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HRB National Drugs Library
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News
Inside the fentanyl trade powering the world’s deadliest drug crisis

[Irish Examiner] Gibbs, Stephen and Southern, Keiran (30 Mar 2024)

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Close to 900,000 units of illegal medicines detained by the HPRA in 2023.

[HPRA] (28 Mar 2024)

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20 years since Ireland banned smoking indoors with 800,000 fewer smokers today

[Health Service Executive] (28 Mar 2024)

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Minister for Health introduces additional measures to protect children from tobacco and e-cigarettes

[Department of Health] (28 Mar 2024)

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What Ireland's smoking ban 20 years on shows us about human behaviour

[RTE News] Foucart, Renaud (26 Mar 2024)

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'Violence, intimidation, addiction behind all that bling'.

[Irish Examiner] O'Keeffe, Cormac (25 Mar 2024)

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Legal challenge must be taken to decide if laws designed to protect children are being egregiously flouted with zero alcohol products

[Alcohol Action Ireland] (20 Mar 2024)

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Alcohol consumption, drug-taking, vaping, playing loud music among Irish Rail passenger complaints

[Irish Times] O'Halloran, Maire (19 Mar 2024)

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'Everyone knows drugs are sold and people are intimidated in areas affected by poverty'

[thejournal.ie] Ryan, Orla (17 Mar 2024)

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Drug use committee faces difficulties reporting findings before possible autumn election, chair says

[Irish Times] Horgan Jones, Jack (13 Mar 2024)

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RSA letter warns about increased road deaths

[Alcohol Action Ireland] (12 Mar 2024)

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Irish drug gangs among 800 groups threatening EU security.

[Irish Examiner] O'Keeffe, Cormac (08 Mar 2024)

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Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy announces new chairperson of North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force.

[Department of Health] (08 Mar 2024)

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Shouldn’t we know this already? The link between alcohol and breast cancerWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. (07 Mar 2024)

World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. (07 Mar 2024)

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Minister McEntee and Minister Browne welcome passage of legislation to combat grooming of children for the purposes of crime.

[Department of Justice] (06 Mar 2024)

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Dail Debates
Oireachtas debates
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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. For all recent additions see our recently added publications page.

Irish-related publications
A spatial examination of alcohol availability and the level of disadvantage of schools in Ireland

Doyle, Anne et al (2024) BMC Public Health, 24, (795). doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18261-y

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Lifestyle factors and BMI attenuate relationships between biomarkers of inflammation and depressive symptoms and well-being: a cross-sectional study

Millar, Seán et al (2024) Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 37. doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100759

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Lives on hold

Community Action Network, Service Users Rights in Action. (2024) Dublin: Community Action Network

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Trapped in treatment.

Inner City Organisations Network, Community Action Network, Service Users Rights in Action. (2024) Dublin: CAN, SURIA, ICON

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Pharmacy needle exchange programme: review of performance indicators.

Evans, David and Keenan, Eamonn (2024) Dublin: Health Service Executive.

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Community pharmacy needle exchange programme: what can analysis of the data tell us about the changing drug market in Ireland?

Evans, David S et al (2024) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21, (3), p. 289. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030289

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Developing a clinical decision support system software prototype that assists in the management of patients with self-harm in the emergency department: protocol of the PERMANENS project

Mortier, Philippe et al (2024) BMC Psychiatry, 24. doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05659-6

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‘A perspective based on harm rather than deficits leads to very different policies and interventions’

Duncan, Jess and O'Mahony, Shane (2024) SSA Blog

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Postoperative opioid prescribing patterns in Ireland: a retrospective multicentre analysis

Nolan, Rachel et al (2024) British Journal of Anaesthesia, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2024.02.017

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Early-onset cancers in adults: a review of epidemiology, supportive care needs and future research priorities

Hamilton, Ashleigh C et al (2022) Cancers, 14, (16), 4021. doi.org/10.3390/cancers14164021

