HRB National Drugs Library e-newsletter volume 22, issue 2

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.

Also, take a look at the NDTRS treatment data tables,services map and alcohol dashboard, among other resources on our site.

Irish-related publications

Draft. National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029. An integrated, equitable and evidence-based response to drug and harmful alcohol use

(2026) Dublin: Department of Health

Exploring the views and experiences of frailty and resilience among people experiencing homelessness in Ireland: a qualitative study

Cronin, Thomas et al (2026) PLoS ONE, 21, (2). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0343369

Exploring the impact of targeted exercise in women experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges: a mixed-methods feasibility study

Kennedy, Fiona et al (2026) BMJ Open, 16, (2). doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103060

Semi-synthetic cannabinoids remain a potent concern in Ireland

Bond, Ben and Cannon, Mary (2026) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online. pp. 1-2. doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2025.10154

Community perspectives on health needs and assets in underserved Dublin areas: a participatory qualitative study

Phillip, Eunice et al (2026) Health Promotion International, 41, (1). doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf232

An evaluation of a supervised playground service for children and families living in a disadvantaged area.

Hollywood, Eleanor et al (2026) Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing, 49, (1), pp. 70-93. doi.org/10.1080/24694193.2026.2615476

Death investigation: the provision of an autopsy service in Ireland. Position statement.

Aalto, Laura et al (2026) Dublin: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Faculty of Pathology.

Support for alcohol policies and its association with knowledge of alcohol-related health consequences: findings from 5 EU countries

Kokole, Daša et al (2026) European Journal of Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag008

Geographical characteristics and other factors associated with alcohol-related fatal fires in Ireland 2014 – 2021

Doyle, Anne (2026) HRB Open Research, 9. doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.14341.1

Life event trajectories and suicidal ideation throughout adolescence: a prospective cohort study from Germany, France, Ireland, and the UK

Chen, Pei-Jung et al (2026) The Lancet. Psychiatry, 13, (3), pp. 190-199. doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(25)00359-1

The Daily Feed Ireland in 2026.

Trinity College Dublin. Healthy Trinity. (2026) Dublin: Trinity College Dublin

Urinary alcohol and ethyl glucuronide as a screening tool for alcohol use in pregnancy: a multicenter prospective study.

McCormick, Ciara A et al (2026) Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/aogs.70164

Drinking it in. How alcohol sports advertising influences child and youth consumption behaviour

(2026) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

Protocol for a systematic review on the association between alcohol consumption and mental health outcomes.

(2025) Dublin: Health Information and Quality Authority

The alcohol licensing system in Northern Ireland: lessons learnt from a restrictive framework

Nicholls, James et al (2026) Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2026.2629271

Alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland, 2024

(2026) Belfast: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Agency and insecurities in (re)making a sense of home amidst later life homelessness: towards a conceptual framing

Walsh, Kieran and Carroll, Brídín (2026) Gerontologist, Early online. doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnag013

Personal recovery in substance use disorder: a 'best fit' framework synthesis systematic review

Long, Emer et al (2026) Community Mental Health Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s10597-025-01578-2

Time for a tobacco free future. Call for government action to end tobacco harm in Ireland

RCPI Clinical Advisory Group on Smoking and E-Cigarettes.(2026) Dublin: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

The new 'cool'? A qualitative study of e-cigarette perceptions and experience among Irish adolescents.

Evans, David S et al (2026) Tobacco Use Insights, 19. doi.org/10.1177/1179173X251398352

The real health podcast. Vaping: the health risks we’re only beginning to understand. [Audio]

Henry, Karl and Blake, Martina (2026) Dublin: Independent.ie.

Tipperary Town children and families services systems: mapping analysis

Goffe, Adeelia et al (2025) Dublin: TASC

The escalating burden of E-scooter-related injuries: a two-year comparative analysis

Ni Mhiochain de Grae, M et al (2026) Irish Medical Journal, 119, (2), p. 28

Mental health challenges in the Irish thoroughbred horse breeding industry: prevalence and associated risk factors.

