An addiction counsellor has linked the rise in heroin addiction to the cost-of-living crisis.
Over 1,400 more people have been treated for an addiction to the drug since 2017.
Freedom of Information figures show that by the end of last November, 9 thousand 484 people were receiving opioid-substitution prescriptions.
Michael Guerin - an addiction counsellor based in Limerick - says social and economic challenges can cause people to turn to drugs.
"There are a lot of people out there that are vulnerable to developing an addiction to things like heroin.
"They are in very difficult life situations, because of things like economic challenges, cost of living, housing challenges and so on."
