Drug-related admissions to a Limerick psychiatric hospital have increased eightfold in a year, a new report compiled by the Mid Western Health Board shows.
Drug related admissions in the area covered by St Anne's Day Hospital increased from one per cent in 1994 to eight per cent in 1995.
Alcohol addiction in the region is also on the upsurge, with an increase of nearly one third in patients admitted for alcoholism.
Of all children admitted to adult psychiatric hospitals in 1995, almost half were drug addicts.
