The Rutland Centre Reports Significant Increase in Cocaine, Gambling and
Poly-Addiction Cases
Expansion Plans Announced Following Record Year in Addiction Treatment
16 July 2024 – The Rutland Centre, one of Ireland's foremost addiction treatment centres, has announced the release of its 2023 Annual Report, showcasing significant achievements for addiction treatment and recovery.
The addiction centre, based in Knocklyon Co. Dublin, recorded 5,213 bed nights in 2023, the highest on record for the centre, which demonstrates the increasing need for comprehensive addiction treatment and support services in the community.
Key Highlights from the 2023 Annual Report:
Increased program completion rates: The Rutland Centre reported an impressive 93% completion rate for its Residential Program last year and an 83% completion rate for its Outpatient Program. 80% of participants who completed the Transition Programme moved on to aftercare, with 88% engaged in their continuing recovery journey. The transition program is a six-week initiative bridging the end of residential treatment and the start of home recovery, with 12 months of aftercare to support sustained recovery.
Expansion of services: In response to the growing complexity of addiction cases, The Rutland Centre will expand its services to include specialized programmes for gambling addiction and plans to introduce a new detox facility to better serve individuals with multiple addictions.
Community and family support: Recognising addiction as a family disease, the Centre bolstered its family recovery programs, including weekly family days, five-week family workshops. In 2023, nearly 100 people concerned for their loved ones receiving addiction treatment, joined the aftercare programme, reflecting the Centre’s holistic approach to recovery.
New Trends in Addiction:
· Rise in cocaine use: The Rutland Centre saw just over 16% of its service users seeking help for cocaine addiction, mirroring national trends of increased cocaine use, as reported by the Health Research Board (www.hrb.ie). Among service users with multiple addictions, 46% identified cocaine as their second drug of choice. Addressing this, a dedicated resource for cocaine addiction is a key objective for the Rutland Centre.
· Gambling addiction: In 2023, 20% of the Rutland’s outpatient admissions were for gambling addiction. The centre has successfully treated gambling addiction on an outpatient basis, which aligns with the NDS objective of minimal intervention and suits individuals with commitments like childcare and work. A key objective 2025 is to introduce a gambling-specific outpatient program to address this growing need.
· Alcohol addiction:
Alcohol remains the predominant addiction at the center, with presentations consistently high. 65% of in-patient clients sought help for alcohol addiction underscoring the critical need for targeted interventions and support for individuals struggling with alcohol dependence. The Rutland continues to prioritize comprehensive treatment programs to address this pervasive issue, aiming to provide holistic care and support for both in-patient and outpatient clients battling alcohol addiction.
· Complex addiction presentations:
The report underscores a dramatic surge in the complexity of addiction cases, with 62% of individuals now presenting with multiple addictions, a significant increase from 48% in 2022. Notably, there has been a sharp rise in poly-addiction cases, with 20% of individuals struggling with three or more substances or behaviours. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive and multifaceted treatment approaches.
Speaking about the report, CEO, Maebh Mullany said, "In 2023, we continued to see a rise in the complexity of addiction cases, with many individuals presenting with multiple addictions. We look forward to further expanding our service offerings, with plans to introduce a Detox facility and expand outpatient programs. Our unique medallion ceremonies, honouring those who have achieved recovery milestones and commitment to sobriety, were reinstated post-pandemic and really showcase the profound impact of our comprehensive support programs. We look forward to this year’s ceremony taking place in September.”
Based in Knocklyon in Dublin 16 The Rutland uses a non-religious, drug free treatment model using various tools such as CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centred Therapy, DBT, and Choice Theory, while maintaining the 12-Step/Minnesota model as a cornerstone.