McDonald, Claire et al (2026) Acta Psychologica, 264. doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106436

Growing Up in Ireland cohort ‘98 at Age 25: childhood influences on education and finances

(2026) Cork: Central Statistics Office

Left to their own devices: the virtually unprotected lives of kids in Ireland. Trends and usage report academic year 2023-2024

(2026) Dublin: CyberSafeKids

National Strategy for improving community safety. [Webpage]

(2026) Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Inspection report. Follow-up inspection: Cloverhill Prison, 9-11 December 2024

Office of the Inspector of Prisons. (2026) Dublin: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Inspection report. Follow-up inspection: Mountjoy Prison, 28 April 2025 - 2 May 2025

Office of the Inspector of Prisons. (2026) Dublin: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Review of recommendations from the Garda Síochána Inspectorate: inspection report on countering the threat of internal corruption

(2026) Dublin: Policing and Community Safety Authority

Provisional crime statistics year-end 2025

(2026) Dublin: An Garda Siochana

Probation re-offending statistics 2021

(2026) Cork: Central Statistics Office

An Garda Siochana public attitudes survey 2024

(2025) Dublin: An Garda Siochana.

Ana Liffey Drug Project annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Ana Liffey Drug Project

Finglas Cabra Drug and Alcohol Task Force CLG annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Finglas Cabra Local Drug & Alcohol Task Force

Finglas Addiction Support Team annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Finglas Addiction Support Team

Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Department of Defence and Defence Forces annual report 2024

(2025) Kildare: Department of Defence and Defence Forces

Department of Health annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Department of Health

Irish heart attack audit national report 2024

(2025) Dublin: National Office of Clinical Audit

International publications

System dynamics modelling methods for public health policy evaluation: a systematic literature review focussing on mental health and substance use disorders

Valkenburg, Hendrika J et al (2026) BMC Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-26444-y

Substance use disorders and use of somatic health services among forensic psychiatric patients: a nationwide register-based cohort study

Jentz, Christian Haurdahl et al (2026) Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 80, (2), pp. 134-140. doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2025.2610199

Neurodiversity staff toolkit.

(2026) Brighton, East Sussex: Change Grow Live

Unequal high streets? A spatial analysis of inequalities in health-related amenities in England from 2014-2024.

Zied Abozied, Eman et al (2026) Social Science & Medicine, 390. doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118863

Digital transformation of the harm reduction sector-"Here4UScotland" a case study of a virtual supervised consumption

Daneshvar, Hadi et al (2026) Digital Health, 12. doi.org/10.1177/20552076251390561

Accessing digital harm reduction services -exploring the impact of the "Here4UScotland" application

Strachan, Graeme et al (2026) Harm Reduction Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-026-01418-w

The global epidemiology of injecting drug use, HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis among people who are incarcerated: a multistage systematic review

Degenhardt, Louisa et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.105062

Considering alcohol and other drug screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment in two safety-sensitive industries in Australia: an exploratory qualitative study

Thompson, Kirrilly et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70348

Drug-checking technologies to detect compositions of unregulated substance samples

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Canada’s Drug Agency. (2026) Canadian Journal of Health Technologies, 6, (1). doi.org/10.51731/cjht.2026.1328

Substance use behaviours among sexual and gender minorities with a history of adverse childhood experiences: a systematic review and narrative-synthesis

Ong, Eleanor J et al (2026) Comprehensive Psychiatry, 146. doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2026.152669

Policing and drug market-related violence: competitive, internal and enforcement-related violence in UK County Lines

Kammersgaard, Tobias et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 149. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105155

Europol spotlight. Diversification in maritime cocaine trafficking modi operandi.

Europol. (2026) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union

The impact of a voluntary alcohol and other drug diversion program on reoffending, imprisonment, and health

Weatherburn, Don et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 138. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104747

The social perception of performance enhancement and body modification: a systematic review and meta-analysis on anabolic steroids, tattoos, and cosmetic surgery

Weldemariam, Hailemariam et al (2026) Acta Psychologica, 263. doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106240

ACMD report – A review of the evidence on the use and harms of etomidate and related compounds

(2026) London: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ (ACMD) advice on: i) somapacitan, lonapegsomatropin, and somatrogon, ii) zuranolone, and iii) ganaxolone.

(2025) London: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

EUDA precursor assessment reports

European Union Drugs Agency. (2026) Lisbon: EUDA.

The psychoactive effects of repeated ketamine infusions and their mechanistic role in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: Secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial

Bloy, Cassie et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70320

Safer inhalation devices: a rapid Health Impact Assessment of a harm reduction pilot for people who smoke crack cocaine

Ashton, Kathryn et al (2026) Harm Reduction Journal, 23, (34). doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01383-w

Incidents with recreational nitrous oxide use before and after legislation: poisonings and police incidents in the Netherlands between 2020 and 2025

Hondebrink, L et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 149. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105170

Cannabinoid use among adult women: a scoping review

Trice, Catharine et al (2026) Journal of Women's Health, 35, (3), pp. 271-289. doi.org/10.1177/15409996251385404

High BMI is a specific risk factor for drug-related mortality in patients receiving methadone: a case control study.

