A process evaluation of Planet Youth in the Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (WRDATF) area was published in July 2023.1 The evaluation documents the outputs from the project to date and explores the views of stakeholders on the project’s implementation and structures. This article presents the international and national contexts to Planet Youth and the Icelandic model, as well as an overview of some of the evaluation’s findings and a reflection on the implications for Planet Youth in the WRDATF and elsewhere in Ireland. As with the evaluation, it considers the role of Planet Youth in the WRDATF moving forward – whether it continues to focus on generating and promoting data or to shift the focus of its resources to deliver on a broader range of its objectives.2 

Background 

There has been much debate around the liberalisation of cannabis laws both in Ireland and internationally. The recreational use of cannabis has been legalised in 23 states in the United States (US), in Canada, and in Uruguay. 

While no national government in Europe supports legalisation of cannabis sale for recreational use, a new coalition government in Germany agreed in late 2021 to regulate the sale of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes, while Luxembourg has also announced that it will legalise the production, sale, and consumption of cannabis. 

A 2023 article by Durand et al.1 examined the impact of changes introduced to the delivery of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) on the number of people accessing treatment and treatment dropout during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is an important Irish study, as it directly examines OAT coverage and access during the pandemic. 

A 2023 study by Reddon and Ivers evaluated the association between levels of hope and rates of relapse following discharge from opioid agonist treatment (OAT) and/or detoxification programmes among those with opioid use disorder (OUD).1 This study adds to the body of evidence on hope levels and recovery, indicating that strategies that cultivate hope and empowerment may be an effective strategy to increase personal recovery capital and decrease relapse rates. 

Background 

In Ireland, Gaelic football and hurling are the most popular field sports in the country, with in excess of 1.5 million spectators viewing the Championship finals every year. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) manages and promotes all Gaelic games, while the Gaelic Players Association represents almost 4,000 male and female players. A study published in 2022 highlighted that hazardous alcohol use, including binge drinking, and alcohol-related harms are prevalent among elite Gaelic footballers and hurlers.1 The online survey used in the 2022 study included an optional free text section for the players to make any comments in relation to alcohol; these comments were then examined in a 2023 study.2 

Background

Emerging adulthood along with starting third-level education is a period of considerable change for young people. Newly independent, it is also a key time for them to experiment with drugs, alcohol, and sexual intimacy, which when combined increases the risk of sexual violence. 

The Self-Harm Assessment and Data Analysis (SADA) Project was set up in Ireland in 2016 to provide robust information relating to the incidence and profile of self-harm within prison settings as well as individual-specific and context-specific risk factors relating to self-harm. 

In addition, it examines patterns of repeat self-harm (non-fatal and fatal). Both the Health Service Executive’s National Office for Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Research Foundation assist the Irish Prison Service with data management, data analysis, and reporting. 

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) operates according to a multi-year strategic plan that provides guidance and direction to the activities and ambitions of the organisation. 

In particular, the IPS strategic plan provides a narrative for the improvement and further development of all facets of healthcare during the prisoner experience. Key areas of focus are prisoner support for improving healthcare, enhancing psychological wellbeing, increasing rehabilitation support, and resettlement and integration.