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Use of pornography by young adults in Ireland

Nolan, Anne and Smyth, Emer (2024) Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute

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Socioecological risk and protective factors for sexual victimization in post-secondary students in Ireland: a brief report

Mahon, Ciara et al (2024) Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/08862605241235626

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Investing in kinship families: an analysis of investment in Ireland, New Zealand, and Northern Ireland

McGinley, Gillian (2024) Dublin: Kinship Care Ireland

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[Webpage] Industry watch. News, research and resources to highlight and document examples of the tactics of the alcohol industry

Alcohol Action Ireland (2024) 

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[Webpage] Vaping addiction can soon take hold.

Public Health Agency. (2024) 

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Public investment in cancer care in Ireland

Parliamentary Budget Office. (2024) Dublin: Houses of the Oireachtas.

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Cork Kerry Traveller health implementation plan; Missling on the Tobar: 2023 – 2028

Cork Kerry Traveller Health Unit. (2024) Dublin: Health Service Executive

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Social inclusion services key performance indicator metadata 2024

(2024) Dublin: Health Service Executive 

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Health and wellbeing key performance indicator metadata 2024

(2024) Dublin: Health Service Executive

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Statistics from the Northern Ireland substance misuse database: 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023

McClements, Anne Marie et al (2024) Belfast: Northern Ireland. Department of Health

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Smoking and mental health – An exploration of data in Northern Ireland and scan of policy approaches in the UK and Ireland.

Purdy, Joanna et al (2023) Dublin and Belfast: Institute of Public Health

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Health inequalities annual report 2024

Atcheson, Robbyn and Laverty, Caolan (2024) Belfast: Department of Health

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Alcohol Action Ireland annual review 2023.

(2024) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

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An Garda Síochána policing plan 2024

(2024) Dublin: An Garda Siochana

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International publications
High-level Declaration by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the 2024 midterm review, following up to the 2019 Ministerial Declaration

UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. (2024) Vienna: United Nations

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Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2023

(2024) Vienna: International Narcotics Control Board

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The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2024 and The Misuse of Drugs and Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England and Wales and Scotland) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2024.

(2024) London: Home Office

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Position paper on decriminalisation

(2024) Amsterdam: Civil Society Forum on Drugs in the EU.

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World addiction medicine reports: formation of the International Society of Addiction Medicine Global Expert Network (ISAM-GEN) and its global surveys

Ekhtiari, Hamed et al (2024) Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1230318

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Incorporating peer support into substance use disorder treatment services

(2023) Treatment improvement protocol (TIP) series 64. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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The relationship between person-centred care for substance use disorders and service outcomes: a systematic scoping review. Discussion paper

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2024) In: Commission on Narcotic Drugs Sixty-seventh session, 14–22 March 2024, Vienna

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Community-based substance use treatment programs for reentering justice-involved adults: a scoping review

Graves, Brian D and Fendrich, Michael (2024) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 10. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100221

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National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023

(2024) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

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Exploring the relationships between rehabilitation and survivors of intimate partner violence: a scoping review

Toccalino, Danielle et al (2024) Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 25, (2), pp. 1638-1660. doi.org/10.1177/15248380231196807

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The death penalty for drug offences: global overview 2023

Girelli, Giada et al (2024) London: Harm Reduction International

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National drug strategy household survey 2022–2023.

(2024) Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

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EU drug markets analysis: key insights for policy and practice [Webpage]

EMCDDA, Europol (2024)

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Wastewater analysis and drugs — a European multi-city study

(2024) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

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Influent wastewater analysis to investigate emerging trends of new psychoactive substances use in Europe

Salgueiro-Gonzalez, Noelia et al (2024) Water Research, 254. doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.121390

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Identifying available substance use disorder screening tests feasible for use in primary care: a systematic review

Pautrat, Maxime et al (2024) Preventive Medicine Reports, 38. doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102610

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Wastewater analysis and drugs — a European multi-city study

