The number of people charged for possession of illegal drugs in the Republic of Ireland hit a five-year high in 2025, according to new figures.
In response to Gary Gannon TD’s request for data from the last five years, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan revealed that there were 8,287 offences for drug possession in 2025, more than eleven per cent higher than 2024.
Earlier this year, the Government published its draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029 which will effectively decriminalise drugs for personal use by “prioritisation of health supports over criminal sanctions”.
Drug spike
O’Callaghan told Gannon that the Government’s approach focuses on “reducing demand and associated harms, while balancing this with limiting access to illegal drugs to the greatest extent possible”.
But during a meeting of the Joint Committee on Drugs Use the following week, a senior Portuguese police officer explained to the Dáil that the Iberian nation is struggling with “public exposure of drug consumption on the streets” following decriminalisation.
António Leitão da Silva, Head of National Police in North Portugal, who is in favour of such ‘health-led approaches’, admitted that there is currently “a spike in the use of drugs in Portugal”.
Ketamine
Earlier this year, Ireland’s Health Research Body (HRB) reported that Ketamine-related admissions for treatment have almost tripled in three years.
According to HRB figures seen by The Times, the number of people seeking help to get off the illegal class B drug increased from 95 in 2021 to 251 in 2024.
Nicki Killeen, a Project Manager on Emerging Drug Trend Programmes in the Health Service Executive, said: “What we’re seeing is probably the largest and most sustained increase in ketamine use.”
“That’s what’s different from the past — it’s no longer niche or subcultural. Ketamine is now positioned across all nightlife settings and across all user groups.”
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