Mongan D, Millar S, OʼDwyer C, Long J and Galvin B (2020) BMJ Open, 10: e034520.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32429/

The aim of this study was to determine awareness of drinking pattern in an Irish population using a representative random sample and to identify characteristics associated with self-awareness of hazardous or harmful drinking.

The results of this study suggest that patterns of alcohol use in Ireland are problematic. Older respondents and those with lower educational attainment are less likely to be aware of their hazardous or harmful drinking pattern. There is also a population of younger, more-educated drinkers who engage in potentially risk-taking behaviours and these subjects are aware of their harmful drinking pattern. Initiatives to reduce overall alcohol consumption and raise awareness around drinking patterns are required.

Lynn E, Doyle A, Keane M, Bennett K and Cousins G (2020) Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 81(5): 543–555.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33222/

The objective of this study is to explore the extent, range, and nature of evidence in relation to drug poisoning deaths among women.

The majority of studies on drug poisoning deaths among women involved descriptive epidemiological data, primarily prevalence estimates, with limited in-depth analyses of factors explaining these trends. To inform policies and practices to prevent drug poisoning deaths among women, more evidence is required on risk factors specifically related to women.

Gargaritano KL, Murphy C, Auyeung AB and Doyle F (2020) Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 44(12): 2386–2400.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33273/

We aimed to systematically review clinician-reported barriers in the provision of brief alcohol screening, brief advice and intervention specific to hospital inpatient and emergency department settings.

Clinicians cite a multitude of factors that impede their delivery of alcohol screening and brief interventions in the hospital inpatient and emergency department settings. These barriers were explored further under the framework of the COM-B model, which allows for intervention design. As such, changes can be made at the policy, managerial and educational level to address these barriers and help improve the self-efficacy and knowledge of clinicians who counsel patients on alcohol use.

McKey S, Quirke B, Fitzpatrick P, Kelleher CC and Malone KM (2020) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33216/

A rapid review of scientific publications related to mental health and suicide in Irish Travellers was undertaken following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches of PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar were performed. Eligibility criteria included: (i) Irish Travellers/Gypsy Travellers; (ii) information on mental health/suicide/self-harm; (iii) psychosocial anthropological perspectives of mental health; (iv) publications in English. Data on studies including design, methods, participants and key findings were extracted using a spreadsheet template.

This paper draws together strands from the disciplines of psycho/socio/anthropological perspectives to gain deeper insights into mental health and suicide in Irish Travellers. In a knowledge vacuum, it behoves the scientific community to explain the value of scientific research and rigour to both policymakers as well as Travellers, shifting the existing discourse towards new knowledge and understanding around mental health and suicide in Travellers.

Kinnunen JM, Rimpelä AH, Lindfors PL, et al. (2020) European Journal of Public Health, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33259/

We study studentsʼ e-cigarette and conventional cigarette ever-use, their social correlates and e-liquid use in seven EU countries.

Studentsʼ e-cigarette ever-use varies greatly between EU countries. E-cigarettes seem not to be a substitute for conventional cigarettes but more a complementary product. Tobacco control policies might also prevent e-cigarette use but specific regulations on e-cigarettes are needed to prevent nicotine addiction originating from them.

McCarten C, Byrne J, Campbell J, et al. (2020) Social Work Education, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33235/

Understanding the characteristics, motivations, and experiences of student social workers is important to inform their professional education and support needs. To date, there has been relatively little research about social work students in Ireland, both North and South. This study reports on an all-Ireland survey of students beginning their social work course in Autumn 2018 in the six universities delivering social work education. It describes the characteristics of the student cohort, examines the motivations behind choosing this career, and highlights some of the potentially relevant life experiences and beliefs which may have contributed to their ambition to join the social work profession. Implications for social work education, recommendations for curriculum development, workforce planning, and the provision of appropriate support for students are discussed.

Holton AE, Keeney C, Ryan B and Cousins G (2020) BMJ Open, 10 (8): e035212.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32918/

This study aims to estimate the prevalence of Potentially Serious Alcohol–Medication Interactions in Older Adults (POSAMINO) among community-dwelling older adults using drug dispensing data from the community pharmacy setting.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence, which suggests that older adults are vulnerable to potentially serious alcohol–medication interactions, particularly those involving cardiovascular and central nervous system agents, increasing their risk of orthostatic hypotension, gastrointestinal bleeds and increased sedation. Application of the POSAMINO criteria at the point of prescribing may facilitate the risk stratification of older adults and prioritise alcohol screening and brief alcohol interventions in those at greatest risk of harm.

