HRB National Drugs Library e-newsletter volume 21, issue 9

October 2025	HRB National Drugs Library e-newsletter volume 21, issue 9

In this issue

Irish-related publications

International publications

News

Dail Debates

Useful links

Archive

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HRB National Drugs Library
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News

Minister for Health welcomes ban on tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products from self-service and vending machines

Department of Health] (27 Sep 2025)

Laws on advertising ‘zero-alcohol’ drinks ‘long overdue’.

Editorial Board. [Irish Medical Times] (26 Sep 2025)

Minister Murnane O’Connor attends inaugural meeting of the Reference Group advising Ireland’s new national drugs strategy.

[Department of Health] (25 Sep 2025)

Minister Donohoe signs commencement order for the E-liquid Products Tax.

Donohoe, Minister Pascal (25 Sep 2025)

What's delaying the rollout of alcohol health labelling on bottles & cans?

[RTE Brainstorm] Calnan, Susan (23 Sep 2025)

Four Four drug education series: ketamine

[Four Four] Heyraud, Max (19 Sep 2025)

Naloxone: Why is this life-saving medication for suspected opioid overdoses not available over the counter?

[Irish Times] Kerrigan, Cathleen (16 Sep 2025)

Cork City to become 'safer' site under new alcohol strategy for Cork and Kerry.

[Irish Examiner] O'Keeffe, Cormac (11 Sep 2025)

Minister Butler publishes findings of public consultation on Ireland’s new suicide reduction plan

[Department of Health] (10 Sep 2025)

HSE lead on addiction Professor Eamon Kennan

[RTE News] Byrne, Claire and Keenan, Eamon (10 Sep 2025)

Fear ‘cocaine kits’ sold in Dublin shops will ‘encourage’ young to try drugs. [Audio].

[newstalk.com] Wilson, James (08 Sep 2025)

Irish Cancer Society urges Government to stamp out use of nasal tanners.

[RTE News] Downes, Saibh (06 Sep 2025)

Government launches new safety training for Ireland’s night-time economy workers

[Department of Culture, Communications and Sport] (02 Sep 2025)

New Garda Commissioner calls out eco-conscious people who use cocaine despite environmental impact

[thejournal.ie] Pepper, Diarmuid (02 Sep 2025)

Dail Debates

Oireachtas debates

Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025: First Stage. (25 Sep)
Committee on Drugs Use. Topics: Cathaoirleach's Declaration, Engagement on Family Supports
Questions 233 – Tax reliefs [pubs]. (25 Sep)
Seanad Éireann debate. Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage. (25 Sep)
Use of vapes and nicotine products by young people and adolescents: statements. (24 Sep)
Joint Committee on Transport debate. Engagement with Chairperson Designate of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. (24 Sep)
Questions 163 – Road traffic offences. (23 Sep)
Questions 459, 463, 465, 466 – An Garda Síochána [Sex work]. (23 Sep)
Questions 489 – Legislative measures [off-licences]. (23 Sep)
Questions 699 & 696 – Legislative programme [Tobacco/ nicotine]. (23 Sep)
Questions 72 – Children in Care. (23 Sep)
Antisocial behaviour: Motion [Private Members]. (18 Sep)
Question 1146 – Cannabis for medicinal use. (17 Sep)
Question 1151 – Substance misuse [Steering group]. (17 Sep)
Question 1170, 1133 – Cannabis for medicinal use. (17 Sep)
Question 1250 – Legislative measures [vaping]. (17 Sep)
Question 1366 – Legislative process [Nicotine]. (17 Sep)
Question 255 – Road traffic offences. (17 Sep)
Question 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287 – Customs and excise [Seizures]. (17 Sep)
Question 812 – Drug dealing. (17 Sep)
Question 881 – An Garda Síochána [Possession]. (17 Sep)
Question 2034 - Misuse of drugs. (08 Sep)
Question 3 – Citizens’ Assembly. (08 Sep)
Question 689 – Alcohol sales. (08 Sep)

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 our recently updated NDTRS treatment data tables, services map and alcohol dashboard, among other resources on our site.

