Drug Addiction Help in Ireland: Cocaine, Cannabis, Ketamine, Opioids, Tablets and Polydrug Addiction

Last updated: August 2026

Written and clinically reviewed by Claire Russell, Counselling Experts

Claire Russell, MSc, BSc, DipNT, Cl.Med.Hyp, Adv.RTT, is a Registered Nutritionist, Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner with more than 20 years of clinical experience across Ireland, UK, UAE, Australia and Europe.

Drug addiction can affect people who are working, parenting, studying and managing everyday responsibilities across Cork, Limerick, Dublin, Youghal, Newcastle West and throughout Ireland. You may not fit the usual image of addiction. You may still appear to be coping while cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, opioids or tablets quietly take up more of your thoughts, money, energy and relationships.

You do not have to lose everything before asking for help.

Call Claire Russell on 087 616 6638

Text Claire Russell on 087 616 6638

Call Shane Murphy on 086 894 7322

Text Shane Murphy on 086 894 7322

Urgent safety information

Call 112 or 999 immediately if someone:

Cannot be woken
Is breathing slowly or irregularly
Has blue or grey lips
Has collapsed or is having a seizure
Has severe chest pain
Is extremely hot, confused or agitated
Is experiencing severe paranoia or hallucinations
May harm themselves or another person
Has taken an unknown tablet, powder or drug

Stay with the person and tell emergency services what may have been taken. Do not assume they can sleep it off.

Naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Give it if it is available and you know how to use it. Always call 112 or 999 because naloxone can wear off before the opioid does.

Do not abruptly stop benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets or other medicines associated with physical dependence. Withdrawal may require an individualised plan from your GP, pharmacist or specialist addiction service.

Summary

Drug addiction is defined by impaired control, craving, risk and continued use despite harm, not by appearance or employment.
Ireland recorded 15,422 treatment cases for problem drug use during 2025.
Cocaine was the main problem drug in 42.4 per cent of cases.
Almost 62 per cent of Irish treatment cases involved more than one problem substance.
Cocaine treatment cases increased by 336 per cent between 2017 and 2025.
Ketamine treatment cases were twelve times higher in 2025 than in 2017.
Addiction may overlap with anxiety, trauma-related difficulties, ADHD, depression, autism spectrum needs, poor sleep, chronic pain, digestive symptoms, eating difficulties, hormonal changes and relationship distress.
Counselling, Psychotherapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy, RTT, Registered Nutritionist Services, Couples Counselling and Marriage Counselling can form a coordinated care package.
Therapy does not replace emergency treatment, supervised withdrawal, psychiatric care or medication for opioid dependence where these are required.
You do not have to be certain about stopping forever before arranging a confidential consultation.

What does drug addiction mean?

Drug addiction, clinically described as a substance use disorder, is a persistent pattern in which drug use becomes difficult to control and continues despite significant consequences.

Addiction can affect reward learning, motivation, memory, stress responses, habits and the ability to pause before acting. This does not remove personal responsibility. It helps explain why information, sincere promises and willpower may not be enough to change an established pattern.

Addiction is not determined by whether you:

Use every day
Have a job
Own a home
Have children
Use drugs socially
Obtain the drug through a prescription
Appear physically unwell
Have experienced legal consequences

A person who uses cocaine twice a month may experience severe cardiovascular, financial or relationship harm. Another person may use cannabis every evening and feel unable to sleep, eat or cope without it.

The pattern and its consequences matter more than the stereotype.

Addiction, tolerance, dependence and withdrawal

Term	Plain-English meaning	Why it matters
Craving	A strong urge that directs attention towards obtaining or using a drug	Craving can be triggered before you consciously decide to use
Tolerance	Needing more of a drug to obtain a similar effect	Increasing the amount may increase medical and overdose risk
Physical dependence	The body has adapted to a drug	Reducing some drugs may require medical supervision
Psychological dependence	Feeling unable to sleep, relax, socialise or function without the drug	Treatment needs to replace the function the drug has been serving
Withdrawal	Physical or psychological symptoms after reducing or stopping	Withdrawal risk varies considerably between substances
Addiction	Reduced control and continued use despite significant harm	A complete assessment is more useful than shame or labels

You can be physically dependent on prescribed medication without having the broader behavioural pattern of addiction. You can also have a serious cocaine, gambling or pornography addiction without a medically dangerous withdrawal syndrome.

For a wider explanation, read Addiction Help in Ireland: Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking, Vaping, Gambling, Pornography, Sex, Food and Sugar Addiction.

Drug addiction in Ireland

The Health Research Board Drug Treatment Demand in Ireland 2025 bulletin recorded 15,422 treatment cases for problem drug use.

A treatment case means an episode of treatment, not necessarily one unique person. The figures describe demand for services rather than the total number of people experiencing addiction in Ireland.

