Nearly 2,600 people were convicted of unlawful possession of drugs in the first ten months of this year.
A further 530 people were found guilty of possession of drugs for sale and supply.
There was a total of 317 convictions in Cork city.
Dublin made up nearly a fifth of all convictions, while towns like Portlaoise and Carlow also had high numbers.
Sheelagh Brady is a security analyst and former Garda sergeant - she says more action's needed to tackle the problem.
"I think we can be more honest about the drug problem.
"We often don't get to see the types of drug use that is done behind closed doors, in people's homes, in nightclubs.
"I think we have to be more honest about what the drug problem is, that it impacts nearly every socio-economic group, every professional group across society."
