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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. 

Also, take a look at the NDTRS treatment data tables,services map and alcohol dashboard, among other resources on our site.
Irish-related publications
Inclusion health. An education framework for postgraduate medical training

(2026) Dublin: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Gabapentinoids and unexplained death in general practice: case series and feasibility study arising from a critical incident

Gabriel, Augustin and Fahey, Tom (2026) The European Journal of General Practice, 32, (1). doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2026.2645473 
What practical strategies improve recruitment and engagement of people experiencing homelessness in observational clinical research? A multistudy synthesis from Dublin, Ireland

Richard, Georgia et al (2026) BMJ Open, 16, (3). doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-114055
From punishment to prevention: poverty, inequality and pathways into the Irish criminal justice system

(2026) Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust
Better together: developing relationship practice to effect change in young people’s offending behaviour

O’Meara Daly, Eóin et al (2025) Limerick: Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice (REPPP) Project, School of Law, University of Limerick
Cost of acute hospital treatment and initial aftercare for hospital-presenting self-harm in Ireland: national registry study

Cully, Grace et al (2026) BJPsych Open, 12, (2). doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2026.10978 
Alcohol and road safety

(2026) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland
Registered tobacco and vaping lobbying activity in Ireland, 2016-2024: the case for strengthening implementation of the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control Article 5.3 to clear the path for tobacco endgame

Hanrahan, Michael and Kavanagh, Paul (2026) Tobacco Control, Early online. doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059758 
IPS health needs assessment: 2nd progress report, June 2024 – June 2025

(2026) Dublin: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Chrysalis Community Drug Project annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Chrysalis Community Drug Project
HSE Capital plan 2026: building and equipment

(2026) Dublin: Health Service Executive
National Women and Infants Health Programme annual report 2024

National Women and Infants Health Programme. (2026) Dublin: Health Service Executive
Revenue headline results 2025

(2026) Dublin: Revenue Commissioners
HSE Child Health Public Health annual report 2024

HSE Child Health Public Health. (2026) Dublin: Health Service Executive
International publications
EUDA engagement with civil society.

(2026) Lisbon: EUDA
New drug trends: insights from focus group discussions. Civil society monitoring of harm reduction in Europe 2025.

C-EHRN Focal Points. Moura, Joana et al (2026) Amsterdam: Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network. 
Wastewater analysis and drugs — a European multi-city study

(2026) Lisbon: European Drugs Agency
EUDA Single programming document 2026-2028

(2026) Lisbon: EUDA
Frequently asked questions (FAQ): gender and drugs in Europe. [Webpage]

(2026) European Union Drugs Agency
Stigma and language for organisations

(2026) United Kingdom: Anti-Stigma Network
Everyday discrimination in individuals seeking treatment/receiving support for substance use and caregivers

Jones, Andrew et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 152, 105256. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105256.
Violence against women who inject drugs.

Colledge-Frisby, Samantha et al (2026) JAMA Network Open, 9, (3). doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.2096 
Doubts and disconnection: police reflections on drug decriminalization in British Columbia in the first year of implementation

Butler, Amanda et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 151. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105211 
Minimizing the risk of diversion of pharmaceuticals containing controlled substances from the regulated supply chain. A practitioner’s handbook for effective operational practice

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2026) Vienna: United Nations
"Who the hell is upstream pushing them all in?" Reclaiming public health's defining metaphor to counter the commercial determinants of health

van Schalkwyk, May C I et al (2026) PLOS Global Public Health, 6, (2). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0006045 
Who seeks help from live chat services? demographic, psychosocial, and service use profiles of young people using a national live chat mental health service

Tibbs, Maria and Fitzgerald, Amanda (2026) Global Mental Health, 13. doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2025.10120 
Affective factors in the co-occurrence of personality disorders and substance use disorders

Wycoff, Andrea M and Trull, Timothy J (2026) Current Addiction Reports, 13. doi.org/10.1007/s40429-026-00719-1 
Integrated treatment approaches for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders: findings from a survey of European healthcare providers

Fonseca, Francina et al (2026) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online. pp. 1-7. doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2026.10174
The effectiveness of psychological interventions delivered by health professionals for adult cannabis use in community settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Giguère, Sabrina et al (2026) Frontiers in Psychiatry, 17, 1792228. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1792228.
"They walked in and walked straight out of adult treatment": creating tailored drug outreach and service provision for young adults in England

Duke, Karen and Welch, Zoë (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 150. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105180 
Digital therapies for substance use disorders: recent advances and engagement strategies

Oesterle, Tyler S and Bormann, Nicholas L (2026) Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 17. doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S560350 
Realist review of nature-based interventions for men: understanding the contexts and mechanisms necessary for successful outcomes

Dumbrell, Josh et al (2026) BMC Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-26867-7 
From beach to bedside: lessons from the Australian treatment system for dealing with the challenges faced by the UK’s addiction medical workforce crisis

Roberts, Emmert and Farrell, Michael (2026) BJPsych International, Early online DOI:10.1192/bji.2025.10091 
Perspectives on recreational substance use and harm reduction among music festival workers in the United Kingdom: a qualitative study.

