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Our newsletter includes links to Irish and international publications related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. 

To view our entire collection of research and access our resources visit our website, Ireland's comprehensive substance use research library. And follow us @HRBdrugslibrary. For all recent additions see our recently added publications page.
Irish-related publications
Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use

(2024) Dublin: Citizens’ Assembly
Deaths among people who were homeless at time of death in Ireland, 2020

Kelleher, Cathy et al (2024) Dublin: Health Research Board
North Dublin Regional DATF alcohol research 2023: an exploration of the nature and extent of alcohol use within North County Dublin

Ivers, Jo-Hanna and Dunne, Neil (2024) Dublin: North Dublin Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force
Drugs and Alcohol Work Sector: report on work sector activity 2021 - 2024

(2024) Edinburgh: British Irish Council
Planet Youth in Ireland 2023 presentation videos. In: Planet Youth in Ireland Conference – 2023

Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force, Planet Youth. (2024), 17 November 2023, Galway
Male patient attendances at Sexual Assault Treatment Units in Ireland: an analysis of 381 cases and a comparison with female patients

Kane, Daniel et al (2024) Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102643
The efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis in adult populations: an evidence review

Lambe, Kathryn et al (2024) Dublin: Health Research Board
Prevalence of chronic HCV infection in EU/EEA countries in 2019 using multiparameter evidence synthesis

Thomadakis, Christos et al (2024) The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 36. doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100792
On alert: New opioids and benzos in Scotland’s drugs supply (SDF Webinar).

(2023) Scottish Drugs Forum. [Includes talks by Nicki Killeen and Tony Duffin on the Irish experience]
Sexual, domestic, and gender-based abuse. A collection of experience and opinion

Houghton, Frank et al (2024) Journal of Global, Public and One Health, DOI: 10.61034-JGPOH/2024-2
Maintaining integrity in alcohol research in Ireland: a commentary

Houghton, Frank (2024) Journal of Global, Public and One Health, DOI: 10.61034-JGPOH-2024-1
State of the Nation's children 2023

(2024) Dublin: Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Focus on homelessness: adult-only households

O’Sullivan, Eoin et al (2024) Dublin: Focus Ireland
The effects of COVID-19 on a marginalised cohort in the Dublin region: a longitudinal qualitative exploration

Byrne, Paula et al (2023) Dublin: HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention
A detailed investigation of high lethality Intentional Drug Overdose (IDO) via retrospective emergency department chart review

Ashe, Hannah et al (2023) Dublin: HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention
Advancing early detection of suicide? A national study examining socio-demographic factors, antecedent stressors and long-term history of self-harm

McMahon, E M et al (2024) Journal of Affective Disorders, 350. pp. 372-378. doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.030
Examining the relationship between adversity and suicidality and self-harm in Irish adolescents from 2020 to 2022

Silke, Charlotte et al (2024) Journal of Affective Disorders, 349, 234-243, doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.12.065
A comparison of rate and methods of probable suicide for 2 years pre and post the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Mannix, D et al (2024) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online. 10.1017/ipm.2023.47
Attitudes of psychiatrists towards people with mental illness: a cross-sectional, multicentre study of stigma in 32 European countries

Őri, Dorottya et al (2023) EClinicalMedicine, 66. doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102342
Sláintecare action plan 2023: mid-year progress report

(2024) Dublin: Department of Health
Does vaping or e-cigarettes make a difference to health?

Kew, Kayleigh (2023) iHealthFacts
HIQA learning hub

(2024) Cork: Health Information and Quality Authority
Revenue headline results 2023

(2024) Dublin: Revenue Commissioners
Roads policing statistics for 2023 [Webpage]

Garda National Roads Policing Bureau. (2023)
Northern Ireland gambling licencing and industry data 2022

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. (2023) Belfast: Professional Services Unit, Department for Communities
International publications
The associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with substance use in young adults: a systematic review

Sebalo, Ivan et al (2023) Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 17. doi.org/10.1177/11782218231193914
Personal recovery for special populations: a qualitative study exploring the role of special interest meetings within 12-step fellowships

Harris, Frankco (2024) Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19. doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00575-6
Guide to creating trauma and adverse childhood experiences (TrACE) success indicators

ACE Hub Wales (2024) Cardiff: Public Health Wales NHS Trust
Stigmatizing imagery for substance use disorders: a qualitative exploration

Hulsey, Jessica et al (2023) Health & Justice, 11. doi.org/10.1186/s40352-023-00229-6
Planning and implementing community-based drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration using the consolidated framework for implementation research

Falzon, Danilo et al (2024) Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, (1). doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00590-7
Exploring the impact of housing insecurity on the health and well-being of children and young people: a systematic review

Hock, Emma et al (2023) Public Health Research, 11, (13). doi.org/10.3310/TWWL4501
National mission on drugs: annual monitoring report 2022-2023

(2023) Edinburgh: Scottish Government
A systematic scoping review of peer support interventions in integrated primary youth mental health care

Murphy, Rachel et al (2024) Journal of Community Psychology, 52, (1), pp. 154-180, doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23090
The National Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Services workforce report: England workforce data (2022-23).

