Cork county lagging behind city for access to addition treatment services

While Cork city is one of the most accessible areas in Ireland for addiction treatment, Cork county is substantially less accessible, data has shown.

The county performs poorly when compared with the national average across nearly every category, according to data in a report from the Health Research Board (HRB) and Pobal.

The report, An Exploration of the Relationship Between Addiction Treatment and Geographic Deprivation, also found that treatment rates in HSE South-West, covering Cork and Kerry, are six times higher than in affluent areas.

The data shows that in Cork city, people had to travel just 2km for crack cocaine treatment, 2.5km for help with heroin addiction, 2.9km for benzodiazepines, 3.1km for both cannabis and alcohol, and 3.3km for powder cocaine treatment.

However, in Cork county, the distances were far higher, ranking in the bottom 10 nationally for each of the six main substance types.

People had to travel a median distance of 16.9km to receive treatment for crack cocaine addiction, 22.2km for powder cocaine, 26.4km for cannabis, 28.7km for alcohol, 32.3km for heroin and 38km for benzodiazepines.

While people in Cork city travelled an average of 2.8km from their homes to get treatment, people in Cork county had to travel 27.4km.

National average distance 

The national average distance was 23km, meaning Cork city’s average distance is about 88% lower, and Cork county’s 19% higher, than the national average.

Nationally, the report revealed a link between deprivation and demand for treatment across all substances.

The Cork data was representative of the broader national picture, as the research found that cities have the highest treatment rates and strongest deprivation-treatment relationship, while rural residents travel farther.

Crack cocaine, heroin and benzodiazepines are particularly concentrated in urban disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Alcohol is the most common treatment type in every urban and rural category.

Commenting on the report, HRB chief executive Dr Gráinne Gorman said: “This report by the Health Research Board and Pobal provides clear evidence that addiction and deprivation are closely intertwined in Irish society.

“It also highlights the value and importance of collating high-quality evidence and monitoring trends over time, and reinforces the need for targeted investment in the communities in Ireland that are struggling the most with drug and alcohol addiction.”