Irish-related publications

Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) use and harms in Ireland: new findings from the 2024 European Web Survey on Drugs.

Mongan, Deirdre et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.105011

Polysubstance use in early adulthood and associated factors in the Republic of Ireland: an analysis of a nationally representative cohort

Brennan, Margaret et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70182

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Ireland: wellbeing, living experience, and the need for change

Harper, Angel et al (2025) Dublin: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Youth drinking in Ireland: what’s the real picture?

(2025) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

Is mental health multimorbidity associated with contact with healthcare services before suicide? retrospective analysis of Irish coronial data, 2015-2020

Kavalidou, Katerina et al (2025) Archives of Suicide Research, pp. 1-15. doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2025.2552948

Community/crisis cafés: perspectives of service users and carers scoping review

Dhoibhilín, Neasa Ní et al (2025) Community Mental Health Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s10597-025-01484-7

‘Our people could more accurately be described as social workers’: professional identity, practice standards and regulation in Irish probation

Geiran, Vivian (2025) Probation Journal, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/02645505251371031

Trauma in the community conference 2024: hosted by the National Family Support Steering Group. Executive summary.

Christodoulu, Greg (2025) Dublin: Family Addiction Recovery Ireland

Parent power: first year parent guidelines

(2025) Galway: Planet Youth

Patterns of analgesic prescribing and high-risk prescribing in primary care in Ireland 2014-2022- a repeated cross-sectional study.

Mattsson, Molly et al (2025) European Journal of Pain, 29, (9). doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70115

Enhancing naloxone provision in patients with comorbid mental illness and opioid use disorder amidst the rise of nitazenes in Ireland

McNicholas, Ruairi et al (2025) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online. pp. 1-2. doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2025.10102

Drug and polydrug detection in drivers suspected of driving under the influence of an intoxicant in Ireland 2012-2018: a national repeated cross-sectional study

Durand, Louise et al (2025) Traffic Injury Prevention, Early online. pp. 1-9

What can Scotland learn from Ireland on alcohol marketing restrictions? [Video]

(2025) Alcohol Focus Scotland

Informing the social impact fund. A national consultation on gambling harm in Ireland

(2025) Dublin: Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland

Measuring the prevalence of adult sexual violence in Ireland: a review of Irish and international literature

Dublin: ESRI. Kelly, Elish et al (2025)

Meeting the mental health needs of women in Irish prisons: a qualitative multi-stakeholder perspective to inform healthcare practice

Bright, Ann-Marie et al (2025) PLoS ONE, 20, (9). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332373

A narrative review of nurse-led addiction models of care: informing the foundations for international nursing

Lavelle-Cafferkey, Sadie et al (2025) Journal of Addictions Nursing, Early online. doi.org/10.1097/jan.0000000000000635

The North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group 2013-2024

Carlin, Eric and Purdy, J (2025) Dublin and Belfast: Institute of Public Health

Health inequalities annual report 2025

Dilworth, Gideon and Laverty, Caolan (2025) Belfast: Department of Health

Stormont Sources podcast. Gambling addiction: NI’s hidden crisis. [Video]

McCann, David et al (2025) Belfast: Stormont Sources

Northern Ireland substance use strategy indicators - summary report

(2025) Belfast: Department of Health

Relaxing, cool, sexy and stylish: misinterpretations of an EU pictorial tobacco warning image

Ali, Alwalid et al (2025) Tobacco Control, Early online. doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059484

Vending machines and youth access to cigarettes in Ireland: a cross-sectional study

Ali, Alwalid et al (2025) Epidemiology Biostatistics and Public Health, 20, (2), pp. 1-4. DOI: 10.54103/2282-0930/29595

Vaping: myths, truths & what your friends might not know

(2025) Dublin: Irish Thoracic Society.