Algahtani, Thikra et al (2025) Addiction, 120, (7), pp. 1460-1465. doi.org/10.1111/add.70015

All-cause mortality and overdose deaths among 4192 people who inject drugs in Stockholm: a 10-year register-based cohort study

Holmén, E et al (2026) Harm Reduction Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-026-01407-z

Chen, Shuoqi et al (2026) Clinical Toxicology, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2025.2601141

Characteristics of methamphetamine-related deaths in the United Kingdom, 1997-2024

Roberts, Emmert et al (2026) Addiction, 121, (3), pp. 680-685. doi.org/10.1111/add.70215

Adolescent cannabis use and risk of psychotic, bipolar, depressive, and anxiety disorders

Young-Wolff, Kelly C et al (2026) JAMA Health Forum, 7, (2). doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.6839

Adolescent cannabis use and psychological distress from 2013 to 2023: a population-based study in Ontario, Canada

McDonald, André J et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70333

Cannabis dispensary exposure and smoked, vaped and edible cannabis use among young adults: Comparison of web-scraped and government-maintained registries

Harlow, Alyssa F et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70356

Factors associated with lower-risk cannabis use in adults in their mid-thirties

Dubé, Guillaume et al (2025) Journal of Cannabis Research, 8, (1).

Cannabis use and suicide: a case-control study based on integrative data analysis

Shi, Qiongyu and Li, Guohua (2025) Journal of Cannabis Research, 7, (1). doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00352-1

The promotion of alcohol, cannabis, gambling, tobacco and vaping products: a comparative analysis of the potential of legal frameworks to limit exposure among minors

(2026) Ottawa: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

Adolescents' exposure to zero-alcohol advertisements and attitudes and consumption intentions towards alcohol: a cross-sectional study

Bartram, Ashlea et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Review, 45, (2). doi.org/10.1111/dar.70125

The stigma of alcohol use during pregnancy: exploring the impact of alcohol strength and social context on public perceptions

Burton, Sam aet al (2026) PLoS ONE, 21, (1). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0339954

Realist review of managed alcohol programmes for people experiencing alcohol dependence and homelessness: what works, for whom, and in what circumstances?

Carver, Hannah et al (2026) Harm Reduction Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-026-01416-y

Enhancing care in alcohol-associated liver disease through peer support for alcohol use disorder.

Jones, Jenn et al (2026) Hepatology Communications, 10, (2). DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000843

Estimating inequality in alcohol-related liver disease burden in the UK, 2009 to 2020: a population-based study using routinely collected data

Wang, Zhaonan et al (2025) The Lancet. Primary care, 1, (1). doi.org/10.1016/j.lanprc.2025.100002

Modelling the economic effects of reducing the consumption of unhealthy commodities: an inter-sectoral input-output approach

Morris, Damon et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70336

Smoking and drinking among the Gypsy and Traveller communities: a population study in England

Taylor, Eve et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70330

Systematic review of lung function assessment among youth and young adults e-cigarette users: Current tools and emerging methods

Nasir, Nirul Isamuddin et al (2026) PLoS ONE, 21, (2). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0342500

The unwelcome guest: how Scotland invited the tobacco industry to smoke outside

(2025) Edinburgh: ASH Scotland

Parental influence on adolescent gambling: the role of communication, rules, and social support

Boson, Karin et al (2026) Journal of Gambling Studies, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10471-2

Factors influencing treatment outcomes in a randomised clinical trial for gambling disorder: a secondary analysis.

Mäkelä, Niklas et al (2026) European Addiction Research, Early online. pp. 1-31. doi.org/10.1159/000550527

The Gambling Harms Severity Index (GHSI): development of a holistic framework and measurement instruments for gambling related harms and recovery

Close, James et al (2026) London: National Centre for Social Research

The impact of college students' physical exercise on negative emotion: the chain mediating role of self-efficacy and smartphone addiction

Li, Rui et al (2026) PLoS ONE, 21, (2). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0338382

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The HRB National Drugs Library newsletter is a free subscriber-only monthly email newsletter offering relevant Irish and international news and information on alcohol and other drugs research. E-mail addresses provided for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter will only be used by the library to distribute the requested information. The newsletter is published by the HRB National Drugs Library, Health Research Board. The library is staffed by qualified information professionals who handle a wide range of enquiries. Not sure what we can do for you? Email us and we will be happy to discuss your information needs.