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Welcome

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

 

Also, take a look at the NDTRS treatment data tables, services map and alcohol dashboard, among other resources on our site.
Irish-related publications
Harms associated with prescription drug misuse in Ireland: a national observational study of trends in treatment demand, non-fatal intentional drug overdoses and drug related deaths 2010-2020

Durand, Louise et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 272. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112669 
Evaluation of Parents Under Pressure programme in the community: a Coolmine-led initiative

Harris, Anita and Niece, Erin (2025) Dublin: Coolmine
Trends in health behaviours, outcomes and contexts: 1998-2022. The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study.

Lunney, Louise et al (2025) Dublin: Department of Health
Mothers in addiction recovery rising: the will and the way

McCulloch, Louise et al (2025) Dublin: Trinity College Dublin
Implementation of a multi-component alcohol policy in Ireland: a qualitative study exploring barriers and facilitators to implementation

Calnan, Susan et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 143. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104870 
Adolescent sobriety under siege - an urgent call to protect children from alcohol harms

Adolescent sobriety under siege - an urgent call to protect children from alcohol harms
The dangers of ketamine. [Audio]

RTE Today with Claire Byrne. Killeen, Nicki (2025) Dublin: RTE
Global day of action for support don’t punish. [Video]

(2025) Dublin: Citywide
Exploring women’s lived experiences of substance use and social work to inform social work education and practice, an Irish perspective

Harris, Anita et al (2024) Social Work Education, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2024.2423692 
The relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and maxillofacial trauma in Midwest Ireland

Kilgarriff, Saoirse et al (2025) Irish Journal of Medical Science, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s11845-025-03964-x 
Deprived children in Ireland: characterising those who are deprived but not income-poor

Slevin, Eva et al (2025) Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute
A N-of-1 social network approach to study the social dynamics of alcohol consumption

Kwasnicka, Dominika et al (2025) Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 13, (1). doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2025.2465616 
No ordinary product: the problematic reality of alcohol-themed sweets and snacks

Houghton, Frank (2025) Medicina Internacia Revuo, 31, (123), pp. 45-50
Proposed alcohol liberalisation legislation in Ireland: a clear & present danger to public health

Houghton, Frank et al (2025) Medicina Internacia Revuo, 31, (123), pp. 57-61
Alcohol: a drain on the Irish economy. Pre-budget submission 2026

(2025) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland
Methanol poisoning in the emergency department: methanol blood levels, prognosis, and sequelae outcomes

Sarıbaş, Kürşat et al (2025) Irish Journal of Medical Science, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s11845-025-03982-9 
Sowing seeds of awareness: a cross-sectional analysis of mental health literacy and help-seeking in Irish farmers

O'Connor, Siobhan et al (2024) Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 19, (1), p. 47. doi.org/10.1186/s12995-024-00446-1 
Evolution of nicotine product use in Ireland 2015–2023, and associations with quit intentions and attempts: an analysis of nationally representative repeated cross-sectional surveys

Brennan, Margaret M et al (2025) The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 55. doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101352
The impact of electronic cigarettes on pregnancy and childhood health outcomes: the ECHO study-a protocol for a multicentre, prospective, observational, cohort

Healy, Eibhlín F et al (2025) Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, doi.org/10.1007/s00404-025-08066-8
Tobacco-related cancers in Ireland 1994-2022

O'Hare, C et al (2025) Cork: National Cancer Registry Ireland
Peering through the smoke: tobacco and smoking representation in Marvel and DC Noir comic books/ graphic novels

Houghton, Daisy and Houghton, Frank (2025) Medicina Internacia Revuo, 31, (123), pp. 62-69
Smoking, human papilloma virus and cervical cancer: a colposcopy clinic partnership project

Kenny, Pheena et al (2025) Tobacco Induced Diseases, 23, (Supp 1)
Identifying modern slavery and human trafficking in the context of child criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland

Kane, Gillian and Chisholm, Andrew (2025) Belfast: Modern Slavery and Human Rights PEC and Northern Ireland Department of Justice
Report on reducing adult reoffending in Northern Ireland

(2025) Belfast: Public Accounts Committee
Restorative practices and relational prison leadership in Ireland

Marder, Ian D et al (2025) Contemporary Justice Review, 28, (1), pp. 110-132. doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2025.2512070 
Public consultation response report: Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland

