Published in November 2019, the latest National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) drug bulletin presents trends in treated problem drug use (excluding alcohol) for the seven-year period from 2012 to 2018.^1,2

Drug and alcohol treatment data for 2004–2018 from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) are now available online through the Health Research Board (HRB) National Drugs Library website at http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/tables/. The NDTRS is a health information system that collects anonymous information about drug and alcohol treatment episodes in Ireland.

Two recent surveys provide an insight into alcohol and drug use among young people in Ireland. My World Survey 2 (MWS-2),¹ developed by University College Dublin (UCD) and Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, is a comprehensive study of young people’s mental health and wellbeing and a follow-up to the 2012 My World Survey 1 (MWS-1).²

The National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) is a national surveillance database on treatment for problem drug and alcohol use in Ireland. In November 2019, the NDTRS published its latest alcohol treatment figures, which cover the seven-year period 2012–2018. Over this period, 54,263 cases were treated for alcohol as a main problem.¹

Introduction

Pregabalin is a prescribed medication licensed in Europe for use in the treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and generalised anxiety disorder.¹ However, the pharmacokinetic properties of pregabalin, which include its rapid absorption, fast onset of its relaxant and sedative effects, and its reduced withdrawal symptoms, can lead to the potential risk of misuse.

On 26 November 2019, the EU drug markets report was published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).¹ This is the third comprehensive overview of illicit drug markets in the European Union (EU) and, while building on reports published in 2013 and 2016, it provides greater insight and a ‘richer picture’ (p. 7) of the current state of drug markets in the EU.^2,3

An Garda Síochána (AGS) Policing Plan 2019 identifies the main policing concerns for 2019.¹ It is the first of three plans proposed by the new Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, that will implement the new AGS Strategy Statement, 2019–2021 through numerous initiatives, which will gradually assist AGS to reach its strategic outcomes.² The AGS mission for the duration of the strategy is simply ‘keeping people safe’ (p. 1).²