Alcohol the dominant substance for treatment in Cork and Kerry in the first half of 2025

Alcohol has remained the dominant substance for treatment in Cork and Kerry in the first half of 2025, new statistics show, as a treatment manager says drinking is having a “devastating impact” on people’s lives.

Coolmine Therapeutic Community, a national drug and alcohol treatment service which provides community, day, and residential services, has published figures for the South-West showing a strong predominance of alcohol-related treatment presentations.

Coolmine’s South-West regional services manager Stephen Cashman said they were helping lots of people whose lives were being seriously affected by alcohol.

“The figures from the South-West highlight an ongoing and serious challenge with alcohol misuse,” he said.

“Over half of all people seeking support in the region are coming to us because alcohol is having a devastating impact on their health, families, and futures. Behind every one of these figures is a person trying to rebuild their life. Many are parents. Many have faced trauma, loss, or long-term marginalisation. At Coolmine, we meet each individual with respect, compassion, and the tools to recover.

“That’s what long-term, person-centred recovery looks like — and that’s what our teams in the South-West deliver every day.”

In total, Coolmine’s South-West services supported 665 individuals in the first half of 2025. Alcohol-related cases were markedly higher than in other regions, indicating a consistent regional trend.

The statistical report showcases that alcohol was the most common primary substance abuse in the South-West, accounting for 53% of all presentations — while a further substance breakdown shows 25% of people sought treatment for cocaine, 11% for cannabis, 6% for benzodiazepines, and 5% for heroin.

Coolmine’s approach sees clients supported with linked services addressing mental health needs, housing insecurity, and parenting challenges to ensure that support reflects the complexity of real-life recovery.

Coolmine delivers community-based services across North Cork (Mallow), East Cork (Midleton), West Cork (Ahiohill), and two Cork city hubs (North and South).