Governance Ireland. (2025) Dublin: Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
HSE intercultural guide. Responding to the needs of diverse religious communities and cultures in healthcare setting

(2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive
Supply and demand of General Practice in Ireland

Coy, Deirdre and Tanwir, Mahnoor (2025) Dublin: Department of Health 
Department of Health annual report 2023

(2025) Dublin: Department of Health
Mental Health Commission annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Mental Health Commission
HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive
HSE data management and performance profile reports January - March 2025

(2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive
Coolmine 2024: building recovery pathways

(2025) Dublin: Coolmine
Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board
Recorded crime victims 2024 and suspected offenders 2023

(2025) Cork: Central Statistics Office
Estimate of Irish alcohol consumption per adult in 2024 with some international comparisons for 2022

Foley, Anthony (2025) Dublin: Drinks Industry Group of Ireland
Child poverty monitor 2025

(2025) Dublin: Children's Rights Alliance
Health Information and Quality Authority annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Health Information and Quality Authority
National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025 – 2035

(2025) Dublin: Department of Health
Women's Aid annual impact report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Women's Aid
National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II: action plan 2025-2026

Department of Children, Disability and Equality. (2025) Dublin: Government of Ireland
Online Health Taskforce: interim report

Online Health Taskforce. (2025) Dublin: Department of Health
Annual report of the Policing Authority 2024

(2025) Dublin: Policing Authority
International publications
European drug report 2025: trends and developments

(2025) Lisbon: European Union Drugs Agency. 
EUDA statistical bulletin - data and statistics on the drug situation in Europe

(2025) Lisbon: European Union Drugs Agency
Online world drug report 2025: global instability compounding social, economic and security costs of the world drug problem

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2025)
Seaports: monitoring the EU’s floodgates for illicit drugs

EUDA and WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Western Europe. (2025) Luxembourg: Office of the European Union
National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times 2025

(2025) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland
Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia annual report

(2025) Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Hybrid virtual group model for substance use disorder therapy: a scoping review

Trimble, Edward A et al (2025) Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 16. pp. 137-146. doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S518266 
Substance use screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment among youth-serving clinicians

Ragan-Burnett, Kathleen et al (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (5). 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.11579 
Addiction medicine consultation and harm reduction among adolescents presenting to the emergency department

Ali, Shawkut Amaan et al (2025) Substance Use & Misuse, Early online. pp. 1-9. doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2508742
50 years of harm reduction in Europe: high time for transformation

Jeziorska, Iga et al (2025) Harm Reduction Journal, 22, (1). doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01200-4 
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals

Janes, Joseph (2025) Harm Reduction Journal, 22, (1). doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01184-1
Identifying barriers and facilitators to accessing harm reduction services in prisons: a systematic narrative synthesis

Varsaneux, O et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 143. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104761 
A novel, multi-component contingency management intervention in the context of a syndemic of drug-related harms in Glasgow, Scotland: First year of the 'WAND' initiative

Smith, S et al (2025) Addictive Behaviors Reports, 21. doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100580
Planning, implementation, evaluation, and sustainment of digital health interventions for adolescent substance use prevention: a systematic review of influencing factors based on the RE-AIM framework.

Fernández-León, Pablo et al (2025) Health Education Research, 40, (3). doi.org/10.1093/her/cyaf021
One-stop shopping for recovery? A systematic review of the evidence on U.S. recovery community centers

Kelly, John F et al (2025) Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 175. doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2025.209723 
Overview of quality standards for competency-based addiction training and education programs in postgraduate and continuing medical studies: a systematic review

Zborník, Tadeáš Samuel et al (2025) European Addiction Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1159/000546610
De-siloing substance misuse and self-harm research through integrated public health and emergency medicine

Schölin, Lisa et al (2025) The Lancet Public Health, Early online. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00096-9 
Guidance on mental health policy and strategic action plans

(2025) Geneva: World Health Organization

Module 1. Introduction, purpose and use of the guidance. 

Module 2. key reform areas, directives, strategies, and actions for mental health policy and strategic action plans. 

Module 3. Process for developing, implementing, and evaluating mental health policy and strategic action plans. 

Module 4. Country case scenarios. 