Sexual health literacy and sexual health behaviours among young adults in Ireland

Nolan, Anne and Smyth, Emer (2025) Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute

The night-time economy [Webpage]

(2025) Department of Culture, Communications and Sport

Findings from the public consultation survey to inform Ireland’s new suicide reduction strategy

(2025) Cork: National Suicide Research Foundation

National clinical assessment data of Indigenous Traveller women attending 24 Irish emergency departments, between 2018-2022, in a suicidal crisis: a sequential mixed method study

Kavalidou, Katerina et al (2025) Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Early online. pp. 1-8. doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2025.10098

Poverty, income inequality and living standards in Ireland: fifth annual report

Roantree, Barra et al (2025) Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute and Community Foundation Ireland

National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030

(2025) Dublin: Department of Children, Disability and Equality

The real face of men’s health 2025: Republic of Ireland report

Men’s Health Forum in Ireland. (2025) Movember Institute of Men's Health

Mental Health Reform pre-budget submission 2026

(2025) Dublin: Mental Health Reform

Gambling Awareness Trust annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Gambling Awareness Trust

NYCI – Cost of living impact study 2025

(2025) Dublin: National Youth Council of Ireland

Prison re-offending statistics 2022

(2025) Cork: CSO

Irish Prison Service annual report 2024

(2025) Longford: Irish Prison Service

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Ireland: 2023 report

HSE Sexual Health Programme. (2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive

NYCI annual report 2024.

(2025) Dublin: National Youth Council of Ireland

Depaul impact report 2024. Breaking the homelessness cycle – building better futures

(2025) Dublin: Depaul Ireland

International publications

Consensus approach on prevention of substance use harm among children and young people: findings report.

(2025) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

Global progress report on Sustainable Development Goal 16: indicators on peaceful, just and inclusive societies

(2025) Vienna: OHCHR, UNDP and UNODC

The impact of arts-inclusive programs on young children's mental health and wellbeing: a rapid review

Birrell, Louise et al (2025) Arts & Health, 17, (3), pp. 185-207. doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2024.2319032

Multiple substance use and the risk of pancreatitis: a systematic review

Adeniran, Esther A et al (2025) Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, 18. doi.org/10.1177/17562848251365030

EUDA International Cooperation Framework

(2025) Lisbon: EUDA

EUDA best practice portal: protocol for updating the evidence database

Ferrara, Anna et al (2025) Lisbon: EUDA

EUDA Scenarios toolkit: how to run a scenario workshop for the drugs field

European Union Drugs Agency et al (2025) Lisbon: EUDA

Activity-based funding in alcohol and other drug treatment services: clinical staff perspectives and practice implications

Smyth, Ciara et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/dar.70033

Addressing housing insecurity as a social determinant of health: a systematic review of interventions in healthcare settings

Yan, Han et al (2025) Social Science & Medicine, 384. doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118557

The business of recovery: a novel pilot study psychosocial intervention to build self-efficacy and reduce relapse risk in adolescent substance use treatment

McKay, Ian T and Nadorff, Danielle K (2025) Addictive Behaviors, 171. doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108473

Psychiatric comorbidity in substance use disorders, a systematic review of neuro-imaging findings

Tesselaar, Debbie R M et al (2025) Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 177. doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106325

Evaluating the effect of direct-acting antiviral agent treatment scale-up on Hepatitis C virus prevalence among people who inject drugs in UK

Samartsidis, Pantelis et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 144, (Pt 1). doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104429

Mental health: risk groups, trends, services and policies

Eurofound. (2025) Luxembourg: Office of the European Union

GP access among two samples of people who regularly use illicit drugs in Australia, 2019-2024

Bruno, Raimondo and Radke, Sophie (2025) UNSW Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

ADHD symptomology and associated drug use among a sample of people who regularly use illicit drugs in Australia

Hewson, Rebecca et al (2025) UNSW Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

NDARC webinar series presentations

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney

Professionalism, professional identity and community pharmacy culture: The context of substance dependency through the lens of student and early career pharmacists

Weir, Natalie et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70180

Drug-facilitated crime: a review of findings between 2019 and 2023

Hessler, Meaghan R et al (2025) Journal of Forensic Sciences, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70151

Peer support services for individuals with health-related needs reentering the community after incarceration: a scoping review of program elements and outcomes

Treitler, Peter et al (2025) Health & Justice, 13. doi.org/10.1186/s40352-025-00358-0

Concomitant GHB and stimulant use among a national sample of people who regularly inject drugs in Australia, 2024.

