Just under two thirds of alcohol-related psychiatric admissions in Ireland are repeat admissions, according to figures from the country’s Health Research Board (HRB).
There were more than 9,500 alcohol-related psychiatric inpatient admissions in the decade to 2024, according to data from HRB’s national psychiatric inpatient reporting system, with a ‘consistent pattern of repeat admission’ – at 64 per cent. Half of the repeat admissions involved alcohol dependence syndrome.
The average age of those readmitted was 48, although 6 per cent of cases involved 16-25-year-olds. There were higher per capita rates of readmission in rural counties, with men accounting for 60 per cent of readmissions overall. Almost half patients were single, with the men admitted more likely to be both single and unemployed.
Admissions declined over the course of the study period, reflecting a shift from psychiatric hospitalisations to treatment in community settings, the authors point out. ‘As treatment for alcohol-related conditions shifts to the community, this report highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring of inpatient and community settings to understand trends and patterns to inform service planning and delivery,’ said co-author Anne Doyle.
Ireland became the first country to commit to mandatory health labelling for health products, which was due to come into force this year. However its introduction has now been postponed until at least 2028, the result of pressure from the drinks industry, say health campaigners.
Last month the also HRB published its latest figures on cocaine treatment, with more than 6,500 people being treated last year – almost 25 per cent up on 2024, and the highest number ever recorded. The agency warned in 2022 that Ireland had reached a ‘tipping point’ with cocaine treatment, as the drug overtook heroin as the main problem substance for people seeking treatment for the first time.
Alcohol-related psychiatric inpatient admissions in Ireland – characteristics, trends and factors associated with first and repeat admissions, 2015-2024 available here