HRB National Drugs Library e-newsletter volume 21, issue 4

Welcome

Our newsletter includes links to Irish and international publications related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. To view our entire collection of research and access our resources visit our website, Ireland's comprehensive substance use research library. And follow us @HRBdrugslibrary

Also, take a look at the NDTRS treatment data tables, services map and alcohol dashboard, among other resources on our site.

Irish-related publications

Prevalence of problematic opioid use in Ireland, 2020–2022

Hanrahan, Michael T et al (2025) Dublin: Health Research Board

Methadone in the madness: a case series and review of methadone management in hospital settings

Mullins, Cormac F et al (2025) Pain Management, 15, (4), pp. 191-198. doi.org/10.1080/17581869.2025.2479411

The mediating role of impulsivity on suicidal behaviour among higher education students with depression and substance abuse disorders.

McHugh, Rachel K et al (2025) Alcohol, 124. pp. 89-96. doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2025.01.002

The impact of the home life environment and organised extracurricular activities on adolescent cannabis use: findings from the Irish Planet Youth Survey

Daly, Fionn P et al (2025) Public Health, 242. pp. 375-381. doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.03.013

‘It was the first step of so many good things’. Boxing clever Ballymun: facilitating supportive opportunities and environments (2012-2024).

Mahon, Daryl (2025) Dublin: Ballymun Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force.

Prioritising research on marketing and consumption of No and Low (NoLo) alcoholic beverages in Ireland

Dumbili, Emeka W et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 139. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104794

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men's experiences of intimate partner violence in four Celtic nations: a mixed-method study.

Maxwell, Steven et al (2025) Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/08862605251331077

A quantitative study exploring and comparing key factors in medication management in the Irish healthcare setting

O'Donovan, Bernadine et al (2025) Health Expectations, 28, (2). doi.org/10.1111/hex.70256

"I just wouldn't like him to go through what i went through as a kid": a qualitative study on the mitigating effects of positive childhood experiences in mothers with a history of adverse childhood experiences in an Irish population

Tadjine, Lamia and Swords, Lorraine (2025) Community Mental Health Journal, 61, (3), pp. 492-501. doi.org/10.1007/s10597-024-01353-9

RCSI MyHealth Series 2024/25. Cannabis and young minds: what parents and families should know. [Video]

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. (2025) Dublin: RCSI.

Is big money distorting the global drug policy conversation?

Smyth, Bobby P (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70059

Health-promoting interventions in prisons. An evidence review

Keane, Martin et al (2025) Dublin: Health Research Board

Acute mental healthcare in hospital emergency departments in Ireland: a national survey from the office of the Inspector of Mental Health Services.

(2025) Dublin: Mental Health Commission

People experiencing homelessness requiring psychiatric review in prison, a study of a male and female remand prison over 1 year period.

Gallagher, Margaret et al (2025) Irish Journal of Medical Science, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s11845-025-03938-z

Mental illness and suicidality among Roma and traveller communities in the UK, Ireland, and other countries: a systematic review.

Dagli, Arav and Webb, Roger T (2025) BMC Psychiatry, 25, (1). doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06752-0

Irish drugs policy with Tony Duffin. [Video]

Drugs Unwrapped podcast. (2025) Barod.

The situation of young people in the European Union. EU youth report 2024

European Commission, European Education and Culture Executive Agency. (2025) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

CEART podcast. Youth crime with Dr Sean Redmond. [Audio]

Redmond, Sean (2025)

Associations between ultra-processed food and drink consumption and biomarkers of chronic low-grade inflammation: exploring the mediating role of adiposity

Millar, Seán R (2025) European Journal of Nutrition, 64, (4). doi.org/10.1007/s00394-025-03666-1

Alcohol Action Ireland submission on Ireland’s next suicide reduction policy

(2025) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

Seasonality of alcohol consumption and associated harms

(2025) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

Alcohol and domestic, sexual & gender-based violence.

(2025) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland.

Policy briefing. The sale and marketing of zero alcohol drinks

(2025) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

Briefing note. Research on public perceptions on sexual violence in Ireland

(2025) Dublin: Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

Smoking and e-cigarette use in young adults with disabilities

Hanafin, Joan et al (2025) BMC Public Health, 25, (1). doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22542-5

Prevalence of gambling in Northern Ireland 2024.

(2025) Belfast: Department for Communities

Sharing the Vision: implementation plan 2025 - 2027

(2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive and Department of Health

HSE drugs and alcohol helpline and the HSE HIV and sexual health helpline annual report 2023

Dooley, Aileen (2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive.