Haywood, Sophie B and Lenton, Simon (2025) UNSW Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

Nitazenes: review of comparative pharmacology and antagonist action

Stangeland, Marcus et al (2025) Clinical Toxicology, 63, (6), pp. 393-406. doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2025.2504133

Interventions to reduce harms from cocaine. A scoping review

Riches, E et al (2025) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

Appearance of 2-MMC and 3-MMC on the illicit drug market in the Netherlands: a systematic narrative review of the prevalence and risks

van Amsterdam, Jan et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 145. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104971

Drug-related deaths in Scotland, 2024

(2025) Edinburgh: National Records of Scotland

Deaths following illicit ketamine use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 1999–2024: an update report to inform the reclassification debate

Pullen, Jade et al (2025) Journal of Psychopharmacology, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/02698811251373058

Australia’s annual overdose report 2025

(2025) Melbourne: Penington Institute

SAMHSA overdose prevention and response toolkit

(2025) Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Characteristics of drug-related deaths among individuals identified as LGBTQ+ in the United Kingdom, 1997-2024Roberts, Emmert et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70198

Roberts, Emmert et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70198

Analysis of rapid onset heroin overdose cases from a supervised injecting facility in Melbourne, Australia.

Stam, Nathan C et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70199

Measuring personal recovery in a sample of people with opioid use disorder: psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the questionnaire about the process of recovery

Marciuch, Anne et al (2025) European Addiction Research, Early online. pp. 1-11. doi.org/10.1159/000547897

Oral and injectable opioid agonist treatments for people who use street opioids: a systematic literature review and network meta-analysis

Bansback, Nick (2025) BMC Public Health, 25, 2974

Opioid agonist therapy for opioid use disorder in primary versus specialty care

Perry, Danielle et al (2025) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9, (9). doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd013672.pub2

Evaluation of a novel patient-centered methadone restart protocol

Christine, Paul J et al (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (8). 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.29393

Employment and long-acting injectable buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: findings from longitudinal qualitative interviews conducted with patients recruited from drug treatment services

Neale, Joanne et al (2025) Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 16. pp. 211-221. doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S528381

A quantitative projection of the net health effects of cannabis legalization in Germany

Gandjour, Afschin (2025) PLoS ONE, 20, (9). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330879

Neurodevelopmental effects of perinatal exposure to cannabis on progeny: a narrative review.

Azubuike, Chidimma Doris et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 16. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2025.100372

Inhaled cannabis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population-based cross-sectional study of n = 379,049.

Rustagi, Alison S et al (2025) Journal of General Internal Medicine, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s11606-025-09833-8

Decoding the neural correlates of social cognition and emotion recognition in cannabis users: a systematic review of neuroimaging studies

Romein, Christophe et al (2025) Behavioural Brain Research, 495. doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115755

Trends in US adolescent use of vaping and flavored solutions for marijuana consumption, 2021-2024

Miech, Richard et al (2025) Journal of Adolescent Health, DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.07.004

Review of evidence about alcohol marketing and advertising: influences on consumer attitudes and behaviours, and the effects of regulation on those behaviours

Patterson, C et al (2025) Edinburgh: Public Health Scotland

Alcohol-specific deaths 2024

(2025) Edinburgh: National Records of Scotland

The impacts of policies controlling the spatial availability of take-away alcohol on consumption and harms: a systematic narrative review

Shakory, Shima et al (2025) Addiction, 120, (10), pp. 1951-1969. doi.org/10.1111/add.70070

The impact of alcohol minimum pricing policies on vulnerable populations and health equity: a rapid review

Clay, James M et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 145. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.105014

Alcohol consumption per capita and suicide: a meta-analysis.