Rayner, CL et al (2026) Drug Science, Policy and Law, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/20503245261422324 
The costs of tackling drug harms in prisons

National Audit Office. (2026) London: Ministry of Justice and Department of Health & Social Care.
Drug-related infectious diseases toolkit.

(2026) European Union Drugs Agency
Needle and syringe programmes for people who inject drugs: operational guide

(2026) Geneva: World Health Organization
The state of cardiovascular health in the European Union

Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2025) Paris: OECD Publishing
Stroke Action Plan for Europe 2018-2030 (SAP-E): mid-term review and update

Christensen, Hanne et al (2026) European Stroke Journal, 11, (1). doi.org/10.1093/esj/aakaf026
Does illicit drug use increase stroke risk? A systematic review, meta-analyses, and Mendelian randomization analysis

Ritson, Megan et al (2026) International Journal of Stroke, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/17474930261418926 
Preventing harm, promoting recovery: Scotland's alcohol & drugs strategic plan 2026 – 2035

Scottish Government. Population Health Directorate. (2026) Edinburgh: Scottish Government
Evaluation of the National Mission on Drug Deaths. Feasibility and added value of an ongoing national lived experience feedback survey in Scotland

(2026) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland
National drug related death database (Scotland): analysis of deaths registered in 2021 and 2022

(2026) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland
Evaluation of the National Mission on Drug Deaths. Follow-up frontline staff survey 2025

(2026) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland
Homeless deaths 2024

(2026) Edinburgh: National Records of Scotland
Shared characteristics among those who co-ingest cocaine and alcohol prior to death by suicide: an examination of trends within the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality data

Davies, Nyle et al (2026) Drug Science, Policy and Law, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/20503245261432054 
Exclusion of LGBTQ+ people from the UK's alcohol and other drug-related death response

Connolly, Dean J et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 151. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105219 
Nightclub deaths in the UK: a retrospective observational study of media reports with coroner verification

Collis, Ben et al (2026) Emergency Medicine Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2025-215009 
Relationship between substance use and suicide behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and random-effects proportions meta-analysis

Cadena Barberis, Estefano D et al (2026) Journal of Clinical Medicine, 15, (4). doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041328
The role of psychotropic medication, alcohol, illicit drugs, and suicidal intention in fatal motor vehicle accidents involving drivers with psychotic disorders

Koskinen, Jussi et al (2026) European Journal of Public Health, 36, (2). doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf263
Bromazolam tablet quantification and analysis of post-mortem cases from the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM).

Gardner, Matthew et al (2026) Drug Testing and Analysis, Early online. doi.org/10.1002/dta.70045 
Advantage of analysing drug paraphernalia in cause-of-death investigations

Kriikku, Pirkko et al (2026) Forensic Science International, 384. doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112944 
Digital health interventions for people who use methamphetamine: a scoping review

Fletcher, Kathryn et al (2026) Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1658021
Ketamine in Europe: EMPACT situation report

(2026) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
The safety and efficacy of cannabinoids for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Wilson, Jack et al (2025) Systematic Reviews, 14, (1), p. 23. doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02657-3
Changes over time in hallucinogen-related emergency department visits in Ontario, Canada

Myran, Daniel T et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70363
Network pharmacology and molecular simulation reveal the entourage effect mechanisms of psilocybin-producing mushrooms on the brain

Murray, Zurika et al (2026) Scientific Reports, 16, (1). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39483-7
A systematic review investigating the psychosocial factors influencing initiation, use and subjective experience of performance and image-enhancing drugs in women who weight-train

Schuurs, Hannah C et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Review, 45, (2). doi.org/10.1111/dar.70112
Temporal and geographical patterns of nitazene detections in drug samples and biospecimens in the United States, 2019-2024

Zhu, David T et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70378 
Optimal provision of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and needle and syringe programmes (NSP): a realist evaluation

McCulloch, Peter et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 150. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105174 
More than a medication: the lived meaning and value of long-acting injectable buprenorphine.

