Lesch M and McCambridge J (2021) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34383/

Using policy feedback theory, this study specifically investigates the political consequences of accumulating alcohol-related health and social harms for processes of policy change prior to 2009.

Not acting on the population health harms caused by alcohol can produce significant societal costs, particularly when consumption is rising, and entail subsequent political consequences. Understanding of innovations in alcohol policy decision making requires an appreciation of the historical context, including earlier policy failures.

Lesch M and McCambridge J (2021) Social Science & Medicine, 282: 114116.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34443/

Ireland’s 2018 alcohol legislation adopts key evidence-based measures, introducing pricing, availability and marketing regulations that are world-leading in public health terms. Drawing primarily on the Multiple Streams Approach (MSA), this study investigates the adoption of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. We draw data from 20 semi-structured interviews with politicians, government advisors, public health experts, and advocates, as well as from relevant primary documents, newspaper articles, and other material in the public domain.

We find that increased public attention to alcohol-related harms in Ireland (problem stream), developments within the institutional location of policymaking (the policy stream), and the political pressure exerted by politicians and advocates (the political stream) all combined to open a policy window. Unlike previous alcohol policy reform efforts in Ireland, several personally committed and well-positioned leaders championed policy change. This study suggests that political leadership might be important in understanding why public health approaches to alcohol have been embraced in some contexts but not in others.

Perrett S, Plugge E, Conaglen P, O’Moore E and Sturup-Toft S (2020) Journal of Public Health,
42(4): e561-e572.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34235/

Prison populations experience an increased burden of physical, mental and social health needs compared to the community, further impacted by the prison environment. Surveillance systems to monitor health and well-being trends in prisons are lacking, presenting a challenge to services planners, and policy makers who often lack evidence to inform decisions.

The Five Nations Health and Justice Collaboration is proposing a new model for prison health surveillance, based on established guidelines for public health surveillance but with additional features that recognize the uniqueness of the prison environment and need for a whole prison approach, built on collaboration and sharing of data between health and justice sectors.

Birchall E, Perry IJ, Corcoran P, Daly C and Griffin E (2021) European Journal of Public Health, 31(4): 853–858.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34300/

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of this guidance [restricting the supply of over-the-counter (OTC) codeine-containing products] on the national rate of hospital-presenting self-harm involving codeine-related intentional drug overdose (IDO).

Our findings indicate that the rate of codeine-related IDOs was significantly lower in the period following the implementation of the guidance. There is a large body of evidence supporting the restriction of potentially harmful medication as an effective strategy in suicide prevention.

Peter K, Hegarty J, Dyer Kyle R and O’Donovan A (2021) Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,
Early online, p. 108557.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34598/

This study was conducted across Irish community opiate prescribing services and drew on data from 12 in-depth qualitative interviews with frontline staff. This paper examines the narratives of staff about the factors which influence the dynamics and process of treatment services, particularly in relation to the implantation of change.

A range of interdependent factors which influence an ‘eco-system’ of service delivery were identified. Effective policy implementation in Ireland remains aspirational, but findings reported in this paper have important implications for future planning and design of services for people who use drugs, and provide a good basis for further investigation.

Fenton F, Stokes S and Eagleton M (2021) Irish Journal of Medical Science, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34581/

This study was conducted to determine seropositivity to the COVID-19 virus in patients attending the HSE National Drug Treatment Centre (NDTC), and to establish if patients tested had any clinical symptoms of this disease since March 2020.

Findings indicate (a) possible low level of exposure to COVID-19 among this patient cohort or (b) that those patients who have been exposed have not developed or maintained detectable antibody levels, nor developed symptoms of the disease. Public health measures could explain the low level of COVID-19 in this cohort. The findings are also consistent with the possibility of a protective effect of OAT [opiate agonist treatment] medications on development of the disease.

Gallagher B, Neiman A, Slattery M-C and McLoughlin DM (2021) Irish Journal of
Psychological Medicine, Early online, pp. 1-9.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34513/

Our objective was to examine how online news outlets have portrayed ketamine as an antidepressant by ascertaining the volume and content of relevant articles and trends over time.

Online news media articles have been generally positive about ketamine for treating depression but need to be interpreted with caution as many of them did not discuss negative aspects of ketamine and made unsubstantiated claims about ketamine.

Calnan S and Davoren MP (2021) Nordic Studies
on Alcohol and Drugs, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34130/

This qualitative study aimed to address this gap [limited research on students’ own perspectives on alcohol and related harms reduction interventions] by examining college students’ perspectives in the context of an alcohol prevention programme for college students in Ireland.

Viewing the findings through a social-ecological lens, students seemed to collectively acknowledge the different layers of influence on student drinking, acknowledging the complex nature of this issue. Providing a greater variety of leisure spaces, including alcohol-free environments, was viewed particularly favourably by the student participants in terms of solutions proposed.

O’Brien D, Long J, Quigley J, Lee C, McCarthy A and Kavanagh P (2021) BMC Public Health, 21(1): 954.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34317/

This systematic review of prospective longitudinal primary studies sought to determine whether electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use by teenagers who had never smoked conventional tobacco cigarettes (tobacco cigarettes) at baseline was associated with subsequently commencing tobacco cigarette smoking.

