The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) is a global network of 192 non-governmental organisations.¹ It focuses on issues related to drug production, trafficking, and use, promoting objective and open debate on the effectiveness, direction, and content of drug policies at national and international levels. The network supports evidence-based policies that are effective at reducing drug-related harm.

The Danger of Viral Exposure (DOVE) Service in the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin was established to meet the specific needs of pregnant women who have or are at risk of blood-borne or sexually transmitted bacterial or viral infections in pregnancy. Exposure may also occur through illicit drug use. Figures from the service for 2020 were published in the hospital’s annual report in 2021.¹

A visiting committee is appointed to each prison in Ireland under the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 and the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925. Members of the 12 visiting committees are appointed by the Minister for Justice for a term not exceeding three years. The function of prison visiting committees is to visit, at frequent intervals, the prison to which they are appointed and hear any complaints that may be made to them by any prisoner. They report to the Minister for Justice regarding any abuses observed or found, and any repairs which they think are urgently needed. Prison visiting committee members have free access, either collectively or individually, to every part of the prison to which their committee is appointed. Information from prison visiting committee reports relating to drug use in prisons for 2020 is summarised below.¹

The UK–Ireland Alcohol Research Network (AcoRN) held the third in a series of webinars on 13 April 2022 examining alcohol availability. Previous webinars focused on alcohol marketing (November 2021) and alcohol and policymaking (February 2022). The event was chaired by Dr Sheila Gilheany of Alcohol Action Ireland and the three speakers gave an insight into alcohol availability both in Ireland and in the United Kingdom.