HSE Capital plan 2025 - building and equipment

(2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive

Sport Ireland anti-doping annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Sport Ireland

Alcohol Action Ireland annual review 2024

(2025) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

Health & wellbeing and public health key performance indicator metadata 2025

(2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive

HSE data management and performance profile reports 2024

(2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive

International publications

The experiences of adults experiencing homelessness when accessing and using psychosocial interventions: a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis

O'Leary, Chris et al (2025) Campbell Systematic Reviews, 21, (2). doi.org/10.1002/cl2.70036

Recovery housing for substance use disorder: a systematic review

Vilsaint, Corrie L et al (2025) Frontiers in Public Health, 13. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1506412

Drug-related hospital statistics: Scotland 2023 to 2024

(2025) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

Association between risk propensity and substance use: a multilevel meta-analysis

Wang, Chia-Wen et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 271. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112640

Demographics and use of an addiction helpline for concerned significant others: observational study

Chernick, Rachel et al (2025) Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27. doi.org/10.2196/55621

Stepped care, stepped care "lite" & matching intervention components to individual mental health needs: a rapid scoping review of mental health and substance use interventions for post-secondary students

Brennenstuhl, Sarah et al (2025) PLoS ONE, 20, (3). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319473

Quality indicators for substance use disorder care: a scoping review protocol

Richards, Ti-Amo DeRuz et al (2025) BMJ Open, 15, (3). doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085216

Trainer’s manual on care and treatment of persons with substance use disorders in prisons

Vulić Kralj, Olivera (2025) Brussels: Council of Europe

Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences

Bell, Justin S et al (2024) Frontiers in Public Health, 12. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1515264

Frameworks used to engage postsecondary students in campus mental health research: a scoping review

Cleverley, Kristin et al (2025) Health Expectations, 28, (2). doi.org/10.1111/hex.70144

Safe spaces for youth mental health: a scoping review

Meherali, Salima et al (2025) PLoS ONE, 20, (4). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321074

How effective are remote and/or digital interventions as part of alcohol and drug treatment and recovery support? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kwan, Irene et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70021

Exploring plant-based nutrition for patients with substance use disorders: a scoping review of dietary intake and potential applications.

Lewis, Joshua E et al (2025) Substance Use & Addiction Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/29767342251323361

Behind the walls: a guide to harm reduction access and practices in prisons

Shaw, G and Rigoni, R (2025) Amsterdam: Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network

An assessment of publicly reported incidents of illicit diversion and falsification of medicines

MEDICRIME Unit, Directorate General: Human Rights and Rule of Law. (2025) Strasbourg: European Commission

"You take care of people, people will take care of you": moral economies and an unpredictable drug market

Gould, Erin E et al (2025) PloS one, 20, (4). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320423

Intestinal barrier damage caused by addictive substance use disorder

Gao, Yan et al (2025) European Journal of Medical Research, 30. doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02446-1

The landscape of ketamine use disorder: patient experiences and perspectives on current treatment options

Harding, Rebecca E et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70073

The psychostimulant drug, fenethylline (captagon): health risks, addiction and the global impact of illicit trade

Ogwu, Matthew Chidozie et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 15. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2025.100323

Four decades of overdose prevention centres: lessons for the future from a realist review

Keemink, Jolie R et al (2025) Harm Reduction Journal, 22. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01178-z

Defining terminology and outcome measures for evaluating overdose response technology: an international Delphi study.

Rioux, William et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online, doi.org/10.1111/dar.14055.

Naloxone dosing by non-medical first-responders at opioid overdoses: findings from a qualitative interview study

Neale, Joanne et al (2025) Harm Reduction Journal, 22. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01203-1

Risk of relapse following discharge from non-hospital residential opioid use disorder treatment: a systematic review of studies published from 2018 to 2022

Ware, Owen D et al (2025) Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 16. pp. 105-118. doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S440214

Not just fentanyl: understanding the complexities of the unregulated opioid supply through results from a drug checking service in British Columbia, Canada.

Gonzalez-Nieto, Pablo et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 138. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104751

Are treatment services ready for the use of big data analytics and AI in managing opioid use disorder?

Amer, Matthew et al (2025) Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27. doi: 10.2196/58723

Buprenorphine treatment in pregnancy and maternal-infant outcomes

Krishnapura, Sunaya R et al (2025) JAMA Health Forum, 6, (4.11). doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.1814

Association of recreational cannabis legalization with changes in medical, illegal, and total cannabis expenditures in Canada.

