Dublin a 'hotspot' for drug overdoses as methadone overtakes heroin as main threat

Recent research from Trinity College reveals a concerning trend in drug overdoses across Ireland, highlighting significant differences between urban and non-urban areas. While inner-city hospitals experienced a shift from heroin dominance to methadone as the leading opioid by 2021, rural areas are grappling with increasing overdose rates related to prescription painkillers and synthetic opioids. Additionally, a significant service gap exists in psychological interventions for overdose patients, posing challenges for long-term recovery and increasing risks of fatal overdoses. This study aims to inform interventions to address these escalating issues.

"There is no recognised health intervention for people who present to health services following a non-fatal overdose. Yet many go on to die subsequently from fatal overdose."

Read at Irish Independent