(2024) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

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Drug checking data from the Trans-European Drug Information (TEDI) network

Trans-European Drug Information Network. (2024) Lisbon: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

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A systematic review of interventions that impact alcohol and other drug-related harms in licensed entertainment settings and outdoor music festivals

Eassey, Christopher et al (2024) Harm Reduction Journal, 21. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00949-4

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Monitoring the use of novel psychoactive substances in Australia by wastewater-based epidemiology

Jaunay, Emma L et al (2024) The Science of the Total Environment, 919. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170473

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Transitions to polysubstance use: prospective cohort study of adolescents in Australia

Black, Nicola et al (2024) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.16468

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Patient and staff perspectives on the impacts and challenges of hospital-based harm reduction

Fraimow-Wong, Leah et al (2024) JAMA Network Open, 7, (2). 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0229

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United for change: advocacy strategy for comprehensive health and harm reduction services for people who use drugs in Europe

(2024) Amsterdam: Boost Project

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Guidance in brief: Prevention and control of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs - 2023 update

ECDC, EMCDDA (2024) Stockholm: ECDC

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Global AIDS targets 2025 for people who use drugs: where are we now?

(2024) Geneva: UNAIDS

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Effect of a co-located bridging recovery initiative on hospital length of stay among patients with opioid use disorder: the BRIDGE randomized clinical trial.

Marcovitz, David et al (2024) JAMA Network Open, 7, (2). 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.56430

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Reviewing the impact of support to the MEAM approach network, 2022-24

Cordis Bright (2024) London: Making Every Adult Matter

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Acyl piperazine opioids, Including 2-Methyl-AP-237.

(2024) London: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

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Recently encountered uncontrolled novel benzodiazepines and related compounds (2024 update)

(2024) London: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

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Psychosocial interventions for stimulant use disorder

Minozzi, Silvia et al (2024) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, (2). doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd011866.pub3

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Understanding Xylazine: an emerging concern

(2023) Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network

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Nitazenes represent a growing threat to public health in Europe

Giraudon, Isabelle et al (2024) The Lancet. Public health, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00024-0

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Risk factors for deaths of despair in England: an ecological study of local authority mortality data

Camacho, Christine et al (2024) Social Science & Medicine, 342. doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116560

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Routes of drug use among drug overdose deaths — United States, 2020–2022

Tanz, Lauren J et al (2024) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73. pp. 124-130. /10.15585/mmwr.mm7306a2

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The impact of an unsanctioned compassion club on non-fatal overdose

Kalicum, Jeremy et al (2024) The International Journal of Drug Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104330

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How to save a life: emergency response to a drug overdose, and harm reduction advice

Simon Community Scotland, Public Health Scotland. (2024) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

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Overdose prevention and response toolkit

(2024) Rockville, MD 20857: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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Drug overdose deaths in the United States, 2002–2022

Spencer, Merianne Rose et al (2024) Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics

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Accidental substance-related acute toxicity deaths among youth in Canada: a descriptive analysis of a national chart review study of coroner and medical examiner data

VanSteelandt, Amanda et al (2024) Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, 44, (3), pp. 77-88. doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.44.3.02

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Health utility among people who regularly use opioids in Australia

Tran, Anh Dam et al (2024) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/dar.13823

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Co-located Heroin Assisted Treatment within primary care: a preliminary analysis of the implications for healthcare access, cost, and treatment delivery in the UK

Poulter, Hannah L et al (2024) The International Journal of Drug Policy, 126. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104367

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Estimated prevalence of opioid dependence in Scotland 2014/15 to 2019/20

(2024) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

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Multimodal acute pain management in the parturient with opioid use disorder: a review

Koltenyuk, Victor et al (2024) Journal of Pain Research, 17. pp. 797-813. doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S434010

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Prenatal cannabis use and the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tadesse, Abay Woday et al (2024) Journal of Psychiatric Research, 171. pp. 142-151. doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.045

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The association between physical availability of cannabis retail outlets and frequent cannabis use and related health harms: a systematic review