Key Irish drug treatment figures

Irish treatment finding for 2025	What it means
6,535 cocaine cases	Cocaine accounted for 42.4 per cent of main problem drugs
24 per cent annual increase	Cocaine cases increased from 5,289 in 2024
336 per cent increase since 2017	Cocaine treatment demand has risen substantially
1,912 female cocaine cases	Almost seven times the number recorded in 2017
25.3 per cent opioid cases	Opioids, mainly heroin, were the second most frequently reported main drug
15.1 per cent cannabis cases	Cannabis was the leading main drug among cases aged 19 or younger
334 ketamine cases	Twelve times the number recorded in 2017
61.8 per cent polydrug use	Almost three in five cases involved more than one problem substance

The figures challenge the idea that addiction belongs to one type of person. Treatment cases included people in paid employment, parents, students and adults across different age groups.

Polydrug deaths remain a serious concern

The Health Research Board’s latest detailed drug poisoning bulletin recorded 343 drug poisoning deaths in 2022.

Almost eight in ten involved more than one drug. Cocaine was present in one in three poisoning deaths, while opioids were involved in approximately two in three.

This is why a complete assessment must include alcohol, prescription medicines, pharmacy products and every recreational drug used.

Signs that drug use needs attention

You do not need to recognise every warning sign. One serious risk, or several quieter changes, may be enough to arrange an assessment.

Changes in control

Using more frequently or in larger amounts than intended
Repeatedly trying and failing to stop
Thinking about the next opportunity to use
Moving from social use to using alone
Needing the drug to sleep, work, eat or socialise
Feeling unable to enjoy ordinary activities without it
Using earlier in the day
Using to prevent withdrawal or a crash

Changes in health

Chest pain or palpitations
Blackouts or seizures
Panic, paranoia or hallucinations
Depression or suicidal thoughts
Insomnia or sleeping through the day
Appetite and weight changes
Nasal damage
Constipation, reflux or abdominal pain
Urinary urgency, pain or blood
Reduced sexual function
Needing another drug to manage the effects of the first

Changes in money and relationships

Hiding bank transactions
Borrowing or missing household bills
Lying about where you have been
Deleting messages
Missing work, college or appointments
Driving while affected
Caring for children while intoxicated
Arguments about trust, money, parenting or absence
Continuing despite a medical warning or relationship ultimatum

If you keep asking whether your drug use is “bad enough”, your concern deserves attention.

Call Claire Russell confidentially on 087 616 6638

Call Shane Murphy confidentially on 086 894 7322

Why willpower may not be enough

You may genuinely want to stop in the morning and still use later that day.

Repeated drug use teaches the brain to respond strongly to particular cues. A message, payday, argument, pub, certain friend, physical pain or sleepless night can activate anticipation before you have consciously decided to use.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, meaning a chemical messenger used by the nervous system. It is involved in learning, motivation, anticipation and directing attention towards potentially rewarding experiences.

It is not simply a pleasure chemical.

With repetition, drug-related cues can gain unusual importance. You may experience a craving when you see a particular contact name, pass a familiar location or receive money.

The drug addiction cycle

Stress, boredom, tiredness, pain, conflict or alcohol creates a trigger.
Your thoughts narrow towards the drug.
Craving and physical tension increase.
The drug brings temporary relief, confidence or numbness.
Anxiety, shame, exhaustion or low mood follows.
You promise that it will not happen again.
The original triggers and access remain.
The cycle restarts.

Treatment works by intervening at several points. It can reduce access, address underlying distress, change learned responses, improve sleep and eating, strengthen relationships and involve appropriate medical care.

Cocaine and crack cocaine addiction

Cocaine may initially create confidence, energy, alertness and sociability. For some people, it briefly reduces social anxiety or feelings of inadequacy.

The later effects may include:

Panic
Irritability
Insomnia
Depression
Paranoia
Exhaustion
Shame
Financial strain
Compulsive redosing
Powerful urges to use again

Cocaine can increase heart rate, blood pressure and cardiovascular strain. Severe chest pain, collapse, seizure, overheating or extreme agitation requires emergency care.

Cocaine and alcohol

Alcohol is a common cocaine trigger. When cocaine and alcohol are present together, the body can form cocaethylene.

A 2024 systematic review of the cardiovascular risks of alcohol and cocaine concluded that simultaneous use creates additional cardiovascular concerns. In Ireland, alcohol was recorded as an additional problem substance in more than half of 2025 treatment cases where cocaine was the main drug.

What cocaine treatment may need to address

Alcohol-linked triggers
Social pressure
Access to money
Drug contacts
Anxiety and the post-cocaine crash
ADHD symptoms
Trauma-related distress
Debt or intimidation
Sleep and appetite disruption
Relationship trust
Sexual decisions
Parenting safety
Work stress and burnout

There is no single approved medication that treats cocaine addiction in the same way methadone or buprenorphine can treat opioid dependence.

