HRB National Drugs Library e-newsletter volume 22, issue 6

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

Joint Committee on Drugs Use final report

Joint Committee on Drugs Use. (2026) Dublin: Houses of the Oireachtas

Report of the public consultation on the National Drugs Strategy 2026 -2029

(2026) Dublin: Department of Health

Doyle, Anne and Daly, Antoinette and Lynn, Ena (2026) Irish Journal of Medical Science, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04420-0

National Drug Treatment Reporting System, 2025 alcohol treatment demand

Ní Luasa, Siobhán et al (2026) Dublin: Health Research Board

Recovery without walls: a mixed method evaluation of community based recovery at Brandon House

Brennan, Rebekah and Corkery, Barry (2026) Cork: HSE South West

Shifting the paradigm: creating psychological safety for women accessing community addiction services in Dublin: a research summary

McAsey, Jennifer and Annunziata, Nicki (2026) Dublin: Donnycarney Youth Project; Brook Recovery Hub; Dublin City Council

Enacting gender transformative responses to women’s substance use in Ireland: a discussion brief.

Morton, Sarah et al (2026) Dublin: Donnycarney Youth Project and University College Dublin

HHC-induced psychosis in adolescents: a case series

Cevikel, Piril et al (2026) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online. pp. 1-5. /doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2026.10201

On the label: implementation of health warnings on alcohol products in 13 European countries

Kokole, Daša et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Review, 45, (5). doi.org/10.1111/dar.70185

Ireland's silent epidemic: why FASD can't be ignored anymore

Harper, Angel et al (2026) Frontiers in Public Health, 14. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1781199

A systematic review on the association between alcohol consumption and mental health outcomes

(2026) Dublin: HIQA

Modelling alcohol-attributable mortality risks and hospital admission rates in Ireland

(2026) Dublin: HIQA

Implementing what works in alcohol policy: progress report on the SAFER initiative

(2026) Geneva: World Health Organization

Policy briefing. The sale and marketing of zero alcohol drinks. Updated

(2026) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

European Homelessness Count (EHC) project – Methodology and results for Cork City and the Dublin region

Kenny, Oona (2026) Dublin: Focus Ireland

Myth, power and practice: a Bourdieusian interpretation of Greentown’s criminal network

Bray, Andy and Redmond, Sean (2026) Behavioral Sciences, 16, (6). doi.org/10.3390/bs16061012

Addressing the recruitment of young people into criminal drugs networks. Rapid evidence review

O’Meara Daly, Eóin (2026) Lisbon: EUDA

Child criminal exploitation (CCE) in the context of drug markets: safeguarding challenges and prevention approaches in the South Inner City. Summary report

2026) Dublin: South Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force and Health Service Executive

The gendered nature of community- and family-level adversity: perspectives from justice-involved youth in Northern Ireland

Rice, Orlaith and Walsh, Colm (2026) Criminal Justice and Behavior, doi.org/10.1177/00938548261456567

Lesson never learned: education in prison workshop report

Adams, Keith et al (2026) Dublin: Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice

National risk assessment Ireland 2026 - money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing

(2026) Dublin: Department of Finance

Policy review of Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill 2014. Working group review

(2026) Dublin: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Intergenerational change in health, well-being and social inclusion for two groups of adults with intellectual disability aged 40-49: findings from a national longitudinal study

de Lima, Kálya Yasmine Nunes et al (2026) Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 39, (3). doi.org/10.1111/jar.70254

Trials, trips, and tribulations: pathways for implementing psychedelic therapy in Ireland

Kelly, John R et al (2026) International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 29, (6). doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyag028

'Taking time' - extended mental health consultations in a deprived urban general practice: a retrospective descriptive study.

Hinchy, Siobhan et al (2026) PLoS ONE, 21, (5). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349885

Technical note: identification of the novel benzodiazepine 3-hydroxy desalkylgidazepam within PSNI tablet seizures in northern Ireland

Jeffers, Maurice Robert and Greer, William Robert (2026) Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 121. doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103187

Nicotine-free spaces for healthier cities

10th European Conference on Tobacco or Health. (2026) Tobacco Prevention & Cessation. Abstract book, Supplement 1 vol 12

The path to universal healthcare – Sláintecare & Programme for Government 2025+: 2026 action plan

(2026) Dublin: Government of Ireland

Pathways to wellbeing: national mental health promotion implementation. Plan phase 1: 2025–2027

(2026) Dublin: Department of Health

Twinkle twinkle little star: Gambling and child recognition of the Irish national lottery logo

Houghton, Frank et al (2026) Addicta, 13, (2), pp. 205-215. doi.org/10.15805/addicta.2026.500

Recorded crime Q1 2026

(2026) Cork: Central Statistics Office

Child poverty monitor 2026

(2026) Dublin: Children's Rights Alliance

Alcohol Action Ireland annual report 2025

(2026) Alcohol Action Ireland

Mental Health Commission annual report 2025

(2026) Mental Health Commission

International publications

European drug report 2026: trends and developments

(2026) Lisbon: European Union Drugs Agency

Understanding Europe’s drug situation in 2026 – key developments (European drug report 2026).

