The use of illegal drugs is on the rise in the North West according to the latest results of the Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force survey.
The results of a drug prevalence survey undertaken in 2014/2015 have been released and they show mixed results for the North West area.
The survey which was conducted by the Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force shows findings at a local level.
It provides a breakdown of prevalence rates for illegal drugs, tobacco, alcohol, sedatives and gambling.
The number of people who have ever taken illegal drugs in Sligo, Donegal or Leitrim increased since 2010/2011 from 16.6% up to 19.8%. This remains well below the national average of 30.7%.
Cannabis was the most commonly used drug by those in the North West while the use of ecstasy almost doubled from 3.6 to 7.4%.
The number of males who had used illegal drugs in the month prior to the survey increased from 1% to almost 4% in four years with cannabis again the most commonly used.
The amount of people who have ever taken alcohol, however, fell from 91.4% to 74%.
Just under 71% of adults between the age of 35 and 64 have tried alcohol at some stage according to the survey with that number rising to 78.7% for those under 34.
55.9% had tried alcohol at some time in the month prior to the survey which was also a decrease from 67% in 2010/2011.
The use of tobacco also fell with 45.1% of those asked saying they had ever taken a cigarette compared to over 50% previously.
For the first time those surveyed were asked about the use of e-cigarettes and 17.5% have used them at some stage in their life.
