A charity with a base in Athlone has reported an 18% increase in demand for it's addiction services.
Merchants Quay Ireland, which provides support for those who are homeless and struggling with addiction, also reported a 5% increase in Heroin and Cocaine users presenting to centres.
There's also been a 60% increase in young people between the ages of 18 and 24 presenting as homeless to the charity.
Head of Operations at MQI, Geoff Corcoran, says urgent investment is needed in treatment options like detoxing to stem the rise in demand.
"We would see an urgent need for more investment in treatment options such as stabilisation, detox, and rehab and that's a countrywide need, not just a Dublin need. People should be able to receive drug treatments in their areas and not have to move out of those areas to get the treatment. We find there is a huge demand we can't meet in terms of our detox and after-care services and that's something we'd very much be calling for".
