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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
Deaths among people who were homeless at time of death in Ireland, 2022.

Riordan, Fiona et al (2026) Dublin: Health Research Board
Out of the shadows: women and the Dublin drug economy - poverty, context, trauma and survival. Summary report.

Woods, Marguerite and Kearney, Paula (2026) Dublin: Citywide
Hidden harm in the Canal Communities. A roadmap for future action

Haran, Neil (2026) Dublin: Hidden Harm Steering Group
A socioeconomic analysis of Dublin’s South West Inner City

Roantree, Barra (2026) Dublin: Sporting Liberties
Traveller substance use in Ireland: a national study

Comiskey, Catherine and O’Neill, Debra (2026) Dublin: Eastern Region Traveller Health Unit; Pavee Point; HSE
Advancing addiction science through the study of recovery trajectories

Ivers, Jo-Hanna H (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70433
'I don't really want to speak up because they're on a different level to me': the stigma of not engaging in trauma talk

Windle, James and Cronin, Joan (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 151. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105244 
How women experience addiction services in Cork

Windle, James and Cronin, Joan (2026) Cork: University College Cork
Recreational nitrous oxide use: a growing trend with unintended consequences

Bakhshi, S et al (2026) Irish Medical Journal, 119, (4), p. 65
Dual disorders: an overview

Torrens, Marta et al (2026) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online. pp. 1-3. doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2026.10188 
School-level differences in self-harm and psychosocial problems associated with self-harm in adolescents

McEvoy, David et al (2026) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online. 10.1017/ipm.2026.10192 
'Brought in dead': post-mortem glimpses of the early 'heroin epidemic' in Ireland, 1971-1983

Wall, Oisín (2026) Social History of Medicine, 39, (1), pp. 24-47. doi.org/10.1093/shm/hkae094
The global epidemiology of alcohol-associated liver disease

Danpanichkul, Pojsakorn et al (2026) Hepatology Communications, 10, (5), e0947. DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000947
Drugnet Ireland. Issue 94, April 2026

(2026) Dublin: Health Research Board
Child-oriented marketing practices associated with Ireland’s televised National Lottery draws: a secondary analysis of associated programming and screening times

Houghton, Frank et al (2026) Epidemiology Biostatistics and Public Health, 21. doi.org/10.54103/2282-0930/30736
Gambling adverts on social media reach 2.3 times more men than women: using the Meta Ad Library to assess gambling advertising in Ireland

Petrovskaya, Elena et al (2026) Journal of Behavioral Addictions, Early online, doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00484
Adolescence in the digital age: the impacts of smartphone and social media use on a cohort of Irish teenagers.

Donnelly, Fionn and Petty-Saphon, Naomi (2026) Research Square, Early online. doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8533545/v1 
Tipping the scales: the predictive utility of the PCE-ACE ratio for criminogenic and wellbeing outcomes in a general adult population

Walsh, Colm (2026) Health & Justice, 14, (7), doi.org/10.1186/s40352-026-00397-1 
Paying the price: the cost and impact of imprisonment on families in Ireland

Singleton, Sara (2025) Dublin: TASC
Finding it harder: insights into early school leaving in Ireland

Byrne, Steven and Haugh, Joseph (2026) European Journal of Education Studies, 13. /10.46827/ejes.v13i3.6582
Impact of a physiotherapy-led low threshold exercise and protein supplementation intervention to optimise physical function and target frailty in people experiencing homelessness and addiction: The LEAP-II trial

Kennedy, Fiona et al (2025) Physiotherapy, 132. 101873. doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2025.101873 
Alcohol and other drugs factsheet: HSE regions

HRB National Drugs Library. (2026) 
Moving ideas: an agenda for expanding the political scope of the policy mobilities approach

McCann, Eugene (2026) Progress in Human Geography, 50, (2), pp. 160-180. doi.org/10.1177/03091325251380698
The politics of counting homelessness: the case of Ireland

Davret, Juliette (2026) Housing Policy Debate, 26, (1), pp. 3-26. doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2025.2599125 [hal-05489660]
Pride and poverty: a study of the economic challenges in the LGBTQ+ community

Singleton, Sara (2026) Dublin: TASC, Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, and EAPN Ireland
Trends, shifts and emerging patterns of alcohol consumption among adults in Ireland 2020-2025

(2026) Dublin: Drinkaware
Conference abstracts: Belgrade Declaration on Tobacco Taxation and Competitiveness

Hanafin, Joan and Sunday, Salome and Clancy, Luke (2026) In: The 10th ENSP-ECTC – Belgrade Declaration on Tobacco Taxation and Competitiveness, 22-24 October 2025, Belgrade.
Mediation analysis investigating the mechanisms of two school-based smoking prevention interventions in adolescents from Northern Ireland and Bogotá

Murray, Jennifer M et al (2026) Frontiers in Public Health, 14. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1758481 
Zero Tolerance — The third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence: 2022–2026 progress report on implementation, 2025

(2026) Dublin: Department of Justice
Judicial guidelines on the commissioning, preparation, content and usage of expert reports in family law proceedings