NHS Benchmarking Network (2023) London: NHS England
Community pharmacy: delivering substance misuse services

College of Mental Health Pharmacy. (2024) London: Office for Health Improvement & Disparities
Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring (UAM) survey of HIV and viral hepatitis among people who inject drugs (PWID): 2023 report

(2024) London: UK Health Security Agency
Evaluating the aspects of quality of life in individuals with substance use disorder: a systematic review based on the WHOQOL questionnaire

Bratu, Melania Lavinia et al (2023) Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 16. pp. 4265-4278. doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S440764
International guidelines for the prevention of sexual violence: a systematic review and perspective of WHO, UN Women, UNESCO, and UNICEF's publications

Miele, Cécile et al (2023) Child Abuse & Neglect, 146. doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106497
Identifying and treating incarcerated women experiencing substance use disorders: a review

Staton, Michele et al (2023) Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 14. pp. 131-145. doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S409944
A comprehensive literature review of digital health interventions in the treatment of substance use disorder with special focus on mobile applications

Jordan, Harrison R et al (2023) Cureus, 15, (10). doi: 10.7759/cureus.47639
National Poisons Information Service report 2022 to 2023

National Poisons Information Service. (2023) London: UK Health Security Agency
Xylazine in overdose deaths and forensic drug reports in US States, 2019-2022

Cano, Manuel et al (2024) JAMA Network Open, 7. 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.50630 
Nitazenes-heralding a second wave for the UK drug-related death crisis?

Holland, Adam et al (2024) The Lancet. Public health, Early online doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00001-X
Mortality among people who inject drugs - the interwoven roles of fentanyl and HIV: a community-based cohort study

Salekešin, Maris et al (2023) European Journal of Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckad204
EU drug market: Heroin and other opioids — in-depth analysis

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Europol. (2024)
EMCDDA-Europol launch webinar: EU drug markets – heroin and other opioids

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Europol. (2024)
Women and treatment for opioid use disorder: contributors to treatment success from the perspectives of women in recovery, women with past attempts in drug treatment, and health and criminal justice professionals

Skogseth, Emma M et al (2024) Substance Use: Research and Treatment, 18. doi.org/10.1177/11782218231222339
Development of prescribing indicators related to opioid-related harm in patients with chronic pain in primary care-a modified e-Delphi study

Bansal, Neetu et al (2024) BMC Medicine, 22. doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03213-x
Peer-to-peer distribution of naloxone. Technical briefing

(2023) EuroNPUD 
Opioid agonist treatment in transition: a cross-country comparison between Austria, Germany and Switzerland

Schwarz, Tanja et al (2024) Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 254. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.111036
Receipt of opioid use disorder treatments prior to fatal overdoses and comparison to no treatment in Connecticut, 2016-17

Heimer, Robert et al (2024) Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 254. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.111040
Health-care resource use among patients who use illicit opioids in England, 2010-20: a descriptive matched cohort study

van Hest, Naomi et al (2023) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.16401
Pathways to opioid use and implications for prevention: voices of young adults in recovery

Ballard, Parissa J et al (2024) Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, (1). doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00584-5
Across the spectrum of legality: the market activities of influencers specialized in steroids and other performance and image enhancing drugs

Paoli, Letizia and Joseph Cox, Luke Thomas (2023) International Journal of Drug Policy, 123. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104246
Safe inhalation pipe provision (SIPP): protocol for a mixed-method evaluation of an intervention to improve health outcomes and service engagement among people who use crack cocaine in England

Harris, Magdalena et al (2024) Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 19. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00938-7
Cannabis for chronic pain: cardiovascular safety in a nationwide Danish study

Holt, Anders et al (2024) European Heart Journal, doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad834
Cannabis use in the UK: a quantitative comparison of individual differences in medical and recreational cannabis users

Ciesluk, Beata et al (2024) Frontiers in Psychology, Early online. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1279123
A systematic review of evidence on integrated management of psychiatric disorders in youth who use cannabis

Vidal, Carol et al (2024) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 10. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100216
From subcultural to mainstream? The evolving meaning of cannabis use among youth in a restrictive policy context

Dahl, Silje Louise et al (2024) Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2023.2299368
Recreational and medical cannabis legalization and opioid prescriptions and mortality

Nguyen, Hai V et al (2024) JAMA Health Forum, 5, (1). 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.4897
Cannabis and driving in older adults

Di Ciano, Patricia et al (2024) JAMA Network Open, 7, (1). doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.52233
The impact of cannabis on non-medical opioid use among individuals receiving pharmacotherapies for opioid use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

Costa, Gabriel P A et al (2024) The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2023.2287406
The IARC perspective on alcohol reduction or cessation and cancer risk

Gapstur, Susan M et al (2023) New England journal of Medicine, 389, (26), pp. 2486-2494. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsr2306723
Restricting alcohol marketing to reduce alcohol consumption: a systematic review of the empirical evidence for one of the 'best buys'