Structured psychological and behavioural treatment is therefore central. The ASAM clinical guideline for stimulant use disorder identifies contingency management as a leading evidence-based intervention. Contingency management uses clearly defined, immediate rewards to reinforce verified treatment goals.

Counselling and Psychotherapy can address motivation, triggers, anxiety, shame and relapse planning. Clinical Hypnotherapy may be considered as an additional intervention for cue-related urges and automatic patterns, but should not be presented as a stand-alone cure.

Cannabis, weed and HHC

Cannabis can become closely connected with sleep, appetite, relaxation and socialising.

You may initially use it to quiet racing thoughts or reduce stress. Over time, ordinary evenings can feel flat, restless or uncomfortable without it.

Cannabis withdrawal may include:

Irritability
Anxiety
Sleep disturbance
Vivid dreams
Low appetite
Restlessness
Reduced motivation
Low mood
Headaches
Sweating
Stomach discomfort

These symptoms are not normally medically dangerous in the way severe benzodiazepine withdrawal can be. They can still be distressing enough to cause rapid return to use.

Cannabis and mental health

Frequent high-potency cannabis use has been associated with increased psychosis risk. A systematic review examining cannabis use and psychosis found evidence of a dose-response relationship, meaning risk increased as exposure increased.

Risk deserves particular attention where there is:

Paranoia
Hallucination
Severe confusion
A personal history of psychosis
A close family history of psychosis
Marked anxiety or panic
A previous cannabis-related mental health crisis

HHC and semi-synthetic cannabinoids

HHC, or hexahydrocannabinol, may be sold in vapes, sweets or other products. Strength and contents can be uncertain.

Products sold under the same name may not have identical effects. Severe confusion, hallucinations, dangerous behaviour or inability to stay safe requires urgent assessment.

Heroin, opioids, codeine and prescription painkillers

Opioids include heroin, codeine, morphine, oxycodone and other pain-relieving drugs.

They can reduce pain and create temporary warmth, calm or emotional distance. They can also suppress breathing, particularly when combined with alcohol, benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets or pregabalin.

Tolerance can fall quickly

Tolerance means needing a larger dose to obtain a similar effect.

After abstinence, hospitalisation, prison, residential treatment or an attempt to stop, tolerance can fall. Returning to a previously tolerated amount may cause a fatal overdose.

This is one reason withdrawal alone should not be viewed as complete addiction treatment.

Medication for opioid dependence

Methadone and buprenorphine are evidence-based treatments for opioid dependence.

A systematic review published in JAMA Psychiatry found that receiving opioid agonist treatment was associated with lower mortality. Retention in treatment is important.

This is not simply replacing one addiction with another. It is regulated medical treatment that can reduce withdrawal, illicit opioid use and overdose risk.

Codeine dependence

Codeine may have started with genuine dental pain, migraine, surgery or chronic pain.

Dependence following legitimate medical treatment is not a character flaw. A safe plan should address the medication and the original pain rather than expecting you to tolerate unmanaged symptoms.

Read The Opioid Effect and Cravings.

Benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets and pregabalin

Benzodiazepines may include diazepam, alprazolam and related medicines used for anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasm or seizures.

Warning signs of dependence can include:

The dose no longer working as well
Anxiety appearing between doses
Taking more than prescribed
Obtaining tablets outside medical care
Memory gaps
Needing tablets to sleep or leave home
Feeling frightened of running out

Do not abruptly stop benzodiazepines after regular use.

The Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering recommends individualised tapering where physical dependence is likely. Sudden withdrawal can cause severe anxiety, confusion and seizures.

Pregabalin may be prescribed for neuropathic pain, epilepsy or anxiety. It can also become difficult to control and may increase sedation when combined with opioids or other depressant drugs.

Therapy can address the anxiety, fear, sleep difficulty or trauma-related distress the medicine has been managing. Medication changes must remain under appropriately qualified medical care.

Ketamine addiction and bladder health

Ketamine can create dissociation, meaning a sense of detachment from physical or emotional experience.

That detachment may feel relieving when someone is overwhelmed, anxious or unable to tolerate difficult thoughts or body sensations. Repeated use can become compulsive even when the person understands the risks.

Irish treatment cases involving problem ketamine use increased from 27 in 2017 to 334 in 2025.

Regular ketamine use can cause:

Urinary urgency
Very frequent urination
Bladder pain
Blood in the urine
Abdominal pain
Difficulty passing urine
Damage to the urinary tract
Kidney complications in severe cases

A 2024 review of ketamine-induced uropathy describes inflammation and damage affecting the bladder and upper urinary tract.

Blood in the urine, severe pain or difficulty urinating requires prompt medical assessment. Therapy can address the compulsive and emotional pattern while a GP or urology service assesses organ risk.

Polydrug use and unexpected drug combinations

Polydrug use means taking more than one psychoactive substance together or during the same period.