(2026) Dublin: Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration
HSE data management and performance profile reports 2026

(2026) Dublin: Health Service Executive
Social inclusion key performance indicator metadata 2026

(2026) Dublin: Health Service Executive
HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Office action plan 2024-2027

HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Office. (2026) Dublin: Health Service Executive
Sport Ireland anti-doping annual report 2025

(2026) Dublin: Sport Ireland
International publications
Implementation of the treatment and recovery portfolio of the 'From Harm to Hope' drug strategy in England. Results from a process evaluation

Parkinson, Sarah et al (2026) London: RAND Corporation
Substance-general and substance-specific influences on adolescent vaping, smoking, alcohol consumption, and illicit drug use: context, inequalities, and putative determinants

Thornton, Emma et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 152. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105272 
Are drugs bad for business (improvement districts)? Policy mobility, security planning, and frontier politics

Boland, Philip et al (2026) Urban Geography, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2026.2615966
3 × 3 model for drug use normalisation: insights from a scoping review

Ketelaars, Daniëlle T P et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 152. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105251 
Decriminalization of drug use in the context of HIV: a guidance note

(2026) Geneva: UNAIDS
Patient-reported outcomes for monitoring substance use treatment: a systematic review of single-item measures

Reese, Thomas J et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.70424 
Developmentally tailored school-based interventions for substance use disorders: a narrative review

Saha, Priyanka et al (2026) Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 68, (3), pp. 255-264. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_815_25 
Developing a counselling and psychotherapy competency framework for addictions: a systematic review

Mahmood, Faisal et al (2026) Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 26, (1). doi.org/10.1002/capr.70083 
Effectiveness of the components of a digital multiple health behavior intervention among university students (Buddy): factorial randomized trial

Åsberg, Katarina et al (2026) Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28. doi.org/10.2196/88884 
The renewed women’s health strategy for England

(2026) London: Department of Health & Social Care
Fathers. Men in drug treatment services share their life paths and the processes and feelings of becoming and being parents.

Giacomello, Corina (2026) Strasbourg: Council of Europe
How have liberalized drug policies impacted international policing practices across urban and rural jurisdictions? A scoping review

Jurkus, Meya et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 152.  105249. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105249 
Implementation fidelity matters: insights from a realist evaluation of police drug diversion schemes in England

Bacon, Matthew et al (2026) Policing and Society, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2026.2651196 
Mothers and children experiencing substance use and interpersonal violence: a qualitative study addressing the lived experiences of mothers in an attachment-based parenting intervention

Andrews, Naomi C Z et al (2026) Child Abuse & Neglect, 175. doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.108006
‘Addiction never seems to be historic’: how older women in recovery from illicit drug use experience stigma within their practitioner-patient communications

Shaw, April and Gundar, RV (2026) Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2026.2647881 
Spike on a bike: mobile harm reduction in action

Janes, Joseph et al (2026) Harm Reduction Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01394-7 
Perceived harm reduction impact of a drug checking service in Vienna: a qualitative study among current and prospective service users

Karden, Alexandra et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 151. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105237 
An online stigma reduction education program for healthcare workers working with people who inject drugs: development

Ezepue, Sandy et al (2026) PLoS ONE, 21, (4). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347309
Injecting equipment provision in Scotland 2024 to 2025

(2026) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland
Considering water, sanitation, and hygiene as a valuable component of harm reduction

Calderón-Villarreal, Alhelí (2026) Harm Reduction Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-026-01446-6 
Wastewater analysis: estimating drug consumption

(2026) London: Home Office
National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program - Report 25

(2026) Sydney: National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
Association between gabapentinoid treatment, concurrent use with opioid or benzodiazepine and the risk of drug poisoning: a self-controlled case series study

Yuen, Andrew S C et al (2026) PLoS Medicine, 23, (4).  doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1005035 
Suicide and psychiatric disorders associated with amphetamine type stimulant use: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Adam, Halima Mohammed et al (2026) Frontiers in Psychiatry, 17. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1654091 
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/314 of 9 February 2026 amending Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005

Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 as regards the inclusion of certain precursors of synthetic cathinone and amphetamine in the list of scheduled substances. European Commission. (2026) Official Journal of the European Union, 2026/314. Document 32026R0314
Retrospective cohort analysis of nitrite and nitrate levels in postmortem biological samples after suspected suicide

Ho, Jonathan W et al (2026) BMJ Public Health, 4. doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2025-004215 
Behavioural intentions associated with exposure to anabolic-androgenic steroid testing results: a two-phase, multi-wave intervention trial

Piatkowski, Timothy et al (2026) Substance Use & Addiction Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/29767342261427145 
Weekend highs: rising ketamine levels in Australian wastewater

Keller, Emma et al (2026) Environmental Advances, 23. doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2026.100687
Crack cocaine day programmes and lessons from the past. A review of specialist crack cocaine treatment approaches in England, the evidence base for engagement, and lessons for current practice

D’Agostino, Tony (2026) TD Consultancy
Comparison of the treatments in crack use disorder: a systematic review