(2026) Lisbon: EUDA

EUDA statistical bulletin - data and statistics on the drug situation in Europe. [Dataset]

European Union Drugs Agency. (2026)

Consolidated annual activity report 2025 – key achievements and governance: a year in review

(2026) Lisbon: EUDA

Playbook for Action: practical interventions small cities can use to tackle Canada’s substance use crisis

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

Challenges and successes implementing a skills-based preventative drug-use intervention early in secondary education

Retzler, Jenny et al (2026) Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2026.2681540

Preventing the intergenerational transmission of substance use disorder: lessons learned from developmental science on parenting and adolescence

Berger, Estelle L et al (2026) Substance Use: Research and Treatment, 20. doi.org/10.1177/29768357261454176

Making ‘safety’ for children and young people in drug policy: a critical analysis of governing logics

Volpe, Isabelle et al (2026) Journal of Applied Youth Studies, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s43151-026-00221-5

The mediating role of positive youth development in the relationship between school connectedness and academic outcomes in secondary education students

Grasmeijer, Anna Jean et al (2026) European Journal of Psychology of Education, 41. doi.org/10.1007/s10212-026-01129-7

Reimagining the biopsychosocial model: transdiagnostic factors to precision psychiatry

Nikolic, Maja et al (2026) Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 6, (4). doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2026.100734

Outcomes associated with an inpatient addiction consult service: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abraham, Tina E et al (2026) SAGE Open Medicine, 14. doi.org/10.1177/20503121261453173

The management of withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs in Australian custodial settings: a consensus statement.

FitzGerald, Grace et al (2026) The Medical Journal of Australia, 224, (6). doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70225

A scoping review of implementation strategies to reduce stigma toward people who use substances in healthcare settings

Cioffi, C C et al (2026) Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2026.210005

Substance use services from a lived experience perspective - reviewing the evidence from 2024-25 around MAT Implementation

(2026) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

Emotion regulation impairment across psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sloan, Matthew E et al (2026) Translational Psychiatry, Early online. doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04119-x

Provision of harm reduction services in community pharmacies: findings from an Australian national sample

Picco, Louisa et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105351

Data from the European Syringe Collection and Analysis Project Enterprise (ESCAPE): data explorer, analysis and key 2024 findings

(2026) Lisbon: EUDA

Can real-world scaling up HCV treatment in people who inject drugs be cost-saving: an economic modelling study in the UK

Ward, Zoe et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 154. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105347

The effectiveness of housing-based interventions and harm reduction among adults experiencing homelessness: a systematic review of recent controlled evidence (2019-2025)

Nieradko-Heluszko, Agnieszka et al (2026) Social Science & Medicine, 403. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119402

Context, mechanisms and outcomes of a social enterprise model of residential rehabilitation for problem substance use: a realist-informed process evaluation

Anderson, Martin et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70459

World drug report 2026

(2026) Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Guidelines on combating organised crime related to drug trafficking

Pompidou Group. (2026) Strasbourg: Council of Europe

Implementation principles - Drug use disorder treatment and other non-custodial alternatives to conviction or punishment for people who use drugs and with drug use disorders in contact with the criminal justice system for offences of a minor nature.

Discussion paper, pre-publication draft. (2026) Vienna: United Nations

Trends in drug markets, use and health impacts in Australia: cocaine

Chrzanowska, Agata et al (2026) Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney

Impact of drug legislation on crime reduction: a systematic literature review

Torres-Rodríguez, María Clara et al (2026) Frontiers in Public Health, 14. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1806036

Criminal exploitation and vulnerability in drug markets: a six-nation comparison of its recognition in international policy discourses and criminal justice systems

Søgaard, Thomas Friis et al (2026) European Journal of Criminology, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/14773708261427649

Analyzing the role of needs assessments in police drug diversion schemes: findings from a realist process evaluation

Glasspoole-Bird, Helen et al (2026) Contemporary Drug Problems, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/00914509261454970

Components of family-focused interventions that have common impacts across parental domestic violence and abuse, mental ill-health, and substance misuse: an intervention components analysis

Allen, Kate et al (2026) Journal of Prevention, 47, (1), pp. 61-107. doi.org/10.1007/s10935-025-00868-5

EUDA initial report on the new psychoactive substance

8-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one (spirochlorphine). EUDA. (2026) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

3-(3-{1-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl}-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,3-benzimidazol-1-yl)propanenitrile (cychlorphine. EUDA. (2026) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

The future of synthetic drugs 2050: scenarios for Europe

(2026) Lisbon: EUDA

#NoIDVape: a content analysis of illicit vape messaging in young people's information sources

Johansson, Magnus et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70476

Cocaine and the environment: building the foundations for measurement

European Union Drugs Agency, DEVIDA. (2026) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union

