Web Version: [link removed]
-----------------------
=================
Welcome
=================
Irish findings from the European Web Survey on Drugs
by Seán Millar
The National Drug and Alcohol Survey (NDAS) has been conducted five times in Ireland.1 However,
although the NDAS provides prevalence rates regarding drug use, it can only collect robust
information on patterns of use for the more commonly used drugs, such as cannabis. It does not
collect data from a sufficiently large sample of people who use drugs to provide reliable
information on patterns of use for less frequently used drugs such as ecstasy, amphetamines, and new
psychoactive substances (NPS).

[link removed]
=================
In brief
=================
There has been a great deal of commentary recently on the United Kingdom (UK) government’s stumbling
efforts to increase economic growth through a combination of radical changes in tax and in
employment and environmental regulations. The goal itself is seen as desirable: who would be against
a sustained effort to increase national income and make resources available to pay people more and
provide for the type of services expected in an advanced economy? It is the UK government’s reckless
approach and strangely politically illiterate arguments that have generated the most interest, not
the pursuit of economic growth as a policy goal. Ireland has measured its relative success in terms
of increases in national wealth and, while the narrow basis on which this is built and the gloomy
global outlook are causes for concerns, the nature of the growth being sought has changed little in
recent decades.

[link removed]
=================
Policy
=================
Gender and drug policy
by Lucy Dillon
The mission of the Pompidou Group (Council of Europe International Cooperation Group on Drugs and
Addictions) is to contribute to the development of multidisciplinary, innovative, effective, and
evidence-based drug policies in its member states.1 Since the late 1980s, it has worked to support
the integration of a gender dimension into drug policies and has delivered on a number of activities
in this area.2 Its latest output on this issue is Implementing a gender approach in drug policies:
prevention, treatment and criminal justice. A handbook for practitioners and decision makers.3

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Assessment tool for human rights
by Lucy Dillon
The Pompidou Group (Council of Europe International Cooperation Group on Drugs and Addictions) is
the Council of Europe’s drug policy cooperation platform. Upholding the core values of the Council
of Europe – human rights, democracy, and the rule of law – is central to the group’s mission. To
support a human rights approach to drug policy internationally, it has published Human rights in
drug policy: a self-assessment tool to be used in assessing drug policy compliance with human
rights.1

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
New funding for drug prevention in Ireland
by Lucy Dillon
On 22 September 2022, the Department of Health launched its new Prevention and Education Funding
Programme.1 As part of a wider suite of activities, the Department is undertaking to enhance the
area of prevention and education. The fund aims to increase the focused delivery of prevention
programmes, supported by the best possible evidence, among the school/university age population. The
programme is designed to strengthen the prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and the
associated harms among this cohort.

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
What Works Ireland Evidence Hub – call for submissions
by Lucy Dillon
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has issued a call
for submissions to their new prevention and early intervention (PEI) What Works Ireland Evidence
Hub.1,2

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
No place for cheap alcohol – the potential value of minimum pricing for protecting lives
by Anne Doyle
Alcohol use as well as the associated harms in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region
is among the highest in the world. A combination of population-level measures are recommended by WHO
to address alcohol use and related harms. Key to the recommendations are measures that focus on
limiting alcohol advertising, availability, and affordability, the latter including minimum pricing.
The use of minimum pricing and minimum unit pricing (MUP), along with its strengths and limitations
and evidence of its impact, are examined in a 2022 WHO report.1

[link removed]
=================
Recent research
=================
An integrative review on service user participation
by Brian Galvin
The Irish national drugs strategy1 aims to encourage those who are using drug services to play a
greater role in their own treatment and actively participate in service development through
consultation with service providers and health service management. On behalf of the Department of
Health, the Health Research Board (HRB) commissioned a report to systematically review and
synthesise the international evidence on service user consultation in drug treatment, harm
reduction, and recovery services.2

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Contents unknown – how alcohol labelling still fails consumers
by Anne Doyle
Following on from the United Kingdom’s (UK) Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) 2020 report on alcohol
labelling,1 further research was carried out by AHA to examine if alcohol labelling provides
information on low-risk guidelines, ingredients, calories, and health information.2

Alcohol use is associated with seven different types of cancer and many other health conditions and
is the leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality among those aged 15–49 years. Yet many people
are unaware of this risk and it is not legally binding to display this information on alcohol
products.3,4

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Review of alcohol marketing restrictions in seven European countries
by Anne Doyle
Based on recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Alcohol Framework 2018 in
Scotland aims to reduce alcohol-related harm, including restricting alcohol marketing.1,2 A 2022
report by Public Health Scotland sought to examine alcohol marketing restrictions in seven European
countries (Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden) in order to inform
consideration of alcohol marketing policy in Scotland.3