It may be intentional, or a powder or tablet may contain an unexpected drug.

Common patterns include:

Cocaine and alcohol
Cocaine followed by benzodiazepines
Opioids with alcohol
Opioids with sleeping tablets or pregabalin
Cannabis used to manage a stimulant crash
Ketamine with cocaine
MDMA with other stimulants
Prescription medicines mixed with non-prescribed drugs
Unknown powders or tablets taken together

The European Drug Report 2026 highlights increasingly complex European drug markets involving new synthetic substances, counterfeit medicines and unexpected combinations.

Potent synthetic opioids, including nitazenes, have been associated with localised overdose outbreaks. A drug sold as heroin, a painkiller or another substance may not contain what the person expects.

Unexpected sleepiness, slow breathing, chest pain, seizure, collapse or severe agitation should be treated as an emergency.

What may sit underneath drug addiction?

There is rarely one cause.

The drug may be solving a genuine short-term problem while creating larger problems over time. Effective treatment asks what the substance does for you and what happens when it is removed.

Anxiety and depression

Cocaine may temporarily replace self-doubt with confidence. Cannabis may quiet racing thoughts. Benzodiazepines may reduce panic. Opioids may soften emotional pain.

When the effect fades, rebound anxiety, low mood and sleep disruption can make the original problem feel worse.

In my clinical work, I often find that the substance is only one part of the cycle. The person may also be trying to manage fear, rejection, exhaustion, grief or a belief that they cannot cope without chemical relief.

Read Anxiety Counselling and Hypnotherapy in Ireland.

Trauma-related difficulties

Some people use drugs to suppress intrusive memories, emotional numbness, shame, hypervigilance or a constant sense of danger.

Treating the substance without addressing what it has been helping the person avoid can leave an important part of the problem untouched.

A systematic review of psychological treatment for co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder supports carefully integrated treatment while recognising the need for appropriate pacing and safety.

Read Hypnotherapy for Trauma-Related Difficulties in Ireland.

ADHD, autism spectrum needs and addiction

ADHD can affect impulse control, planning, reward seeking, emotional regulation and tolerance of boredom.

Drugs may be used to:

Focus
Slow racing thoughts
Increase energy
Manage social discomfort
Escape boredom
Cope with emotional intensity
Function after inadequate sleep

Autism spectrum needs may contribute through sensory overload, social exhaustion, rigid routines or reliance on one familiar coping strategy.

Treatment should be adapted to communication, sensory and executive-function needs. Apparent resistance may sometimes reflect overload, difficulty organising tasks or an unrealistic treatment plan.

Sleep and circadian disruption

Circadian rhythm means the body’s approximately 24-hour internal timing system.

Drug use can disturb sleep timing, sleep depth and the ability to wake consistently. Poor sleep can then worsen impulse control, anxiety, appetite regulation, pain sensitivity and craving.

A person may use:

Cocaine to function after inadequate sleep
Cannabis to fall asleep
Tablets to manage a stimulant crash
Opioids to reduce nighttime pain
Caffeine to counteract morning sedation

This can create a self-maintaining cycle where each substance is used to correct the effects of another.

Read Mood, Sleep, Energy and Addictive Patterns.

Gut health, appetite and metabolic health

Stimulants may suppress appetite. Cannabis may become associated with binge eating. Opioids commonly contribute to constipation. Withdrawal can cause nausea, appetite changes and digestive discomfort.

Irregular eating may contribute to:

Energy crashes
Intense sugar cravings
Irritability
Poor concentration
Sleep disruption
Binge eating
Digestive symptoms
Difficulty tolerating stress

Registered Nutritionist Services may be particularly valuable where addiction overlaps with IBS, reflux, bloating, disordered eating, insulin resistance, hormonal symptoms, chronic fatigue or weight change.

Nutrition does not detoxify drugs or replace addiction treatment. It can create a steadier physical foundation from which psychological and behavioural work becomes more manageable.

Read SIBO, IBS, Bloating and Gut-Brain Health and Registered Nutritionist Services in Ireland.

Eating disorders and cross-addiction

Cross-addiction describes the movement from one addictive or compulsive pattern to another.

A person may stop cocaine and begin drinking more. Someone may reduce cannabis but increase gambling, vaping, food restriction, binge eating or pornography use.

This is why treatment should assess the complete reward and coping pattern rather than focusing narrowly on one substance.

Where food, body image, binge eating or restrictive eating is also difficult, read Eating Disorder Counselling, Body Image Therapy and Disordered Eating Help in Ireland.

Hormonal and reproductive health

Drug use can affect sleep, mood, libido, menstrual cycles, medication adherence and decisions about sexual health.

PMS, PMDD, PCOS, perimenopause and menopause may also affect mood, sleep, stress tolerance and cravings. Fertility treatment or reproductive loss may add emotional pressure.