Guo, Katherine et al (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (9). 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.33129

Targeting alcohol use in high-risk population groups: a US microsimulation study of beverage-specific pricing policies

Kilian, Carolin et al (2025) The Lancet Public Health, 10, (10), e815-e823. doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00165-3

Development of the alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks market in Great Britain from 2011 to 2022: Narrative timelines based on a documentary review of off-trade retail magazines and market intelligence reports

Critchlow, Nathan et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/dar.14058

The rise of no/lo: how the alcohol-free and low-alcohol market has developed in Great Britain

Sheffield Addictions Research Group. Critchlow, Nathan (2025) SARG Blog

Quality of life assessment instruments used in clinical trials for alcohol use disorder: a systematic review

Tryggedsson, Jeppe Sig Juelsgaard et al (2025) Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 178. DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2025.209793

Exploring the role of gender on treatment outcomes in older adults with alcohol use disorder

Tryggedsson, Jeppe Sig Juelsgaard et al (2025) Alcohol, Clinical & Experimental Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/acer.70164

Alcohol use and risk of dementia in diverse populations: evidence from cohort, case-control and Mendelian randomisation approaches

Topiwala, Anya et al (2025) BMJ Evidence-based medicine, Early online. doi: 10.1136/bmjebm-2025-113913

Media portrayals of alcohol use in pregnancy and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a scoping review

Robards, Fiona J et al (2025) Alcohol, Clinical & Experimental Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/acer.70168

Alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks in Great Britain: monitoring report on 2023 data

Wilson, Luke B et al (2025) Sheffield: University of Sheffield

Increase in alcohol outlets by neighbourhood socioeconomic status following the expansion of alcohol sales into convenience stores in Ontario, Canada

Schwartz, Naomi et al (2025) Canadian Journal of Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.17269/s41997-025-01094-6

Healthcare professionals' experiences in preparing patients for elective alcohol detoxification - a service-level qualitative case-study.

Quelch, Darren et al (2025) Journal of Addictive Diseases, Early online. pp. 1-16. doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2025.2538259

Alcohol's collateral damage: harms from others' drinking are linked to academic and mental health challenges among U.S. college students

Trangenstein, Pamela J et al (2025) Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 86, (5), pp. 769-777. doi.org/10.15288/jsad.24-00170

Profiles of impulsivity and alcohol use: unveiling personality, cognitive traits, and DSM diagnoses

Lau, Chloe et al (2025) Alcohol, Clinical & Experimental Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/acer.70116

Vaping and smoking in pregnancy-a meta-analysis of neurobehavioural development in prenatally exposed offspring

O'Connell, Abigail et al (2025) Acta Paediatrica, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/apa.70285

Nicotine pouches and clinical outcomes related to smoking cessation: a systematic review of randomized trials

Heshmati, Javad et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70193

Perceived social support according to the type and number of addictions

Tomei, Alexander et al (2025) PLoS ONE, 20, (8). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329256

Exploring the impact on emotional wellbeing of having a spouse or cohabiting partner with elevated Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores: secondary analysis of cross-sectional health survey data

Tipping, Sarah et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70154

The relationship between Problem Gambling Severity Index scores and suicidality: Results of a 9-year cohort study of young United Kingdom adults

Bastiani, Oliver et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70156

Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (e-SBIRT) for gambling harm: a mixed-methods acceptability study

Wright, Simon et al (2025) Journal of Gambling Studies, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10424-9

Not always as advertised: different effects from viewing safer gambling (harm prevention) adverts on gambling urges

Newall, Philip et al (2025) Addictive Behaviors, 160. doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108161

Problematic social media use interventions for mental health outcomes in adolescents

Nagata, Jason M et al (2025) Current Psychiatry Reports, 27, (9), pp. 491-499. doi.org/10.1007/s11920-025-01619-3

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