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Psychosocial and psychiatric factors preceding death by suicide: a case–control psychological
autopsy study
by Ena Lynn
Globally, suicide is a significant public health concern with over 700,000 people worldwide dying by
suicide each year.1 A range of factors, especially mental disorders, which include substance use
disorders and adverse life events, can increase the risk of suicide.2 A study examining psychosocial
and psychiatric factors and service engagement among people who died by suicide compared with a
living control group in the Cork region (Cork City and County ) was published in 2022.3

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Cost-effectiveness of mass screening for hepatitis C virus in Irish prisons
by Seán Millar
There is a high proportion of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Irish prisons and a high prevalence
of hepatitis C virus (HCV), making prison a high priority setting for HCV testing and treatment.
However, HCV screening in Irish prisons currently occurs intermittently. Although every prisoner
undergoes a committal health screening on entering prison and information is gathered on drug use
and blood-borne virus testing is offered, many prisoners initially refuse, but then return later and
request screening.1

[link removed]
=================
Prevalence/current situation
=================
Drug use among Probation Service clients in Ireland
by Seán Millar
Substance misuse has been highlighted as a key area of need among prisoners and a 2019 systematic
review estimated that the pooled percentage of prisoners in Ireland reporting a substance use
disorder was 50.9% (95% CI: 37.6–64.2%).1 A history of substance misuse has also been identified as
a strong predictor for reoffending. Therefore, on release from prison, engagement with the Probation
Service is a critical juncture at which assessment, intervention, and appropriate referral for
substance misuse issues can take place.

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Not-fatal drug-related hospital admissions in Ireland, 2020
by Seán Millar
The HIPE (Hospital In-Patient Enquiry) scheme is a computer-based health information system, managed
by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in association with the Department of Health
and the Health Service Executive. It collects demographic, medical, and administrative data on all
admissions, discharges, and deaths from acute general hospitals in Ireland. Each HIPE discharge
record represents one episode of care; each discharge of a patient, whether from the same or a
different hospital, with the same or a different diagnosis, gives rise to a separate HIPE record.
The scheme therefore facilitates analysis of hospital activity rather than of the incidence of
disease. HIPE does not record information on individuals who attend emergency departments but are
not admitted as inpatients. Monitoring of drug-related acute emergencies in the Irish context refers
to all admissions for non-fatal overdoses to acute general hospitals in Ireland.

[link removed]
=================
Responses
=================
Alcohol consumption and attitudes to evidence-based alcohol policy in Donegal
by Anne Doyle
In 2018, following a protracted process, the Public Health (Alcohol) Act was enacted to address
alcohol use and associated harm in Ireland. The Act includes legislation restricting alcohol
availability, advertising and promotion, sales and pricing: it aims to reduce population-level
alcohol use and related harm but particularly to delay or prevent alcohol use among children and
young people.1

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Tabor Group annual report, 2021
by Seán Millar
The Tabor Group is a provider of residential addiction treatment services in Ireland. It aims to
offer hope, healing, and recovery to clients suffering from addictions through integrated and caring
services. In addition to two residential facilities, the organisation provides a continuing care
programme to clients who have completed treatment in order to assist with their recovery as well as
a community-based programme. Its family support programme offers counselling to families whose loved
ones are struggling with an addiction. In 2022, the Tabor Group published its annual report for
2021.1 This article highlights services provided by the Tabor Group to individuals with a substance
use addiction in 2021.

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Coolmine Therapeutic Community annual report, 2020
by Seán Millar
Coolmine Therapeutic Community is a drug and alcohol treatment centre providing community, day, and
residential services to men and women with problematic substance use and to their families in
Ireland. Established in 1973, Coolmine was founded on the philosophies of the therapeutic community
approach to addiction treatment. This is primarily a self-help approach in which residents are
responsible for their own recovery, with peers and staff acting as facilitators of change.
Participants are expected to contribute to the general running of the community and to their own
recovery by actively participating in educational activities and in group and individual therapy.
This article highlights services provided by Coolmine in 2020.1

[link removed]
-----------------------------------
Strategic plan for UISCE, 2022–2025
by Lucy Dillon
UISCE, the Union for Improved Services, Communication and Education for people who use drugs (PWUD),
published its new strategy in July 2022 entitled Peer partnership for change: UISCE’s strategy to
build inclusion and participation of people who use drugs 2022–2025.1

[link removed]
=================
Recent publications
=================
Recent publications
[link removed]----------------------
This email was sent to [email protected] from [email protected]

Unsubscribe:
[link removed]

Report Misuse: [link removed]
Change Email Format (Text/HTML):
[link removed]