These connections do not mean hormonal changes cause addiction. They mean hormonal symptoms may alter vulnerability and should be considered in an individualised assessment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding require prompt medical advice because intoxication, withdrawal and medication changes can affect both parent and baby.

Relationships, betrayal and secrecy

Drug addiction can affect everyone close to the person using.

Partners may experience:

Missing money
Broken promises
Emotional absence
Sexual risk
Unsafe driving
Unexplained disappearances
Fear about parenting safety
Anger and loss of trust

The person using may feel watched, judged or permanently defined by previous behaviour.

Couples Counselling and Marriage Counselling can help address boundaries, accountability, communication, finances and decisions about rebuilding trust.

Joint sessions are not suitable where violence, coercive control or immediate danger is present. Individual safety comes first.

A complete, coordinated care package

No responsible therapist should claim to replace emergency medicine, a GP, addiction psychiatry, supervised withdrawal or opioid agonist treatment.

The strength of Counselling Experts is the ability to address psychological, behavioural, relationship and nutritional factors through a joined-up clinical framework, while recognising when medical or specialist care is essential.

Counselling

Counselling provides a confidential place to understand the current pattern and make practical changes.

It may focus on:

Motivation
Cravings
Triggers
Boundaries
Stress
Grief
Anxiety
Self-esteem
Immediate consequences
Returning to care after a lapse

Learn about Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy may explore deeper and recurring patterns involving trauma-related difficulties, shame, attachment, anxiety, depression, identity, anger, avoidance and relationship experiences.

It is particularly relevant when the drug has been doing emotional work that has not yet been replaced.

Clinical Hypnotherapy and Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy

Clinical Hypnotherapy uses focused attention and therapeutic suggestion to work with imagery, learned associations and automatic responses.

Where appropriate, Claire may incorporate Clinical Hypnotherapy or Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy for:

Cue-related urges
Anxiety
Sleep routines
Confidence
Emotional regulation
Rehearsing safer responses
Automatic behavioural patterns

Drug-specific evidence for hypnotherapy as a stand-alone addiction treatment remains limited. It should not be used to promise a cure, manage dangerous withdrawal or replace established medical and psychological care.

Read about Clinical Hypnotherapy and Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy.

Rapid Transformational Therapy

Rapid Transformational Therapy, known as RTT, is an intensive intervention that may help examine beliefs, emotionally charged learning and repetitive responses.

It may be considered where clinically suitable. It is not a medical detoxification method and does not replace opioid treatment, psychiatric care or emergency intervention.

Read about RTT and Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapy.

Registered Nutritionist Services

Registered Nutritionist Services may address:

Irregular meals
Appetite loss
Constipation
Reflux and bloating
Blood sugar instability
Low energy
Weight changes
Gut symptoms
Nutritional adequacy
Hormonal symptoms
Metabolic health
Food and sugar cravings

Supplements should not be used to self-treat withdrawal. Interactions, prescribed medicines, liver health and kidney health must be considered.

Couples Counselling and Marriage Counselling

Relationship sessions may address disclosure, money, parenting, intimacy, betrayal, boundaries and relapse planning.

The purpose is not to make a partner police the person using. It is to clarify responsibility, safety and the conditions required for trust.

ONLINE and in-person appointments

ONLINE Counselling and Psychotherapy are available across Ireland and internationally.

Claire offers ONLINE appointments and in-person availability in:

Adare
Newcastle West
Limerick
Abbeyfeale
Charleville
Kanturk
Midleton
Youghal
Cork
Lismore
Dublin
Dungarvan

Shane offers ONLINE Counselling and Psychotherapy and in-person appointments in Youghal, East Cork and Cork City.

How strong is the evidence?

Intervention	Evidence position	Responsible clinical use
Opioid agonist treatment	Strong evidence for reducing mortality while retained in treatment	Delivered through authorised medical services
Contingency management for stimulant addiction	Strong guideline support	Used as part of structured stimulant treatment
Psychological treatment for cannabis use disorder	Evidence supports benefit, although outcomes vary	Combines motivation, behavioural work, sleep and mental health care
Counselling and Psychotherapy	Established components of addiction care	Tailored to severity, risk, mental health and personal circumstances
Couples or Marriage Counselling	Useful where relationship patterns affect recovery	Safety must be assessed before joint sessions
Clinical Hypnotherapy and RTT	Limited drug-specific stand-alone evidence	Used as additional interventions for suitable clients
Registered Nutritionist Services	Relevant to nutritional and metabolic needs	Used alongside medical and psychological addiction care

The Counselling Experts SAFE Recovery Map

The SAFE Recovery Map is Claire Russell’s clinical framework for organising complex addiction care.

S: Safety first

Assess overdose, withdrawal, suicide, psychosis, pregnancy, safeguarding, driving, violence, debt and physical health risks.

A: Assess the complete pattern

Map every substance, medication, trigger, consequence and previous attempt to change.

