Minister Murnane O’Connor publishes research emphasising links between social deprivation and addiction
-
From: Department of Health
- Published on: 6 May 2026
- Last updated on: 6 May 2026
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD has published a detailed analysis of the relationship between addiction treatment and deprivation. The report aims to guide the planning, funding, and implementation of drug services by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Health Regions. It will promote an evidence-based method for service planning and delivery in line with the new National Drugs Strategy.
The report, titled ‘An Exploration of the Relationship Between Addiction Treatment and Geographic Deprivation’, is a joint project by Pobal and the Health Research Board (HRB). It analysed data from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System to find patterns in treatment demand, and cross-referenced this information with the Pobal deprivation index to evaluate how treatment demand relates to deprivation.
Utilising 2024 data from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System and the 2022 Pobal HP Deprivation Index, this analysis examines 20,970 treatment episodes, with 19,339 episodes linked to Small Area deprivation information for comprehensive geographic review. The findings of this study will inform a population based resource allocation approach to funding allocations and provide crucial data to guide service planning into the future.
Minister Murnane O’Connor said:
“This research comes at a critical point as we develop our new National Drugs Strategy, and I was pleased to support and fund this research so that our decisions are grounded in robust evidence of need. It provides a strong basis for ensuring that addiction services are designed around people, place and fairness, in line with Sláintecare and our wider public health priorities.
“The research clearly demonstrates the strong link between disadvantage and drug‑related harm, while demand for addiction treatment is reflected across all social categories, the most disadvantaged communities account for a disproportionate share of those in treatment. This underlines the importance of using evidence to drive policy, target investment and shape services where they are needed most.
“That is why this Government has increased investment in community drug services, including €1.89 million announced last year and a further €750,000 secured in Budget 2026 to provide buprenorphine substitution therapy for people living outside Dublin. I remain committed to further investment in line with the findings of this report and to ensuring that addiction treatment services are accessible and available to all who need them.”
The research reveals a link between deprivation and demand for treatment across all substances, with alcohol accounting for 40.5% of treatment episodes. Cities have the highest treatment rates and strongest deprivation-treatment relationship, while rural residents travel farther. Low-threshold addiction services offer the quickest access, with 52.8% starting within one day; about one third of outpatient episodes also begin within a day.
Anna Shakespeare, CEO of Pobal, said:
“This research provides clear, evidence-based insight into how strongly addiction treatment demand is influenced by social and geographic disadvantage. The scale of the disparities identified, particularly for some drug types, underscores the need to plan services in a way that is responsive to both concentrated urban deprivation and the access challenges facing rural communities. By linking treatment data with the Pobal HP Deprivation Index, this study strengthens the evidence base available to policymakers at a critical moment for the development of the National Drugs Strategy, helping to ensure that resources are targeted where need is greatest and access barriers are most acute.”
Dr Gráinne Gorman, Chief Executive of Health Research Board 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.”
Notes:
The Health Research Board will host a webinar at 11:00am on the 14 May 2026 to discuss the report and its findings. You can register here.