Flexible emotion-based decision-making behavior varies in current and former smokers
Briggs Z, O'Connor M, Jollans EK, O'Hallorhan L, Dymond S, Whelan R (2015) Addictive Behaviors (45): 269–275
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24350/

The influence of smoking status on flexible decision-making was examined. Both current and former smokers displayed poorer decision-making than non-smokers. Current smokers had poorer flexible decision-making than former and non-smokers.

Young people's perceptions of tobacco packaging: a comparison of EU Tobacco Products Directive & Ireland's Standardisation of Tobacco Act
Babineau K, Clancy L  (2015) BMJ Open (5/6) e007352
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/6/e007352.abstrac...
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24349/

The removal of brand identifiers, including colour, font and embossing, reduced the perceived appeal of cigarette packs for young people across all three tested brands. Packs standardised according to Irish legislation were perceived as less attractive, less healthy and smoked by less popular people than packs which conform to the EU TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) 2014 guidelines.

Patients accessing ambulatory care for HIV-infection: epidemiology and prevalence assessment
Tuite H, Horgan M, Mallom PWG, McConkey SJ, Mooka B, Mulcahy F, Walsh C, O'Hora A, O'Flanagan D, Bergin C, Fleming C (2015) Irish Medical Journal (108/7)
URL: http://www.imj.ie//ViewArticleDetails.aspx?Article...
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24348/

This study describes the demographics and treatment status of HIV-infected adults accessing ambulatory care in the Republic of Ireland and estimates diagnosed HIV prevalence rates.

Youth engagement with an emerging Irish mental health early intervention programme (Jigsaw): participant characteristics and implications for service delivery
O'Reilly A, Illback R, Peiper N, O'Keeffe L, Clayton R (2015) Journal of Mental Health Early online: pp. 1–6
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24343

Data about young people who engaged with Jigsaw for the first time during 2013 were captured through an online system designed to record salient clinical, case management, service delivery, and outcome information. Participant characteristics were summarised to portray the young people who engaged with the service (N=2,420).

The majority of young people engaging with Jigsaw were female, aged 15–17 years, and were referred by their parents. Over half were in full-time education, although many 21–25-year-olds were unemployed. Young people presented with a range of difficulties, which varied by age and gender. They reported high levels of distress, with age and gender having a significant impact on their well-being.

Implementing a harm reduction approach to substance use in an intimate partner violence agency: practice issues in an Irish setting
Morton S, Hohman M, Middleton A (2015) Partner Abuse (6/3): 337–350
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24305/

There has been growing recognition of the co-occurrence of substance use and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimisation in women's and men's lives, yet many IPV service providers have not developed an integrated response to these issues. Fewer still have implemented substance use services from a harm reduction approach. This article outlines the approach, policy changes, initial outcomes, and learning points for an IPV agency in Ireland, which implemented a harm reduction response to female IPV survivors who were also using substances problematically. Barriers and challenges for staff and management seeking to coordinate and integrate service delivery on the dual issues are also presented.

Attitudes and perceived risk of cannabis use in Irish adolescents
Barrett P, Bradley C (2015) Irish Journal of Medical Science Early online
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24297

This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a structured, anonymous questionnaire. The study was undertaken in nine public and private secondary schools in Cork City and suburbs. Students aged 15–18 and in fourth, fifth or sixth year of school were included.

What are reasons for the large gender differences in the lethality of suicidal acts? An epidemiological analysis in four European countries
Mergl R, Koburger N, Heinrichs K, Székely A, Tóth MD, Coyne J, Quintao S, Arensman E, Coffey C, Maxwell M, Värnik A,  van Audenhove C, McDaid D, Sarchiapone M, Schmidtke A, Genz A, Gusmão R, Hegerl U  (2015) PLoS ONE (10/7) e0129062
URL: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.137...
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24288/

In Europe, men have a lower rate of attempted suicide compared to women and at the same time a higher rate of completed suicides, indicating major gender differences in lethality of suicidal behaviour. The aim of this study was to analyse the extent to which these gender differences in lethality can be explained by factors such as choice of more lethal methods or lethality differences within the same suicide method or age group. In addition, we explored gender differences in the intentionality of suicide attempts.