F: Fit care to the person

Coordinate medical care with Counselling, Psychotherapy, relationship work, suitable hypnotherapy and Registered Nutritionist input.

E: Extend change into everyday life

Build practical routines involving sleep, meals, money, relationships, meaningful activity, craving plans and rapid return to care after a lapse.

Anonymised Ireland-based clinical illustrations

The following are composite clinical illustrations. Details have been changed, and they do not describe any one client.

A Cork professional whose weekend cocaine use moved into the week

A man in his late thirties continued to perform well at work. Cocaine had begun on occasional nights out but was now being used on Thursdays and some Sundays.

Alcohol reliably triggered cocaine use. He experienced palpitations, morning panic and debt he had hidden from his partner.

Cardiovascular symptoms required medical assessment. Therapy then examined alcohol, social access, work pressure, anxiety and shame. Couples work later addressed finances, disclosure and trust.

The plan did not depend on one dramatic promise. It changed access, routines, relationships and the emotional function of cocaine.

A Limerick woman whose prescribed pain relief became difficult to control

A woman in her forties experienced chronic pain, poor sleep, fatigue and constipation. Codeine use increased gradually. She began taking tablets earlier because she feared the pain returning.

Her GP reviewed medication and withdrawal risk. Counselling addressed fear and reduced confidence. Registered Nutritionist work considered irregular eating, constipation and energy within appropriate medical boundaries.

Dependence following legitimate treatment was approached as a clinical problem rather than a personal failure.

A young adult in East Cork using cannabis and HHC for overload

A young adult with suspected ADHD and marked social anxiety used cannabis most evenings and HHC vapes during the day.

Sleep had reversed, college attendance was falling and paranoia had appeared after stronger products.

Mental health risk was assessed first. Therapy was adapted for executive-function difficulties using short, clear plans. Work addressed sensory overload, social fear, sleep and the belief that the drug was the only route to feeling calm.

GP and neurodevelopmental assessment were recommended rather than treating cannabis use in isolation.

What you can do now

If you are medically stable, consider these initial steps.

Write down every drug, medicine and alcohol product you use.
Record the amount, frequency, route and recent escalation.
Note chest pain, seizures, hallucinations, urinary pain, overdose or severe depression.
Contact your GP before reducing benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets or opioids.
Remove drug contacts where possible.
Reduce access to cash during high-risk periods.
Avoid driving or caring for children while affected.
Eat regularly and protect sleep where possible.
Arrange a confidential assessment.
If a lapse occurs, return to care quickly.

You do not have to promise lifelong abstinence before asking for help. You can begin by telling the truth about what is happening.

Call Claire Russell on 087 616 6638

Text Claire Russell on 087 616 6638

Helping someone you care about

Try to speak when the person is not intoxicated.

Use specific observations rather than labels:

“I noticed you have missed work twice and money is missing. I am worried about you and about what is happening at home.”

Avoid arguments about whether the person is an “addict”. Focus on behaviour, risk and consequences.

You can:

Set clear financial boundaries
Refuse to provide money for drugs
Avoid covering up consequences
Protect children from intoxication and unsafe driving
Keep naloxone available where opioid exposure is possible
Arrange individual Counselling for yourself
Contact the HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline

The HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline is confidential. Call 1800 459 459, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.30pm.

Frequently asked questions about drug addiction

1. How do I know whether I am addicted to cocaine?

You may need cocaine addiction help if you repeatedly use more than intended, think about cocaine between occasions, hide spending, experience strong cravings or continue despite anxiety, chest symptoms, debt or relationship damage.

Daily use is not required. Some people experience a binge pattern involving days or weeks without cocaine followed by severe loss of control. Alcohol, payday, particular friends or workplace stress may become reliable triggers.

A useful assessment examines the frequency, amount, consequences, combinations and function of the cocaine use. Chest pain, collapse, seizure or severe paranoia requires emergency care.

2. Can I be addicted if I only use drugs at weekends?

Yes. Frequency is only one part of the assessment.

Weekend drug use can still involve dangerous combinations, impaired driving, blackouts, financial harm, severe mood changes, missed responsibilities and repeated promises that do not last.

Ask whether you can reliably choose not to use, whether the amount remains within your intentions and whether your week is organised around the next opportunity. Thinking about the drug for several days, recovering afterwards or needing alcohol before using may indicate a more established cycle.

3. Is cannabis addictive?

Yes. Some people develop cannabis use disorder.

Signs include craving, tolerance, repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop, withdrawal and feeling unable to sleep, eat, relax or socialise without cannabis.

The pattern may be overlooked because cannabis is used socially and does not always create immediate visible chaos. However, it can still affect memory, concentration, motivation, anxiety, finances and relationships.

High-potency products deserve particular caution where there is paranoia, hallucination, panic or a personal or close family history of psychosis.

4. Can HHC vapes cause addiction or mental health symptoms?

HHC products can become part of a repetitive or dependent pattern. Product strength, manufacturing standards and contents may be uncertain.