Flory Samartino, Jonathan Marc et al (2026) European Addiction Research, Early online. pp. 1-17. doi.org/10.1159/000551660 
Harm reduction progams and interventions for equity-deserving populations who use crack-cocaine. A scoping review

Sculco, Camilla et al (2026) European Addiction Research, Early online. pp. 1-24. doi.org/10.1159/000551848 
The Opioid Safety Toolkit: an interactive prescription opioid safety toolkit to increase opioid safety literacy and behaviours among people prescribed opioids for pain-a randomised controlled trial

Nielsen, Suzanne et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70412 
Naloxone awareness and uptake among a sample of people who regularly use ecstasy and/or other illicit stimulants in Australia

Palmer, Lily et al (2026) Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney
Patterns of medical comorbidities among aging people receiving heroin-assisted treatment: a 10-year single-center repeated cross-sectional study

Strittmatter, David et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 19. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2026.100435 
Cannabis use within the United States: prevalence of cannabis use by state legal status and perceptions of benefit and harm

Bontemps, Andrew P et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 19. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2026.100431 
Cannabis laws in Europe. [Webpage]

European Union Drugs Agency. (2026) 
Estimating thresholds for risk of cannabis use disorder using standard delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) units.

Lees Thorne, Rachel et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70263 
Higher THC concentration medicinal cannabis products efficacy and safety considerations: a rapid review

Graham, Myfanwy et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Review, 45, (4). doi.org/10.1111/dar.70145
Comparative effectiveness, safety and acceptability of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions for the treatment of cannabis use disorder: a network meta-analysis

Halicka, Monika et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70399
The association between cannabis use and brain reward anticipation: a 12-month longitudinal study of adults and adolescents who use cannabis and age-matched controls

Skumlien, Martine et al (2026) Neuropsychopharmacology, Early online. doi.org/10.1038/s41386-026-02377-3 
A systematic review of the association between alcohol-related deaths and area-level socioeconomic deprivation and other geographic characteristics in high-income countries

Doyle, Anne et al (2026) BMC Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-27445-7
Structural brain effects of alcohol use patterns in alcohol use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Bernabeu, Thomas et al (2026) Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, Early online. 
Impact of later trading hours for bars and clubs on alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and crimes in Scotland: a controlled interrupted time series study

Sheikh, Nurnabi et al (2026) BMJ Public Health, 4, e003722. doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2025-003722
Living with the consequences of an intimate partner's drinking

Tanyos, Amany (2026) SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 9. doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2026.100729 
Domestic abuse & alcohol use

Hazell-Caldwell, Charlotte (2026) London: National Centre for Domestic Violence
What are the characteristics of households that purchase alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks in Great Britain in 2018 and 2021?

Clarke, Zoe L et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Review, 45, (4). doi.org/10.1111/dar.70146
Understanding purchasing patterns of alcoholic, alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks: a latent profile analysis

Rousham, Oscar et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.70445
Commission staff working document evaluation of the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU), the Tobacco Advertising Directive (2003/33/EC) and other related tobacco control policies across the EU

(2026) Brussels: European Commission
Harm reduction implications of vaping overtaking smoking in Great Britain

Adebayo Adebisi, Yusuff et al (2026) International Journal of Public Health, 71. doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609671
Assessment of cognitive emotion regulation in gambling disorder: a systematic review of the literature

Ioniță, Ioana et al (2026) Clinics and Practice, 16, (3). doi.org/10.3390/clinpract16030056
Unhealthy food bias in food addiction: behavioral evidence from a probabilistic image choice task

Solinas, Marcello et al (2026) Journal of Eating Disorders, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s40337-026-01590-1 
News
Dublin retail group ‘open’ to helping fund supports for people in addiction carrying out thefts

[thejournal.ie] McAuley, Eimer (29 Apr 2026)
HSE funding McVerry Trust drug service despite 'clear failure'

[RTE News] Murphy, Paul (23 Apr 2026) 
Minister of State Niall Collins launches new Youth Diversion Projects for East Clare and North Tipperary

[Department of justice, Home Affairs and Migration] (23 Apr 2026) 
Draft National Drug Strategy a backwards step, campaign group says

[RTE News] Conneely, Ailbhe (16 Apr 2026) 
HRB reports latest figures on deaths among people who are homeless

[Health Research Board] (15 Apr 2026) 
Press release: IMO motions underline need for establishment of an Office for Alcohol Harm Reduction.

[Alcohol Action Ireland] (13 Apr 2026)
Doctors advised to avoid prescribing opioids for long-term pain due to lack of evidence

[Irish Examiner] Griffin, Niamh (10 Apr 2026) 
€2 million investment to support children and strengthen school responses to behaviours of concern

Department of Education and Youth] (09 Apr 2026)
'There's always a way back' - GAA stars not immune to struggle of drug addiction

[RTE News] McCormack, Cian (07 Apr 2026) 
Drink-driving: if you can't stop the driver, stop the car

[thejournal.ie] Comyn, Paddy (04 Apr 2026) 
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