Men used highly lethal methods in suicidal behaviour more frequently, but there was also a higher method-specific lethality, which together explained the large gender differences in the lethality of suicidal acts. Gender differences in the lethality of suicidal acts were fairly consistent across all four European countries examined. Males and females did not differ in age at time of suicidal behaviour. Suicide attempts by males were rated as being more serious independent of the method used, with the exceptions of attempted hanging, suggesting gender differences in intentionality associated with suicidal behaviour. These findings contribute to understanding of the reasons for gender differences in the lethality of suicidal behaviour and should inform the development of gender specific strategies for suicide prevention.

The voice of the child in social work assessments: age-appropriate communication with children
O'Reilly L, Dolan P (2015) British Journal of Social Work  Early online
URL: http://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Age_Appropriat...
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24246

This article describes a child-centred method for engaging with children involved in the child protection and welfare system. One of the primary arguments underpinning this research is that social workers need to be skilled communicators to engage with children about deeply personal and painful issues.

There is a wide range of research that maintains play is the language of children and the most effective way to learn about children is through their play. Considering this, the overarching aim of this study was to investigate the role of play skills in supporting communication between children and social workers during child protection and welfare assessments. The data collection was designed to establish the thoughts and/or experiences of participants in relation to a Play Skills Training (PST) programme designed by the authors. The study revealed that the majority of social work participants rated the use of play skills as a key factor for effective social work assessments of children. Of particular importance, these messages address how social work services can ensure that the voice of children is heard and represented in all assessments of their well-being and future care options.

Increase in diagnoses of recently acquired HIV in people who inject drugs
Glynn R, Giese C, Ennis O, Gibbons Z, O'Donnell K,  Hurley C, Ward M,  Igoe D, Fitzgerald M (2015) EPI-Insight (16/7)
URL: http://ndsc.newsweaver.ie/epiinsight/1bumldnml2k?a...
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24244

An increase in recently acquired HIV in people who inject drugs (PWID) has been noted in Dublin since early 2015. We have defined recently acquired HIV infections as those in which the person tests positive using a combined HIV antigen/antibody screening assay, negative or indeterminate on a confirmatory immunoblot assay, and is p24 antigen positive, or has had a HIV negative test within the 12 months prior to the positive test or who suffers an acute HIV sero-conversion illness.

A multidisciplinary incident team has been set up by the Director of Public Health in Dublin to investigate and respond to the increase. The team includes public health and HIV physicians, GPs providing services for drug users and homeless populations, Health Service Executive (HSE) social inclusion staff, addiction clinicians, a clinical virologist and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) Ireland. An epidemiological investigation is under way. Clinicians from the drug services are concerned that the increase is linked to injection of a synthetic cathinone PVP (with the street name Snow Blow), with consequent more frequent injecting and unsafe sexual and needle-sharing practices. This has mainly been seen in chaotic drug users, who report polydrug use, and are often homeless.

Evidence to date indicates that the increase has been occurring since June 2014. Fifteen cases of recently acquired HIV infection (confirmed cases) and one case with epidemiological link to a recently acquired HIV infection (probable case) have been diagnosed in PWID in Dublin from June 2014 to June 2015. Of the 15 cases, seven are p24 antigen positive, indicating very recent infection. A further 16 possible cases among PWID are currently under investigation and new cases continue to be detected. Among the 16 confirmed and probable cases, 11 are male and five are female, and the mean age is 35 years (range 24 to 51 years). A case control study is under way to identify any association between use of Snow Blow and an increase in unsafe injecting practices, at-risk sexual behaviour and acquisition of HIV.

Treatment outcome for adolescents abusing alcohol and cannabis: how many 'reliably improve'?
Smyth BP (2015) Irish Medical Journal (108/5): 137–139
www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23955/

Alcohol and cannabis are the primary substances contributing to referrals of adolescents to substance abuse treatment services. Their outcome has not been examined in Ireland. A three-month follow-up was conducted in an outpatient adolescent treatment program. We followed up 35 high-risk users of alcohol and 55 high-risk users of cannabis. Although the high-risk drinkers achieved a significant reduction in median number of days drinking (p=0.004), only four (11%) were abstinent at follow-up. A further five (14%) achieved a reliable reduction in days of drinking. The high-risk cannabis users demonstrated a significant drop in median days of use (p<0.001), although only six (11%) were abstinent at follow-up. A further 20 (36%) achieved a reliable reduction in days of use. Calculation of reliable change allows examination of outcomes which fall short of the elusive goal of abstinence.