Reported difficulties can include anxiety, paranoia, impaired judgement, sleep disruption and withdrawal-like symptoms after regular use.

The label does not guarantee a predictable dose. This is particularly important for teenagers, young adults and anyone with a history of psychosis or severe anxiety.

Severe confusion, hallucinations, collapse or danger to yourself or another person requires urgent medical assessment.

5. What bladder symptoms can ketamine cause?

Regular ketamine use can irritate and damage the urinary system.

Early symptoms may include needing to urinate very frequently, sudden urgency, discomfort, reduced bladder capacity or waking repeatedly during the night.

More concerning signs include severe bladder pain, blood in the urine, difficulty passing urine, abdominal pain and flank pain. Upper urinary tract and kidney complications can occur in severe cases.

These symptoms require medical assessment. Therapy can address the addictive pattern, but it cannot replace examination of possible bladder or kidney damage.

6. What should I do if someone may have overdosed on opioids?

Call 112 or 999 immediately.

Give naloxone if it is available and you know how to use it. If the person is breathing, place them in the recovery position and stay with them.

Do not allow them to “sleep it off”. Naloxone can wear off before the opioid, meaning breathing problems may return.

Tell emergency services what may have been taken, including alcohol, benzodiazepines, pregabalin or sleeping tablets. Honest information can help clinicians provide safer treatment.

7. Is it safe to stop benzodiazepines or sleeping tablets myself?

Not if you have been using them regularly or may be physically dependent.

Abrupt benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause severe anxiety, confusion, hallucinations and seizures. The safest reduction rate varies according to the medicine, dose, duration, health history and previous withdrawal experiences.

Ask your GP, pharmacist or specialist service for an individualised plan. Therapy can address anxiety and sleep difficulties during the process, but medication changes should remain under qualified medical supervision.

8. Why is mixing drugs more dangerous?

Mixing drugs can make their effects less predictable.

Combining opioids with alcohol, benzodiazepines, pregabalin or sleeping tablets can suppress breathing. Cocaine and alcohol create additional cardiovascular concerns. Combining several stimulants may increase overheating, heart strain, agitation and seizure risk.

A second drug does not reliably cancel the first. A stimulant may make someone feel more alert while breathing or judgement remains dangerously impaired.

Unknown tablets and powders can also contain unexpected substances. Tell clinicians about every substance used.

9. Can Counselling help drug addiction?

Counselling can help you clarify motivation, understand triggers, prepare for cravings and address anxiety, shame, grief, boundaries and practical consequences.

It can also help you examine the function of the drug. You may be using it for confidence, sleep, stimulation, pain relief, escape or emotional numbness.

Counselling is one component of care. Medical assessment may also be required where there is withdrawal, overdose risk, cardiovascular symptoms, psychosis, pregnancy, prescribed medication or severe mental health difficulty.

10. What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy for addiction?

Counselling often focuses on current difficulties, decisions, triggers and practical change.

Psychotherapy may explore deeper patterns involving trauma-related difficulties, attachment, identity, shame, relationships, anxiety, depression and repeated emotional responses.

The distinction is not always rigid. The appropriate approach depends on your history, current risk, goals and ability to engage.

Some clients initially need stabilisation and practical planning. Deeper psychological work can follow when daily life and immediate safety are more secure.

11. Can Clinical Hypnotherapy help drug addiction?

Clinical Hypnotherapy may help some suitable clients work with cue-related urges, anxiety, automatic habits, imagery, confidence and rehearsing alternative responses.

It should be used as an additional intervention within a wider care plan. Current evidence does not support presenting hypnotherapy as a guaranteed stand-alone cure for drug addiction.

It cannot safely manage dangerous withdrawal, reverse overdose or replace medication for opioid dependence. Claire assesses suitability individually and refers for medical or specialist care where required.

12. Can RTT help with addiction?

RTT may help suitable clients examine emotionally charged beliefs and repetitive responses connected with drug use.

Examples may include beliefs such as “I cannot cope without it”, “I need it to feel confident” or “I can only switch off when I use”.

RTT is an intensive intervention. It should be considered within the person’s wider psychological, medical and social needs. It is not a detoxification method and should not replace established addiction treatment where medical risk is present.

13. Can a Registered Nutritionist help during addiction recovery?

Registered Nutritionist Services can address irregular eating, appetite changes, constipation, reflux, bloating, weight change, blood sugar instability and low energy.

Nutrition can be especially relevant when stimulant use suppresses appetite, cannabis is linked with binge eating, opioids affect bowel function or poor sleep intensifies cravings.

Nutrition does not remove drugs from the body faster or cure addiction. Its role is to improve nutritional stability and address physical barriers that may make psychological and behavioural change harder.

14. Do I need to stop using drugs before attending therapy?

Not always.

