatment for drug misuse.

There were a further 88 patients who did not agree to the inclusion of their details in the database.

The authors of the database which is produced by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, said it was important to note that the report "does not provide information on the overall size and nature of problem drug use or misuse in Northern Ireland".