Cantor, Nathan et al (2024) Lancet Regional Health. Americas, 32. doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2024.100708

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Brain reward function in people who use cannabis: a systematic review

Beyer, Emillie et al (2024) Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1323609

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Light cannabis use and the adolescent brain: an 8-years longitudinal assessment of mental health, cognition, and reward processing

Macedo, Inês et al (2024) Psychopharmacology, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s00213-024-06575-z

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The prevalence of cannabis use disorders in people who use medicinal cannabis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Dawson, Danielle et al (2024) Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 257. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111263

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Deaths from excessive alcohol use — United States, 2016–2021

Esser, Marissa B et al (2024) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73, (8), pp. 154-161. doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7308a1

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The risk relationships between alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorder and alcohol use disorder mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Carr, Tessa et al (2024) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.16456

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The impact of introducing alcohol-free beer options in bars and public houses on alcohol sales and revenue: a randomised crossover field trial

De-Loyde, Katie et al (2024) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.16449

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Alcohol related hospital statistics Scotland financial year 2022 to 2023

(2024) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

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Scoping review of assessment tools for, magnitudes of and factors associated with problem drinking in population-based studies

Dagne, Kefyalew et al (2024) BMJ Open, 14, (3). doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080657

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Workup and management of liver transplantation in alcohol-related liver disease

Germani, Giacomo et al (2024) United European Gastroenterology Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1002/ueg2.12548

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A review of alcohol services in Scotland’s acute hospitals

(2024) Edinburgh: Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems

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The absence of mandatory pregnancy warning labels in online alcohol purchasing contexts

Pettigrew, Simone et al (2024) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/dar.13836

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Can a health warning label diminish the persuasive effects of health-oriented nutrition advertising on ready-to-drink alcohol product packaging? A randomized experiment

Hobin, Erin et al (2024) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.16475

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Gender-responsive approaches to the acceptability, availability and affordability of alcohol

(2024) Geneva: World Health Organization

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A systematic qualitative study investigating why individuals attend, and what they like, dislike, and find most helpful about, smart recovery, alcoholics anonymous, both, or neither

Kelly, John F et al (2024) Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2024.209337

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The prevalence of alcohol references in music and their effect on people's drinking behavior: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Alen, Gedefaw Diress et al (2024) Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 48, (3), pp. 435-449. doi.org/10.1111/acer.15262

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"Everybody needs to find the best path for them": insights into recovery strategies of people who have not used specialty treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Soweid, Loulwa et al (2024) Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/acer.15287

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Alcohol consumption and harms dashboard [Scotland]. [Dataset]

Public Health Scotland. (2024)

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Recorded webinar: Alcohol brief interventions for older adults with cognitive decline: a systematic review

(2024) Institute of Alcohol Studies

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Association of national smoke-free policies with per-capita cigarette consumption and acute myocardial infarction mortality in Europe

Sassano, Michele et al (2024) Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1136/jech-2023-220746

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E-cigarette use and access among two samples in Australia who regularly use illicit drugs, 2023

Chandrasena, Udesha et al (2024) Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

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E-cigarettes: a framework for comparative history and policy.

Berridge, Virginia et al (2024) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.16462

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Scoping review: Age-restriction interventions for tobacco and nicotine vapour products in children and young people

Riches, Emma et al (2024) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

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Harms from other people's gambling: associations with an individual's own gambling behaviours, health risk behaviours, financial problems, general health, and mental wellbeing

Wilson, Charley et al (2024) Journal of Gambling Studies, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s10899-024-10291-w

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Applying the Canadian low-risk gambling guidelines to gambling harm reduction in England

Rochester, Eleanor and Cunningham, John A (2024) Journal of Gambling Studies, 40, (1), pp. 21-28. doi.org/10.1007/s10899-022-10186-8

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Effects of internet and smartphone addiction on cognitive control in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review of fMRI studies.

León Méndez, M et al (2024) Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105572

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