Therapy can begin while you are exploring change, provided the session can be conducted safely and you are able to engage. You should not attend while severely intoxicated.

A therapist may recommend medical assessment first if there is overdose risk, dangerous withdrawal, psychosis, severe depression, pregnancy or concerning physical symptoms.

You do not have to promise permanent abstinence before your first appointment. Honest discussion of your current pattern is a valid starting point.

15. Does a lapse mean treatment has failed?

No. A lapse can indicate that part of the plan was incomplete, unrealistic or unavailable at a critical moment.

It should still be taken seriously. Tolerance may have fallen, increasing overdose risk.

Review what happened during the previous 24 hours. Consider sleep, alcohol, conflict, pain, payday, access to money, contact with a particular person and the thought that made use feel permissible.

Return to care quickly. One episode does not have to become a complete return to the previous pattern.

16. What if my partner uses drugs and refuses help?

You can still arrange Counselling for yourself.

Individual work can help you make decisions about boundaries, money, parenting, safety and what you will or will not accept.

Avoid giving money, covering debts or repeatedly concealing consequences. Protect children from intoxication, unsafe driving and frightening behaviour.

Couples Counselling may become appropriate if both people can participate safely. Where there is violence, coercive control or immediate danger, individual safety and specialist safeguarding advice take priority.

17. Can teenagers receive help for cannabis, HHC or other drug use?

Yes. Teenagers may need a combined assessment of substance use, mental health, school functioning, sleep, ADHD, autism spectrum needs, bullying, social anxiety and safeguarding.

Cannabis was the leading main problem drug among Irish treatment cases aged 19 or younger in 2025.

A teenager should not simply be labelled difficult or unmotivated. The drug may be serving a function involving social acceptance, anxiety, sensory overload, sleep or emotional escape.

Read Teen Social Anxiety, Loneliness, Low Mood, Anger and Avoidance.

18. Is ONLINE addiction counselling available in Ireland?

Yes. ONLINE Counselling and Psychotherapy can be suitable for many adults across Ireland, particularly where travel, work or location makes in-person attendance difficult.

Suitability depends on privacy, intoxication, medical risk, safeguarding and access to local emergency care.

ONLINE therapy does not replace physical examination, medically supervised withdrawal or emergency treatment. Claire and Shane can recommend GP or specialist involvement where the assessment identifies additional risk.

Book a Consultation Now

You do not need to arrive certain, abstinent or free from shame.

A confidential consultation can help you understand the risks, explore your options and identify the most appropriate starting point.

Book with Claire Russell

Registered Nutritionist, Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Advanced RTT Practitioner with more than 20 years of clinical experience.

Services include Counselling, Psychotherapy, Couples Counselling, Marriage Counselling, Registered Nutritionist Services, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis, RTT and Advanced RTT.

Appointments are available ONLINE across Ireland and internationally, and in person in Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Kanturk, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Lismore, Dublin and Dungarvan.

Call Claire on 087 616 6638

Text Claire on 087 616 6638

Email Claire Russell

View Claire Russell’s professional profile

Book with Shane Murphy

Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Anxiety Expert.

Shane provides Counselling and Psychotherapy for addiction-related emotional difficulties, anxiety, stress and relationship concerns.

Appointments are available ONLINE and in person in Youghal, East Cork and Cork City.

Call Shane on 086 894 7322

Text Shane on 086 894 7322

Contact Counselling Experts

About Claire Russell

This article was written and clinically reviewed by Claire Russell.

Claire Russell, MSc, BSc, DipNT, Cl.Med.Hyp, Adv.RTT, is a Registered Nutritionist, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Counsellor, Psychotherapist, RTT and Advanced RTT Practitioner.

Claire has more than 20 years of clinical experience across Ireland, the UK and Europe. She works with adults, teenagers and children where clinically appropriate.

Her clinical work includes addiction, anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum needs, trauma-related difficulties, eating disorders, disordered eating, gut and digestive health, metabolic health, chronic inflammation, autoimmune symptom patterns, hormonal health, fertility, sleep, chronic pain, fatigue, grief, betrayal and relationship difficulties.

Editorial and clinical review policy

This article is reviewed periodically against:

Current Irish treatment data
HSE safety information
European drug monitoring
International clinical guidelines
Systematic reviews
Peer-reviewed research

Treatment cases are not presented as unique individuals. Therapy claims are limited according to the available evidence and professional scope.

Medical and emergency interventions are clearly distinguished from Counselling Experts services.

Planned review date: August 2027, or earlier if significant Irish guidance or safety information changes.

Educational disclaimer

This article is for education and does not diagnose drug addiction or replace individual medical advice, emergency treatment, prescribed medication or supervised withdrawal.

Consult your GP, pharmacist or specialist addiction service before changing medication or attempting to manage significant withdrawal.

Call 112 or 999 where overdose, severe withdrawal, psychosis, suicidal intent or immediate danger is possible.

Academic and clinical references

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