Donaldson, Sarah R et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2026.100421
Factors associated with opioid agonist treatment engagement and harm reduction service use: findings from the New South Wales opioid dependence survey

Santo, Thomas et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Review, 45, (3). doi.org/10.1111/dar.70132
Cannabis use, cognitive function and dementia risk in older adults: observational and genetic analyses

Ishrat, Saba et al (2026) BMJ Mental Health, 29. doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2025-302290 
Acute effects of cannabis on alcohol craving and consumption: a randomized controlled crossover trial

Metrik, Jane et al (2026) The American Journal of Psychiatry, 183, (2), pp. 134-143. doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250115 
Prevalence of alcohol use disorders in individuals with borderline personality disorder: a meta-analysis and meta-regression study

Silva, Stefani Gonzalez et al (2026) Sao Paulo Medical Journal, 144, (1). doi.org/10.1590/1516-3180.2024.0480.R1.04112025 
Mind the gap: exploring social inequalities in alcohol consumption using nationally representative data from the 2019 and 2021 Health Survey for England

Kiri, Janet et al (2026) BMC Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-26651-7 
Associations between financial hardship and alcohol reduction attempts in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and alcohol tax reforms: a population study in Great Britain, 2023-25

Jackson, Sarah E et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 151. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105215
Online marketing for alcohol home delivery and alcohol purchasing behaviour: a mixed-methods study

Coomber, Kerri et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 150. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105202 
How are bars and nightclubs in Scotland using extensions in late-night alcohol trading hours? Venue observation study.

Emslie, Carol et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 151. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105210 
Understanding the relationship of social anxiety with alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in young people: a meta-analysis

Fichtenmaier, Anton J and George, Amanda M (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70345 
School-based interventions for children experiencing parental alcohol misuse: a systematic literature review

Trotman, Abbie and Atkinson, Cathy (2026) Pastoral Care in Education, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2025.2610202 
Eight experts discuss the need for a new national alcohol strategy. [Video]

(2026) Society for the Study of Addiction
The influence of alcohol on prehospital diagnostics and therapy of injured patients

Sturm, Ramona et al (2026) Alcohol, Clinical & Experimental Research, 50, (1). doi.org/10.1111/acer.70209
Regulation of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks: learning from a comparative analysis of eight countries

Burton, Robyn et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Review, 45, (3). doi.org/10.1111/dar.70126
Low and no alcohol availability and sales in small retailers in Great Britain: a geographic longitudinal analysis from 2018 to 2022

Valiente, Roberto et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70391 
Impact of Scotland's smoke-free public spaces legislation 20 years on: evidence briefing

(2026) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland
Responding to substance use in schools (including vapes and other nicotine products).

Guidance for education authorities and schools. (2026) Edinburgh: Scottish Government
WHO Regional Office for Europe factsheets

Reduced-nicotine cigarettes for smoking cessation and reduction

Livingstone-Banks, Jonathan et al (2026) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3, (3). doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD016337 
Physical multimorbidity and quit outcomes in a publicly funded smoking cessation programme

Kyrychenko, Polina et al (2026) Internal Medicine Journal, 56, (3), pp. 410-416. doi.org/10.1111/imj.70307 
Smoking-attributable hospitalisation costs in Europe: an econometric analysis of the European Health Interview Survey, 2019

Stazi, Giacomo et al (2026) BMJ Public Health, 4, (1). doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2025-003101 
E-cigarette use and smoking-related disparities in England: an observational study using small area estimation and nonparametric regression

Prieger, James E et al (2026) Harm Reduction Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-026-01435-9
Direct gambling marketing, direct harm: a randomised experiment

Rockloff, Matthew et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70369
The impact of food addiction on the treatment of eating disorders and obesity: a systematic review

Amato, Anna Laura et al (2026) Physiology & Behavior, 308. doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2026.115248
News
Over 750,000 units of illegal medicines detained by the HPRA in 2025.

Health Products Regulatory Authority.  (24 Mar 2026) 
HSE works with content creators on new youth vaping prevention campaign

[RTE News] O'Driscoll, Marc (20 Mar 2026) 
HSE issues drug warning for people partying over St Patrick’s Day weekend

Health Service Executive (12 Mar 2026) 
No more daily clinics: New methadone alternative will give patients more freedom

[thejournal.ie] McAuley, Eimer (10 Mar 2026) 
Ministers announce Government approval of proposals for further regulation of nicotine products

[Department of Health] (04 Mar 2026)
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