Module 5. Comprehensive directory of policy areas, directives, strategies and actions for mental health. 
Cascading constraint and subsidiary discretion: perspectives on police discretion from police-led drug diversion and stop and search in England

Stevens, Alex et al (2025) British Journal of Criminology, Early online. doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azaf050 
Resolve. Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the organization 2024

United Nations Secretary-General. (2025) New York: United Nations
Rising incidence of recreational ketamine use: clinical cases and management in emergency settings

Marongiu, Sabrina et al (2025) Toxicology reports, 14. doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.101940
Tackling the growing burden of nitrous oxide-induced public health harms

Zaloum, Safiya A et al (2025) The Lancet. Public health, 10, (3). doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(24)00298-6 
Joint clinical practice guideline on benzodiazepine tapering: considerations when risks outweigh benefits

Brunner, Emily et al (2025) Journal of General Internal Medicine, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s11606-025-09499-2 
Synthetic cannabinoids in e-cigarettes seized from English schools

Cozier, Gyles E et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70110
Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling noncommunicable diseases – leveraging data for impact: monitoring commitments in the WHO European Region ahead of the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting

(2025) Copenhagen: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
UK mortality trends and international comparisons. Findings from new research and implications for the UK government

Gazzillo, Anna et al (2025) London: The Health Foundation
Examining substance use and suicide risk among sexual minority and heterosexual youth

Manges, Margaret E et al (2025) Substance Use & Misuse, 60, (8), pp. 1099-1108. doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2481324 
Decline in US drug overdose deaths by region, substance, and demographics

Post, Lori Ann et al (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (6). doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.14997
The opportunity to save a life: a qualitative study of a point-of-care overdose education and naloxone distribution intervention

Parsons, Janet A et al (2025) PLoS ONE, 20, (6). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326495
Scotland. Avoidable mortality, 2023. [Dataset]

National Records of Scotland. (2025) 
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre factSheets

(2025) Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

NDARC fact sheet: e-cigarettes. 

NDARC fact sheet: ketamine. 

NDARC fact sheet: kava. 

NDARC fact sheet: magic mushrooms. 

NDARC fact sheet: methadone. 

NDARC fact sheet: LSD. 

NDARC fact sheet: naltrexone. 

NDARC fact sheet: nitazenes. 

NDARC fact sheet: naloxone. 
Socioeconomic deprivation and opioid consumption: an analysis across England

Appleby, Sara and Al Musaimi, Othman (2025) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22, (5). doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050750 
National benchmarking report on implementation of the medication assisted treatment (MAT) standards 2024/25

(2025) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland
Prevalence and risk factors for opioid overdose among women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Neumaier, Lucas et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 273. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112702 
The potential use of cannabidiol in the treatment of opioid use disorder: a systematic review

Shafie, Mahan et al (2025) Addiction Biology, 30, (5). doi.org/10.1111/adb.70047
The role of depression in the relationship between cannabis use and suicidal behaviours: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Maffre Maviel, Gustave et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 273.  doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112714
Cannabis withdrawal and psychiatric intensive care

Malik, Aliyah et al (2025) JAMA Psychiatry, Early online. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.1216 
Cardiovascular risk associated with the use of cannabis and cannabinoids: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Storck, Wilhelm et al (2025) Heart, Early online. doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2024-325429
E-Cigarette and cannabis social media posts and adolescent substance use

Vassey, Julia et al (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (6). doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.17611
Alcohol use during recovery: a 10-year follow-up of people treated for alcohol or other drug problems

von Greiff, Ninive and Skogens, Lisa (2025) Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2025.2506416 
Minimum Unit Pricing: explained. [Video]

(2025) Institute of Alcohol Studies
Daily drinks diary - Your guide and record to success

(2025) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland
Spin the bottle: how the UK alcohol industry twists the facts on harm and responsibility

Thompson, Emma (2025) Edinburgh: Institute of Alcohol Studies and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems
Suspected drug deaths in Scotland 2025

Scottish Government. Population Health Directorate. (2025) Edinburgh: Scottish Government
The current status and needs of alcohol related brain damage services across Wales and beyond

Quelch, Darren et al (2025) Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2025.2494805 
Trajectories of hospital-presenting alcohol-related disorders between early and late adulthood: Exploring the role of mortality in a prospective study of a 1953 cohort

Bishop, Lauren et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70107 
Alcohol-associated liver disease mortality

Pan, Chun-Wei et al (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (6). doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.14857 
Double measures. Conceptual tensions and the treatment of evidence in alcohol policy

Francis, Bennet and Jukola, Saana (2025) Philosophy of Medicine, 6, (1). doi.org/10.5195/pom.2025.226
Estimating the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Australia

Tsang, Tracey W et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/dar.14082 
WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2025: warning about the dangers of tobacco

(2025) Geneva: World Health Organization
Global, regional, and national liver cancer attributable to smoking and alcohol use burden, 1990-2021: analysis for the global burden of disease 2021 study

Liu, Chenyi et al (2025) BMC Public Health, 25 doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23184-3 
How much does the absence of the 'hidden population' from United Kingdom household surveys underestimate smoking prevalence?

