A survey conducted by Irish Medical Times has found that 12 per cent of doctors in Ireland have experimented with cocaine, while a majority of respondents expressed the belief that drug users should receive treatment within the healthcare system rather than facing legal consequences, by Terence Cosgrave and Paulie Doyle
An Irish Medical Times survey of Irish doctors has found that 12 per cent of respondents have experimented with cocaine. The survey also revealed that 37 per cent of doctors have used cannabis, while a majority of 54 per cent support the decriminalisation of small quantities of the drug for personal use.
When it came to addressing drug use in society, 60 per cent of the doctors surveyed by IMT believed that drug users should receive treatment within the health system, instead of being processed through the criminal justice system. However, only 43 per cent supported the decriminalisation of heroin, cocaine, and other drugs under the proviso that users undergo treatment.
The survey additionally revealed that 95 per cent of doctors believed that drug use has a negative impact on the health and well-being of their patients – highlighting the consequences of addiction and substance abuse on Irish society.
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