HRB National Drugs Library e-newsletter volume 21, issue 11

December 2025	HRB National Drugs Library e-newsletter volume 21, issue 11

In this issue

Irish-related publications

International publications

News

Dail Debates

Useful links

Archive

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News

New threat assessment system launched to strengthen Europe’s response to drug-related threats

[European Union Drugs Agency] (26 Nov 2025)

The current approach to drink spiking is not working - here's how we can tackle it

[thejournal.ie] Luke, Chris (24 Nov 2025)

Over 1,170 patients now receiving buprenorphine

[The Medical Independent] (24 Nov 2025)

Government approves Minister for Health’s proposals to prohibit the sale of disposable vapes and regulate future nicotine products

Department of Health. (19 Nov 2025)

Medics should consider rethinking their attitude to drink spiking cases

[thejournal.ie] Luke, Chris (16 Nov 2025)

Youth Diversion Projects now operational nationwide

[Department of justice, Home Affairs and Migration] (13 Nov 2025)

Drug-driving surging due to ‘really concerning’ rates of cocaine use

[Irish Times] Lally, Conor (12 Nov 2025)

Maynooth University opens National Centre for Inclusive Higher Education

[Maynooth University] (12 Nov 2025)

Dail Debates

Oireachtas debates

Joint Committee on Drugs Use. Substance use and young people. (27 Nov)
Dáil Éireann debate. Order of Business [Nitrous oxide]. (25 Nov)
Question 116 – Tobacco control measures [nicotine pouch products]. (20 Nov)
Question 168 – Healthcare policy [alcohol]. (20 Nov)
Question 184 – Healthcare policy [Healthy Ireland]. (20 Nov)
Question 651 – Medicinal products [naloxone]. (20 Nov)
Question 78 – Addiction treatment services. (20 Nov)
Joint Committee on Drugs use: Engagement on education, awareness and addiction prevention in schools. (20 Nov)
Question 561 & 658 – Tobacco control measures [nicotine products]. (19 Nov)
Question 1128, 1129 & 1131 – Addiction treatment services. (18 Nov)
Question 1130 – Mental health services. (18 Nov)
Question 1157 – Budget 2026 [drugs taskforce funding]. (18 Nov)
Question 345 – Tax data [alcohol]. (18 Nov)
Question 363 – Illicit trade [tobacco]. (18 Nov)
Question 364 – Revenue Commissioners [tobacco products]. (18 Nov)
Question 726 – Social welfare code [drug addiction]. (18 Nov)
Question 741 & 742 – Alcohol sales [alcohol delivery]. (18 Nov)
Question 949 & 956 – Departmental funding [Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement] [62739/25]. (18 Nov)
The Joint Committee on Drugs Use debate. National Drugs Strategy: discussion. (13 Nov)
Question 1018 – Health promotion [vaping]. (12 Nov)
Question 389 – Customs and excise [vape products]. (12 Nov)
Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration debate. Engagement on policing matters: An Garda Síochána. (11 Nov)
Joint Committee on Drugs Use debate. Addiction, sport and well-being: discussion. (06 Nov)
Question 200 – Illicit trade [tobacco]. (06 Nov)
Question 205 – Tax yield [vaping]. (06 Nov)
Question 384 – Medicinal products [medical cannabis]. (06 Nov)
Question 416 – Legislative measures [tobacco products]. (06 Nov)
Question 427 – Substance misuse [nicotine pouches]. (06 Nov)
Question 479 – Healthcare policy [vaping]. (06 Nov)
Topical issue debate – Drug and Alcohol Task Forces. (05 Nov)
Decriminalisation of people who use drugs: Motion [Private Members]. (05 Nov)
Question 189 – Legislative measures [vaping]. (05 Nov)
Topical Issue debate - Drug and Alcohol Task Forces. (05 Nov)
Question 1638 & 1639 – Tobacco control measures [vaping]. (04 Nov)
Question 1639 – Tobacco control measures. (04 Nov)
Question 1963 – Addiction treatment services. (04 Nov)
Question 2051 – Addiction treatment services. (04 Nov)
Question 457 & 701 – Alcohol pricing. (04 Nov)
Question 463 – Tax code [vaping]. (04 Nov)

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

Irish-related publications

Healthy Ireland survey 2025 - summary report

Ipsos B&A. (2025) Dublin: Department of Health

What we know from Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) 2008-2024: key well-being factors for children and young people