Service utilization patterns in cocaine use disorder: a data-driven study

Riemerschmid, Carlotta et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 19. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2026.100447

Provision of safer smoking equipment to reduce health harms and enhance service engagement among people who use crack: a realist informed review

Piot, Alexandre et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105371

Assessment of the threat posed by highly potent synthetic opioids in Europe

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

Glancy, Megan et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 155. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105387

Factors associated with the percentage of individuals who initiate and discontinue naltrexone as a relapse prevention pharmacotherapy in opioid use disorder: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression

Roberts, Emmert et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70502

Methadone Is associated with superior long-term treatment retention compared with buprenorphine/naloxone in a large Canadian cohort

Morin, Kristen A et al (2026) Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Early online. doi.org/10.15288/jsad.26-00065

Barriers and facilitators to detoxification from opioid substitution treatment: a mixed-methods systematic review

Bagshaw, Amy et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70482

Association between state cannabis laws and opioid outcomes: a systematic review

Fink, David S et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113167

Cannabis and tobacco co-use is associated with impaired neurocognitive performance in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis

Bello, Daniel et al (2026) Biological Psychiatry. Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2026.03.021

Tobacco and cannabis use in the young 'Not in Employment, Education or Training' population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Eyraud, Clara et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70477

Health education interventions to reduce cannabis and tobacco smoking-related harms among people who use cannabis: a systematic review

Nottage, M K et al (2026) Health Education Research, 41, (3).

A comparison of labelling requirements for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis across WHO regions and implications for alcohol labelling policy in Canada

Goulet-Stock, Sybil et al (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 154. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105340

Effectiveness of alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapies by sex: systematic review and meta-analysis

Allen, Juliette et al (2026) Drug and Alcohol Review, 45, (5), e70196. doi.org/10.1111/dar.70196

Implementation of evidence-based alcohol policies to reduce alcohol-related harm and liver disease to advance public health in Europe

Pose, Elisa (2026) Lancet Regional Health. Europe, 65. doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2026.101707

Evaluating the immediate impacts of the repeal of the Northern Territory minimum unit price on off-premises alcohol pricing: Findings from an observational study of online alcohol retailers

Miller, Mia et al (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70466

Alcohol industry influence on public view and policymaking: implications for liver health

Manuli, Chiara et al (2026) Gastroenterology, 170, (7), pp. 1419-1424. doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2026.01.026

Alcohol misuse in older women: a scoping review of correlates, consequences, treatment, and prevention

Holzhauer, Cathryn Glanton et al (2026) Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 46, (1). doi.org/10.35946/arcr.v46.1.02

Formal support for adult CSOs of individuals with alcohol-related problems: a scoping review

Huusmann Härd, Sofia et al (2026) Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, pp. 1-27. doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2026.2687405

Doing alcohol research differently: considerations during research with Romany Gypsy and Traveller communities - a narrative review with methodological and ethical considerations

Wilkinson, Samantha et al (2026) Qualitative Health Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/10497323261447802

Tobacco end-game policies and the intrinsic connection of health and EU market law

Delhomme, Vincent et al (2026) Health Economics, Policy, and Law, Early online. pp. 1-16. doi.org/10.1017/s1744133126100541

The policy implementation playbook: a cross-policy taxonomy of post-adoption tobacco industry tactics

Matthes, Britta K et al (2026) Globalization and Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1186/s12992-026-01220-0

Prevalence of electronic cigarette use among women: a systematic review.

Posse, Cristina M et al (2026) Addictive Behaviors, 180. doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2026.108713

What strategies are used to market digital gambling to young people?: A scoping review

Searby, Adam et al (2026) International Journal of Addiction Nursing, 37, (2). DOI: 10.1097/JAN.0000000000000700

Balancing harm prevention and liberty preservation when implementing financial risk assessments for gambling in the United Kingdom: Insights from open banking data

Heirene, Robert M and Newall, Philip (2026) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70513

Improving the detection of gambling in suicide death: an investigation to inform surveillance of gambling harms.

Rintoul, Angela et al (2026) SUCHT, 42, (3), pp. 152-162. doi.org/10.1024/0939-5911/a000977

Association between smartphone addiction, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt: a systematic review

Li, Yufeng et al (2026) PeerJ, 14. DOI 10.7717/peerj.21386

Global review of assessments of online video gaming policies affecting young people: loot boxes, age ratings, gameplay time restrictions, and beyond

Xiao, Leon Y et al (2026) Comprehensive Psychiatry, 148. doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2026.152713

GRAI compliance webinar. [Video]

(2026) Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland

DEIS strategy to 2035. Ten-year strategy to address educational disadvantage

(2026) Dublin: Department of Education and Youth

Simultaneous use of cannabis with other drugs: identifying latent classes in a sample of Canadians

Farrelly, Kyra N and Wardell, Jeffrey D (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy, 155. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105379

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