Religion, Drugs, and Generational Trauma: Part One ‘The War, On Drugs’ 

By Katie McShane

Cocaine presents in 91% of water samples taken in Northern Ireland. [1] 

As in most countries substances in Northern Ireland are a growing issue, however the trends, origins, and appearance of this is unique to this country and its history. Something that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Drug usage cannot be separated from Mental Health, and Mental Health in Northern Ireland is as most things are, inextricably linked to the troubles. 

 Statistics 

According to the Substance Misuse Database for Northern Ireland 3,889 people presented to services for substance abuse and addiction in 2024/25, roughly 0.25% of the adult population or 1 in every 400 people [2]. In the UK 329,646 adults engaged with treatment centres [3]. This places NI on par with the rest of the UK considering it holds only around 2.8% of the UKs entire population. However, measuring the amount approaching treatment services will never give a complete image of total drug users in a country.  

There were 169 drug related deaths in Northern Ireland in 2023, 1% of all deaths for that year [3]. Comparatively, Scotland thought to be the worst in Europe for drug deaths sits at 1172 or 1.8% of all deaths [4]. Between England and Wales there was 5448 drug related deaths between them, coming in behind NI and Scotland at 0.9% of deaths [5]. 

There is one key difference, the average age of drug users in Northern Ireland is much higher than those in the rest of the UK. In England and Wales, the most common age bracket was 16-24, [6] whilst in NI it is 25-34 [7]. Drug use may be prevalent in all countries but why are its demographical trends so different when it comes to Northern Ireland. 

Drug Related Intimidation 

Drug Related Intimidation is intimidation carried out by those involved with the selling or dealing of drugs. In Northern Ireland this can often pertain to paramilitary groups coercing victims to engage. As Mike Nesbitt stated in the introduction to a study published on Drug Related Intimidation in NI, ‘While this issue is not unique to Northern Ireland, the nature of organised crime and paramilitary involvement here means that this can be more prevalent and more harmful’ [8]. DRI usually begins with drug debt to an organisation fuelled by a dependence on substances, commonly cocaine and runs infinite. Intimidation leads to ‘forced behaviours’ such as extortion, drug holding, engagement with other criminal activity, and sexual exploitation. DRI also targets unaffiliated drug dealers, paramilitary groups aim to keep drugs out of their community or to exert control over the market.  

Drug Related Intimidation directly leads to mental health issues by way of living a life under constant anxiety and surveillance. And for one of eight people living in Northern Ireland DRI has directly affected their lives, whether through their own drug usage or a family/friend [9].  

Mental Health Impact 

38% of adults in NI report to having concerns over their mental health. The number higher in more deprived areas with 24% of residents indicating potential mental health issues [10].  

Drugs and Mental Health have long been associated with one another. People may turn to substances to deal with issues such as depression and anxiety however this only worsens conditions and creates a dependence. Regular cannabis usage can cause increased depression, paranoia, and anxiety and at stronger levels can lead to developing schizophrenia or psychosis. Cocaine can have the same effect, making previous issues reoccur. These are two of the most popular substances used in Northern Ireland with almost 50% of those surveyed presented a dependence [11]. 

As is the case with Drug Related Intimidation, the relationship between drug abuse and mental health issues is a never-ending cycle. Those with ongoing mental health issues are more likely to engage with and develop and addiction to substances, whilst these drugs also exacerbate symptoms or cause more issues.  

If you have a family history of mental illness you are also more predisposed to drug addiction, as well as living in high-stress, traumatic, or disadvantaged environments. Drug usage is always going to be individual to Northern Ireland due to the wildly felt impact of childhood and generational trauma.  A study by Queens University Belfast found that 60% of adults experienced a traumatic event, for 30% of respondents this was conflict specific [12]. This carries on to younger generations who were not even alive during the troubles. Lasting effects from the conflict are carrying on and continue to harm the people of Northern Ireland. 

Just as drugs are linked to mental health issues across the globe, we can also view them as a response to the troubles. Drugs and Paramilitaries are intrinsically linked, each funding and perpetrating the other.  Drug use trends are different in NI than the rest of the UK because culture in general is skewed, the manner in which people get involved in drugs is different, and the mental health epidemic in Northern Ireland is powered by a population built upon generational trauma. These issues are just some of the lasting impacts of the troubles and how it’s still felt in Northern Ireland today. 

References

1 – Torney, Kathryn and Ciarán McCauley, ‘Cocaine widely present in some of NI’s major lakes and rivers’ in BBC News, 9 Dec. 2025 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8r3vk8dvj2o) 

2 –  Statistics from the Northern Ireland Substance Misuse Database: Official statistics in development, by Anne Marie McClements, by Mary Scarlett and by Bill Stewart (Belfast, 2025) (https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/44757/1/Northern_Ireland_Substance_misuse_database_2024_25.pdf) 

3 – ‘Drug-Related and Drug Misuse Deaths 2013-2023’ in Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2025 (https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/drug-related-and-drug-misuse-deaths-2013-2023) 

4 – ‘Drug-related deaths in Scotland, 2024’ in National Records of Scotland (NRS) (2024) (https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-2024/) 

5 – ‘Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales’ in Office for National Statistics (2025) (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/2024registrations#data-on-deaths-related-to-drug-poisoning-in-england-and-wales) (2 Mar. 2026) 

6 – ‘Drug misuse in England and Wales’  Office for National Statistics (2025) (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/drugmisuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2025) 

7 – Statistics from the Northern Ireland Substance Misuse Database: Official statistics in development, by Anne Marie McClements, by Mary Scarlett and by Bill Stewart (Belfast, 2025) (https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/44757/1/Northern_Ireland_Substance_misuse_database_2024_25.pdf) 

8 – Nature, support needs and how to respond A SUMMARY REPORT 2025 (https://www.endingtheharm.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Drug-related-Intimidation-Report-Tagged.pdf) 

9 – ‘One in eight in Northern Ireland have experienced drug-related intimidation’ in Irish Legal News, 2025 (https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/one-in-eight-in-northern-ireland-have-experienced-drug-related-intimidation) (2 Mar. 2026) 

10 – ‘Two-fifths of adults report mental health concerns | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency’ in Nisra.gov.uk, 2025 (https://www.nisra.gov.uk/news/two-fifths-adults-report-mental-health-concerns) 

11 – Statistics from the Northern Ireland Substance Misuse Database: Official statistics in development, by Anne Marie McClements, by Mary Scarlett and by Bill Stewart (Belfast, 2025) (https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/44757/1/Northern_Ireland_Substance_misuse_database_2024_25.pdf) 

12 – ‘Landmark Queen’s study reveals widespread impact of childhood trauma in Northern Ireland’ in Qub.ac.uk, 2023 (https://www.qub.ac.uk/News/Allnews/featured-research/landmark-study-reveals-impact-childhood-trauma-northern-ireland.html)