Activities of Irish psychiatric units and hospitals 2017,¹ the annual report published by the Mental Health Information Systems Unit of the Health Research Board, shows that the number of new admissions to inpatient care for alcohol disorders has continued to stabilise.

The World Health Organization has set a goal to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a global public health threat by 2030. Targets include reducing new HCV infections by 80% and the number of HCV deaths by 65%, and increasing HCV diagnoses from 20 to 90% and eligible people receiving HCV treatment from <5 to 80%.¹ Unsafe injecting drug use is the main route of HCV transmission in developed countries.² Consequently, people who inject drugs (PWID) represent a priority population for HCV elimination, given the high prevalence and incidence in this group.

The risks of misusing opioid medication have been well documented^1,2,3 and include a wide range of problematic consumption outside of medical guidelines. Misuse can include consumption to induce psychoactive effects, use in combination with other drugs to alter their effects, or self-medication by increasing or lengthening duration of dosage without or against medical advice. Such risky behaviour can lead to adverse consequences, including dependence and/or poisoning. Despite the known risks, many countries, including Ireland, continue to permit codeine (an opiate to treat pain) to be available without prescription, over-the-counter (OTC).

In October 2018, the Parole Board published its annual report.¹ This was the 16th annual report since the board was established in 2001. The aim of the Parole Board is to review the cases of prisoners who have received either ‘determinate’ sentences greater than or equal to eight years or life sentences and to provide guidance on how these sentences are managed. The current report provided an overview of the board’s activities for 2017.