Beard, Emma et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70071 
Impact of standardising the colour and branding of vape devices on product appeal among young people: a randomised experiment in England, Canada and the United States

Tattan-Birch, Harry et al (2025) Tobacco Control, Early online. doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059210 
Predicting problem gambling in young men: the impact of sports gambling frequency and internalizing symptoms

Mancini, Vincent O et al (2025) Journal of Gambling Studies, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10403-0 
Evaluating the effectiveness of responsible gambling messages: a rapid evidence assessment

Gaudett, Gray E et al (2025) Journal of Gambling Studies, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10395-x 
Caught in the web of the Net? Part I: meta-analyses of problematic internet use and social media use in (young) people with autism spectrum disorder

Muris, Peter et al (2025) Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 28, (2), pp. 392-413. doi.org/10.1007/s10567-025-00524-8 
Impulsivity and problematic social network sites use: a meta-analysis

Bocci Benucci, Sara et al (2025) Journal of Psychiatric Research, 188. pp. 183-199. doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.05.035
News
169 young people sought treatment for HHC drug in last 18 months - Health Research Board

[RTE News] Kenny, Aisling (30 Jun 2025) 
Fresh approach to enhance community safety as Minister Jim O’Callaghan gives the green light for new Local Community Safety Partnerships nationwide

[Department of justice, Home Affairs and Migration] (30 Jun 2025) 
Cork crime: More women are being jailed for theft, addiction, and trauma-linked crimes

[Irish Examiner] Murphy, Ann (30 Jun 2025) 
Sobering shift: Are Irish women changing their relationship to alcohol?

[Irish Examiner] Harrington, Suzanne (27 Jun 2025) 
Why Ireland needs to rethink the stories we tell about drug use

[thejournal.ie] Duffin, Tony (27 Jun 2025) 
Limerick teens sent to psych wards after using legal vape substance

[Limerick Post] English, Bernie (26 Jun 2025) 
Press release: Time for Taoiseach to clarify government’s position on alcohol labelling

[Alcohol Action Ireland] (25 Jun 2025)
Alcohol health-warning labels to be delayed amid US-EU tariff dispute, says Harris

[Irish Times] McQuinn, Cormac (25 Jun 2025)
‘Devastating’ nitrous oxide available to buy on popular Irish websites

[thejournal.ie] O'Carroll, Conor (25 Jun 2025) 
Cork crime: homeless people account for a quarter of jail terms, new 'Irish Examiner' study reveals

[Irish Examiner] Duggan, Ev (23 Jun 2025)
Launch of ‘Safe futures’: a project tackling the recruitment of young people into drug markets

[EUDA] (20 Jun 2025) 
Minister for Mental Health launches ‘Navigator’ signposting tool to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people

[Department of Health] (19 Jun 2025) 
Ministers for Health congratulate Dr Lorraine Nolan on her appointment as Executive Director of the European Union Drugs Agency.

[Department of Health] (19 Jun 2025) 
What is the current state of women's health in Ireland?

We found out. [Irish Examiner] Griffin, Niamh (19 Jun 2025)
North city parks becoming virtual no-go areas for council workers due to drug crime, TD says

[thejournal.ie] O'Connor, Niall (18 Jun 2025)
Outcry over 'exploitative' gaming machine arcade planned for Ballymun

[thejournal.ie] Flynn, Valerie (18 Jun 2025) 
'Ongoing concern in relation to ketamine use among young people'

[Irish Examiner] O'Keeffe, Cormac (17 Jun 2025)
Up in smoke: Minister for Health snubs tobacco industry

Cantillon. [Irish Times] (17 Jun 2025) 
UNODC: CND decision on international control of four nitazenes enters into force

[UNODC] (13 Jun 2025) 
WHO launches new collaborating centre on alcohol policy and public health research

[World Health Organization] (10 Jun 2025) 
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