Manthey, Jakob et al (2024) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.16411
Impact on wine sales of removing the largest serving size by the glass: an A-B-A reversal trial in 21 pubs, bars, and restaurants in England

Mantzari, Eleni et al (2024) Medicine, 21, (1), e1004313. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004313
Dispelling six industry myths about alcohol taxation

Roberts, Jem (2024) London: Institute of Alcohol Studies
Distributions of alcohol use and alcohol-caused death and disability in Canada: defining alcohol harm density functions and new perspectives on the prevention paradox

Sherk, Adam et al (2024) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.16414
The symbolic consumption processes associated with 'low-calorie' and 'low-sugar' alcohol products and Australian women

Pitt, Hannah et al (2023) Health Promotion International, 38, (6). doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daad184
Which parents provide zero-alcohol beverages to adolescents? A survey of Australian parents' practices and intentions

Bartram, Ashlea et al (2023) Preventive Medicine, 179. doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107840
No- and low-alcohol drinks in Great Britain: monitoring report

Holmes, John et al (2024) Sheffield: University of Sheffield
Neurobiology and the treatment of alcohol use disorder: a review of the evidence base

Donato, Suzanna and Ray, Lara A (2023) Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 14. pp. 157-166. doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S409943
Frequency of epilepsy and pathological EEG findings in a Norwegian sample of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Impact on cognition and adaptive functioning

Gerstner, Thorsten et al (2023) Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/acer.15247
Using ecological momentary assessments to understand how drinking during special occasions relates to parenting behaviors

Freisthler, Bridget et al (2023) Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 47, (12), pp. 2343-2353. doi.org/10.1111/acer.15206
In utero exposure to alcohol and tobacco and electroencephalogram power during childhood

Pini, Nicolò et al (2024) JAMA Network Open, 7. 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.50528
Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes

Ajibo, C et al (2023) Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.024
WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030

(2024) Geneva: World Health Organization.
Tobacco companies' exploitation of loopholes in the EU ban on menthol cigarettes: a case study from Denmark

Brink, Anne-Line et al (2023) Tobacco Control, 32, (6), pp. 809-812. doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-057213
Disordered gambling among people with psychotic disorders: a systematic review

Sankaranarayanan, Anoop et al (2024) Schizophrenia, 10. doi.org/10.1038/s41537-023-00421-5
Treatment effects of therapeutic interventions for gaming disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Danielsen, Paul A et al (2024) Addictive Behaviors, 149. doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107887
News
Merchants Quay says it will take time for drug users to 'trust' new supervised injection centre

[thejournal.ie] Moore, Jane (29 Jan 2024)
Minister Harris outlines success of education programme for people living with addiction

[Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science] (26 Jan 2024)
Minister McEntee extends Greentown Programme for further three years

[Department of Justice] (26 Jan 2024)
Politicians 'must show courage to oversee decriminalisation of drugs' – Citizens' Assembly chief.

[Irish Examiner] O'Keeffe, Cormac (25 Jan 2024)
More women seeking help for 'problem drinking'

[rte.ie] Creed, Karen (24 Jan 2024)
Medically supervised drug injection facility to open in Dublin

[Irish Times] Holland, Kitty (23 Jan 2024)
Letter to the editor. Legalisation and regulatory control.

[Irish Times] McHale, Ryan (22 Jan 2024)
Warning of increase in ketamine use as seizures of drug spike

[Irish Examiner] Loughlin, Elaine (21 Jan 2024)
Each fatal drug overdose is a preventable death

[thejournal.ie] Duffin, Tony (20 Jan 2024)
One in 10 have driven after consuming alcohol in the last 12 months – according to new research by the RSA

[Road Safety Authority] (19 Jan 2024)
Prisoners to be screened for hepatitis C ahead of WHO elimination deadline of 2030

[Irish Times] Cullen, Paul (16 Jan 2024)
Detoxing from G is '100 times worse than alcohol withdrawal', expert warns

[thejournal.ie] Ryan, Orla (15 Jan 2024)
People caught with small amount of drugs should not end up in criminal justice system – Drugs Minister

[Independent.ie] Gataveckaite, Gabija (15 Jan 2024)
‘High-risk’ synthetic opioid being sold in Dublin and Cork as heroin, HSE warns

[Irish Times] Kelleher, Olivia (13 Jan 2024)
Drug overdose centres could prevent thousands of fatalities, says report

[Irish Examiner] McGlynn, Michelle (11 Jan 2024)
Arrival of synthetic drugs causing mental health concerns, says HSE

[RTE News] Burnhill, Eleanor (05 Jan 2024)
Increase in synthetic drugs led to multiple overdoses last year, says HSE

[RTE News] Burnhill, Eleanor (04 Jan 2024)
Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, TD, re Sale of Alcohol Bill – increasing alcohol availability will increase alcohol harm

[Alcohol Action Ireland] (04 Jan 2024)
Minister Naughton reaffirms commitment to lifesaving Naloxone programme

[Department of Health] (03 Jan 2024)
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