Home > Six in ten people in Ireland have experience of addiction, new poll finds.

Merchants Quay Ireland. [Merchants Quay Ireland] Six in ten people in Ireland have experience of addiction, new poll finds. (05 Mar 2020)

External website: https://mqi.ie/press_release/six-in-ten-people-in-...


Almost six in ten people in Ireland have direct experience of addiction, a new poll has found.

The poll, commissioned by Merchants Quay Ireland to gain a snapshot of attitudes to addiction in Ireland, found that 59% of people said that they have direct experience of addiction, whether that be themselves, a family member, or a close friend.

Encouragingly, the poll also found that there is widespread support for addiction treatment, with 85% of respondents agreeing that drug users should have access to the treatment they require.

However, the poll also highlights the stigmatising attitudes faced by people who have overcome addiction and are in recovery:

  • 42% of respondents disagreed with the statement that “someone in recovery from addiction is as trustworthy as anyone else”, while only 22% agreed.
  • 53% of respondents disagreed with the statement “I have sympathy for people who inject drugs in public.
  • 21% of respondents agreed that people who are addicted to drugs only have themselves to blame

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