Four in ten believe addiction is a lifestyle choice

OVER 40 per cent of adults believe addiction is a lifestyle choice,  according to new research commissioned by a Dublin 15 treatment facility. 

The research undertaken by One Step Clinic found more than half (56 per cent) of all adults know someone with an addiction or dependency but 42 per cent believe they’re addicted by choice and able to stop if they are willing to.

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (NACDA) recently released statistics that show the usage of almost all kinds of illicit drugs has increased over the last decade. 

In 2003, lifetime use of any illegal drug stood at 18.5 per cent of the population.

However, by 2011, the year of the most recent official assessment, this had risen to 27.2 per cent.

Medical Director of One Step Clinic, Dr Hugh Gallagher, described these statistics and findings in the commissioned research as “a huge concern”.

“While people believe the statistics about Ireland’s drug and alcohol problems, they do not believe that these relate to themselves,” he said.

“The human cost though is enormous as there are countless families, and in particular young children, suffering acutely as a result of the dangerous relationship people here have with drugs, specifically alcohol.

“Unfortunately, though, when they do try and seek help, there are limited resources out there to help them deal with their addiction.”