The number of cases treated for problem alcohol use last year was the highest in over a decade, according to the Health Research Board.
Latest data from the HRB National Drug Treatment Reporting System shows that there were 8,163 alcohol treatment cases last year which was an increase of 10% on 2022.
Dr Suzi Lyons, a researcher with the HRB, told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that a significant number of these cases now involve patients who abuse both alcohol and another drug.
In 2023, one in four cases also reported problem use of another drug along with alcohol.
Cocaine remains the most common additional drug reported with 1,310 cases mixing alcohol and cocaine in 2023 compared to 607 in 2017.
"We are seeing some concerning trends especially in relation to cases presenting with alcohol and cocaine," said Dr Lyons.
"To put this into context, in 2017 four in ten cases with poly drug use reported using cocaine along with alcohol but this has increased to almost seven in ten in 2023."
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Among cases seeking treatment for alcohol use for the first time in 2023, the majority (three in five) were classified as 'alcohol dependent'.
"Even though the numbers are up and may be an underestimation of the true figures of people who need treatment, it is actually positive because what we see are people who are seeking treatment earlier before they become alcohol dependent and experience the worst harms of problem alcohol use," Dr Lyons said.
The HRB data shows that there has been a decrease in the proportion of all cases that were classified as ‘alcohol dependent’ from 72% in 2017 to 61% in 2023.
In 2023, six in ten cases were male, but the median age of males who presented was lower at 42 years, compared to females (44 years).
Almost half of the cases were recorded as unemployed and one in three in paid employment.
Among parents with children aged 17 years or under, more than half (51%) had at least one child residing with them at the time they entered treatment.
The HRB data also looks at trends in treatment for the seven-year period from 2017 to 2023.
The proportion who consumed alcohol daily increased from 43% to 56% in that time.
There was also an increase in the proportion of all cases whose alcohol use was classified as ‘hazardous’ from 10% in 2017, to 13% in 2023.
The proportion of those whose alcohol use was classified as ‘harmful’ also rose from 16% in 2017, to 22% in 2023.
Many cases in treatment had been drinking more in a typical day than is outlined for a week based on HSE low risk guidelines.
Females were drinking on average more than two bottles of wine in a typical drinking session, which accounts for 15 standard drinks.
Males were drinking on average nine pints of beer or over half a litre of spirts in a typical drinking session (18 standard drinks).
The HRB has reiterated its concern over the increase in the proportion of cases using other drugs with alcohol because it can complicate treatment and impede recovery.
The proportion of cases reporting polydrug use increased from one in five in 2017 to one in four in 2023.
Cocaine was the most common additional drug used alongside alcohol, followed by cannabis, benzodiazepines, and opioids.
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Recovering alcoholic appeals to people to reach out for help
A recovering alcoholic and recovery advocate has said he is happy to see more people coming into recovery but he said it is very important that services are available for them.
Paddy Creedon from Voices of Recovery with Alcohol Action Ireland is a former addiction clinic manager.
His own recovery story goes back to the early 1970s when he was a young man.
Recalling his wedding day, he said: "I remember outside the church, and my Dad saying to me why did I have to drink so much.
"I was there in that category you know, drinking before a wedding because I thought I had nerves."
He said Ireland is a society which is still caught up in that atmosphere of drinking.
He pointed out that there are people who will have a good time this weekend; some, he said, will drink a little more than they usually do and won't have a problem but he said there are "hundreds, thousands who will start drinking on Thursday and may not finish until the following Thursday".
Paddy said there is a window of opportunity to help someone who abuses alcohol and that it should not be ignored; that if someone is suffering they should reach out, call a helpline or talk to someone, in order for them to get the help they need.
Paddy's advice for anyone who might think they have a problem with alcohol is to get help - "that window of opportunity; grasp it, recovery is fantastic".
Help is available via support services, details can be found here.
Additional reporting: Maggie Doyle
