The Irish national drugs strategy¹ aims to encourage those who are using drug services to play a greater role in their own treatment and actively participate in service development through consultation with service providers and health service management. On behalf of the Department of Health, the Health Research Board (HRB) commissioned a report to systematically review and synthesise the international evidence on service user consultation in drug treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services.²

Following on from the United Kingdom’s (UK) Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) 2020 report on alcohol labelling,¹ further research was carried out by AHA to examine if alcohol labelling provides information on low-risk guidelines, ingredients, calories, and health information.²

Alcohol use is associated with seven different types of cancer and many other health conditions and is the leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality among those aged 15–49 years. Yet many people are unaware of this risk and it is not legally binding to display this information on alcohol products.^3,4

Based on recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Alcohol Framework 2018 in Scotland aims to reduce alcohol-related harm, including restricting alcohol marketing.^1,2 A 2022 report by Public Health Scotland sought to examine alcohol marketing restrictions in seven European countries (Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden) in order to inform consideration of alcohol marketing policy in Scotland.³

Globally, suicide is a significant public health concern with over 700,000 people worldwide dying by suicide each year.¹ A range of factors, especially mental disorders, which include substance use disorders and adverse life events, can increase the risk of suicide.² A study examining psychosocial and psychiatric factors and service engagement among people who died by suicide compared with a living control group in the Cork region (Cork City and County ) was published in 2022.³

There is a high proportion of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Irish prisons and a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV), making prison a high priority setting for HCV testing and treatment. However, HCV screening in Irish prisons currently occurs intermittently. Although every prisoner undergoes a committal health screening on entering prison and information is gathered on drug use and blood-borne virus testing is offered, many prisoners initially refuse, but then return later and request screening.¹