McDonald, André J et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 139. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104793

Effects of legal access versus illegal market cannabis on use and mental health: a randomized controlled trial

Baltes-Flueckiger, Lavinia et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70080

Legalizing youth-friendly cannabis edibles and extracts and adolescent cannabis use

Mital, Shweta and Nguyen, Hai V (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (4). 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.5819

Routes of marijuana use - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 22 U.S. States and two territories, 2022

Quader, Zerleen S et al (2025) MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 74, (12), pp. 198-204. /10.15585/mmwr.mm7412a1

Convergence of cannabis and psychosis on the dopamine system

Ahrens, Jessica et al (2025) JAMA Psychiatry, Early online. 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.0432

Dose-response relationship between blood concentrations of THC and crash culpability risk: an updated meta-regression of culpability studies

Albrecht, Matthew A et al (2025) Drug Science, Policy and Law, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/20503245251323344

The relationship between cannabis and cardiovascular disease: clearing the haze

Chandy, Mark et al (2025) Nature Reviews. Cardiology, Early online. doi.org/10.1038/s41569-025-01121-6

Cannabis use disorder emergency department visits and hospitalizations and 5-year mortality

Myran, Daniel T et al (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (2). 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57852

Cannabis use disorder and mortality among patients with colon cancer

Cuomo, Raphael E (2025) Annals of Epidemiology, 106. pp. 8-10. doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2025.04.012

The differential effects of medicinal cannabis on mental health: a systematic review

de Bode, Nora et al (2025) Clinical Psychology Review, 118. doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2025.102581

How the alcohol industry steers governments away from effective strategies to curb drink driving: insights from advertising research.

(2025) New York: Vital Strategies

The language of alcohol: similarities and differences in how drinkers and policymakers frame alcohol consumption

Moreton, Emma et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/dar.14056

Trends in alcohol-specific deaths in England, 2001–22: an observational study

Oldham, Melissa et al (2025) The Lancet Psychiatry, Early online. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00047-7

Alcohol harm across the drinking spectrum

Mottershaw, Abigail et al (2025) London: Alcohol Change UK.

Alcohol and legitimate victimhood: analysing Reddit posts to understand perceptions of alcohol's role in drink spiking and sexual violence

Caluzzi, Gabriel et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 138. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104743

The relationship between alcohol-related content on social media and alcohol outcomes in young adults: a scoping review.

Steers, Mai-Ly N et al (2025) Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 45, (1). doi.org/10.35946/arcr.v45.1.04

“A sporty, healthy twist?”: interrogating the deployment of health and wellness discourses in No and Low alcohol (NoLo) marketing and consumer practices.

Nicholls, Emily (2025) Journal of Marketing Management, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2025.2495339

Diagnostic validity of drinking behaviour for identifying alcohol use disorder: findings from a representative sample of community adults and an inpatient clinical sample

Garber, Molly L et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70037

A systematic review of the economic evidence surrounding the management of alcohol withdrawal.

Quelch, Darren et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Review, doi.org/10.1111/dar.14053

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder identification in Australia: a qualitative analysis of perspectives from psychologists and individuals with lived and living experience.

Kerimofski, Katherine L et al (2025) Alcohol, Clinical & Experimental Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/acer.70040

Prevalence, trends and outcomes from smoking in elective surgical systems: a secondary analysis of a prospective observational cohort study across 442 hospitals from 29 countries across Europe

STARSurg Collaborative. (2025) The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101282

Perspectives, motivations, and experiences of adolescents and young adults using nicotine vapes: a qualitative review

Biles, Jessica et al (2025) Health Promotion International, 40, (2). doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf007

Changes in vaping trends since the announcement of an impending ban on disposable vapes: a population study in Great Britain.

Jackson, Sarah E et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70057

Methodologies and estimates of social costs of gambling: a scoping review

Hautamäki, Sari et al (2025) Social Science & Medicine, 371 doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117940

A healthcare needs assessment on gambling harm

(2025) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

Gambling disorder comorbidity a narrative review

Sharma, Rishi and Weinstein, Aviv (2025) Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 27, (1), pp. 1-18. doi.org/10.1080/19585969.2025.2484288

Rise of netholicism: a comprehensive review of internet addiction among today's youth

Kumar, Yogesh and Dhakar, Om P (2025) Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 14. DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_394_24