The systematic review found that e-cigarette use was associated with commencement of tobacco cigarette smoking among teenagers in Europe and North America, identifying an important health-related harm. Given the availability and usage of e-cigarettes, this study provides added support for urgent response by policymakers to stop their use by teenagers to decrease direct harms in this susceptible population group, as well as to conserve achievements in diminishing tobacco cigarette initiation.

Johnson-Ferguson L and Di Forti M (2021) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online, pp. 1-6.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34271/

In this editorial, we first present and critically discuss the evidence to date of the association between heavy cannabis use and psychosis. We argue that while the biological mechanisms underlying individual susceptibility to develop a psychotic disorder following heavy cannabis use are still unknown, heavy cannabis use remains the most modifiable risk factor for the onset of psychotic disorders and for its clinical and functional outcome. This demands a clear move towards both primary and secondary prevention intervention to reduce the impact of heavy cannabis use on the incidence and prevalence of psychotic disorders.

King L, Cullen SJ, O’Connor S, McGoldrick A, Pugh J, Warrington G, Woods G, Nevill AM and Losty C (2021) The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 49(2): 207–213.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34216/

The aim of the present study was to further explore the prevalence of CMDs [common mental disorders] among jockeys and to test for associations with potential risk factors.

The findings indicate that jockeys report CMD symptoms at comparable rates to athletes in other sports. The study was the first to highlight potential risk factors as predictors of CMDs among jockeys, including burnout, career satisfaction, and the current contemplation of retirement. Screening tools for the risk factors demonstrated may, therefore, provide useful in the early identification of CMDs among jockeys. The development of jockey-specific assessment tools, education programmes, and interventions may help better understand and support the mental health of jockeys.

Lambert S, O’Callaghan D and Frost N (2021)
Death Studies, Early online, pp. 1-11.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34409/

This paper explores the impact of complicated grief on the family system following the drug-related death of a family member. Drug-related deaths are rife with moral stigmas, and those left behind often carry an emotional burden laden with shame and guilt. Seventeen bereaved family members were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three core themes were generated: Renegotiation of Relationships; Experiencing Complex Emotions; and Adjusting to
a New Reality.

The findings demonstrate that this population experiences great difficulty in processing their grief as they struggle with family breakdown, navigating supports and stigma.

Eogan M, Gleeson J, Ferguson W, Jackson V, Lawless M and Cleary B (2021) Irish Medical Journal, 114(5): 352.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34286/

The aim of this study was to review a decade of attendances at an addiction obstetrics clinic and compare with the general hospital population.

This limited retrospective review of women with addiction in pregnancy identifies a changing profile of attendances. It acknowledges the important role of the drug liaison midwife. It highlights increased risks for this population regarding prematurity and growth restriction, and it is important that these are reflected in care pathways and patient education. Further prospective multivariate analysis is advised to drive responsive service planning to optimise care of pregnant women with addiction.

McCarron P, Smyth BP, Carroll G, Glynn M, Barry J, Whiston L, Keenan E, Darker CD and Truszkowska E (2021) Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34176/

Among patients attending an opioid substitution clinic we sought to investigate reasons for NPS [new psychoactive substances] use, administration, adverse effects, and consumption in the previous three months.

In the current study the majority of those who had ever taken NPS did so before 2010 (when legislation forced the closure of headshops), and only 11% of participants reported ongoing NPS use, suggesting that making the supply of NPS illegal reduced their consumption. Furthermore, since a high proportion of participants administered NPS intravenously, the closure of headshops is likely to have led to improved health outcomes among this group of patients.

O’Carroll A and Wainwright D (2021) BJGP Open, 5(3): BJGPO.2021.0031.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34189/

This research sought to explore barriers to health service usage for people experiencing homelessness.

There are certain recurrent interactions between people experiencing homelessness and doctors that result in the exclusion of people experiencing homelessness from health services.

Villani J and Barry MM (2021) Health Promotion International, 36(5): 1450–1462.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33798/

This study explores Travellers’ perceptions of mental health and its determinants. It also identifies the most relevant factors for promoting positive mental health and wellbeing among this socially excluded group.

The findings suggest that Travellers’ mental health is multidimensional and requires a socio-ecological approach that addresses the wider determinants of health. Community mental health promotion initiatives should focus on reducing discrimination, enhancing social and emotional wellbeing and self-esteem, improvement of living conditions, reduced mental health stigma, and the promotion of Traveller culture and positive self-identity.

Kiernan S, Ní Cheallaigh C, Murphy N, Dowds J and Broderick J (2021) Scientific Reports, 11: 9911.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34166/

The objective of this study was to evaluate a broad range of physical functioning variables to enable better future planning of targeted health and accommodation services for this group [homeless adults].

This study revealed hospital in-patients registered as homeless displayed particularly poor physical functioning levels and mobility regardless of age. Health and housing services should address the unmet physical functioning needs of this vulnerable group.