Antoine J, Berndt N, Astudillo M, et al. (2020) Addiction, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32912/

This study aims to describe cocaine treatment demand in 10 western European countries and to examine the size, the direction and the temporality of recent trends in the proportion of cocaine users among all clients entering treatment.

Despite substantial country-specific variation regarding cocaine prevalence and treatment demand, there has been an overall significant increase since 2015 in the share of cocaine-related treatment demand in Western Europe.

Leonard J and Windle J (2020) International Journal of Drug Policy, 8: 102891.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32593/

People who use drugs problematically are consistently left out of consultations and deliberation on drug policy. This article explores how people who formerly used drugs problematically and service providers view Ireland’s current drug policy and if alternative policies could be successful in an Irish context.

Several participants were clear that none of the alternative policies discussed are silver bullets. Participates felt that, while they could reduce the harms caused by drugs and drug policies, the government’s longer-term objectives should be increased treatment provision and, reduced social exclusion and economic deprivation.

Kelly JR, Crockett MT, Alexander L, et al. (2020)
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1–6. doi:10.1017/ipm.2020.94
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32853/

Preliminary evidence from the rapidly progressing field of psychedelic science shows that psilocybin therapy offers a promising transdiagnostic treatment strategy for a range of disorders with restricted and maladaptive habitual patterns of cognition and behaviour, notably depression, addiction and obsessive compulsive disorder.

While at a relatively early stage of clinical development, and notwithstanding the immense challenges of COVID-19, psilocybin therapy has the potential to play an important therapeutic role for various psychiatric disorders in post-COVID-19 clinical psychiatry.

Daly C, Griffin E, McMahon E, et al. (2020) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17): 6159.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32865/

This study aimed to investigate repeat self-harm and method-switching following hospital-presenting intentional drug overdose (IDO) among young people.

Young males are at increased risk of repeat self-harm and method-switching following IDO and the type and quantity of drugs taken are further indicators of risk. Interventions targeting IDO among young people are needed that ensure that mental health assessments are undertaken and which address access to drugs.

Rosalim JP (2020) Journal of Correctional Health Care, 26(3): 258–266.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32751/

The exponential growth of the nurse-led clinic in the Republic of Ireland has proven to be effective in patients’ care in the Irish community (National Council for Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery, 2005). This initiative has been replicated in the penal environment and assumed to add value to the prison health care system. To date, this concept has never been explored. The main goal of this study was to examine this concept in this setting. It was hoped that the outcome of this inquiry will provide a better insight into the service, which can be used in the development of an evidence-based policy in the future.

Quirke B, Heinen M, Fitzpatrick P, et al. (2020) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33022/

This study aims to identify factors associated with reported discrimination [of Travellers] and how this affects their experiences of accessing and quality of health services, including mental health.

Travellers experience high levels of discrimination which negatively affects their engagement with health services. Culturally competent services need to be developed.

Li S, Keogan S and Clancy L (2020) BMJ Open, 10(8): e032630.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32927/

This study aims to assess the role of tobacco control legislation (TCL) in youth smoking in Ireland. To examine the effects of smoke-free legislation in youth. To consider whether TCL contributed to the gender equalisation in prevalence in 16 years old seen between 2003 and 2015.

TC legislation helps to explain the out-of-trend reduction in youth smoking prevalence. The estimated differential effects of the workplace ban, point-of-sale displays, real price changes and graphical images on packs help to explain the sharper decline in girls than boys. These findings should remind policy-makers to give increased consideration to the possible effects on young people of any legislative changes aimed at adults in TCL.

Darcy C (2020) Irish Educational Studies, Early online.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33088/

This paper sets out to achieve four things: paint a picture of the Irish illicit drug landscape and of lay understandings of drugs and drug issues; highlight the emergent issue of people obtaining fake drug information on the Internet; explore drug education as a field of scholarship in Ireland; and reflect on 10 years of practitioner experience within the field.

Given the complexity of the drug landscape and the proliferation of questionable drug information available online, this paper argues that drug education is an appropriate and worthwhile response to precarious understandings of illicit drugs and drug issues. The paper suggests drug education warrants revival within the Irish context, particularly given the pace of change in both the drugs and online landscapes. To conclude, this practitioner urges other practitioners and scholars with an interest in drug education within the Irish context to revive and advance the field.