Philippe, Kaat et al (2025) Dublin: Department of Children, Disability and Equality

Exploring parental problem alcohol use in the Irish context: a narrative review of the literature and opportunities for improvement

McGettrick, Rachel and O'Sullivan, Katriona (2025) SSRN, Early online. dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5603175

CRISSCROSS project: local pilot action plan

Health Service Executive. (2025) CRISSCROSS Project

Webinar recording. Supporting your teen when they’re feeling socially excluded

Major, Emmet et al (2025) Planet Youth

Ketamine [Audio]

Fox, Laura and Killeen, Nicki (2025) Dublin: RTE

An exploratory analysis of social connectedness and alcohol use of mature women

Clarke, Grainne et al (2025) Journal of Addictive Diseases, Early online. pp. 1-11. doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2025.2574911

Examining youth protections against gambling in Ireland: a tiger team (red team) examination of the national lottery.

Daly, Mia et al(2026) Epidemiology Biostatistics and Public Health, 21, (1). doi.org/10.54103/2282-0930/30098

Teacher attitudes towards and awareness of adolescent gambling behaviour in the Republic of Ireland

Murphy, Raegan et al (2025) Journal of Gambling Studies, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10434-7

Assessment of gambling perspectives amongst elite Irish athletes; a qualitative analysis

Gearailt, Conall Mac et al (2025) Irish Journal of Medical Science, Early online. doi.org/10.1007/s11845-025-04179-w

Joining the dots housing precarity, homelessness and violence against women and girls

(2025) Dublin: National Women’s Council

Vaping and young people. [Webpage]

Health Service Executive. (2025)

Smokeless nicotine and tobacco products. [Webpage]

Health Service Executive. (2025)

An assessment of the efficacy of bail laws in Ireland

Staines, Lorcan (2025) Dublin: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Re-offending by detected incidents 2024

(2025) Cork: CSO

Pre-legislative scrutiny of General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025

Alcohol Action Ireland/Silent Voices submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. (2025) Alcohol Action Ireland

Police recorded drug seizures and arrests in Northern Ireland update to 30th September 2025

2025) Belfast: PSNI Statistics Branch

Clustering of oral health-related behaviors and their association with sociodemographic factors in adolescents living in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Camila, Ávila-Oliver et al (2025) Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, 11, (6). doi.org/10.1002/cre2.70209

Submission. Mental Health Commission - public consultation on national standards for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

(2025) Dublin: Alcohol Action Ireland

Mental Health Bill 2024: a plain English guide to key concerns and recommendations.

(2025) Dublin: Mental Health Reform

National Development Plan review 2025: securing Ireland’s future. Sectoral investment plan: Department of Health

(2025) Dublin: Department of Health.

Loneliness: what Ireland’s young people are telling us

(2025) Dublin: Spunout

School attendance data: primary and post-primary schools; and student absence reports: primary and post-primary schools 2023-2024

Tusla Education and Support Service. (2025) Dublin: Tusla

Afterschool care for school-aged children in Ireland

Russell, Helen et al (2025) Dublin: ESRI

Department of Education and Youth Inspectorate report (2024) and thematic review.

Department of Education and Youth Inspectorate. (2025) Dublin: Department of Education and Youth

Department of Children, Disability and Equality statement of strategy 2025 – 2028

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

Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration statement of strategy 2025-2028

(2025) Dublin: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Office of the Inspector of Prisons annual report 2024

Office of the Inspector of Prisons. (2025) Dublin: Office of the Inspector of Prisons

Social inclusion services key performance indicator metadata 2025

(2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive

Oberstown Children Detention Campus annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Oberstown Children Detention Campus

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

Extern Ireland annual report 2023 - 2024

(2025) Waterford: Extern Ireland

The State Laboratory annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: The State Laboratory

Criminal Assets Bureau annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Criminal Assets Bureau

Activity of acute public hospitals in Ireland 2024 annual report

Healthcare Pricing Office, Health Service Executive. (2025) Dublin: Health Service Executive

Cork Simon annual impact report 2024

(2025) Cork: Cork Simon Community

Health Products Regulatory Authority annual report 2024

(2025) Dublin: Health Products Regulatory Authority

International publications

Foresight activities within the EU Agencies Network on Scientific Advice (EU-ANSA).

EU-ANSA. (2025) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union

Health at a glance 2025: OECD indicators

OECD, European Commission. (2025) Paris: OECD Publishing

Global state of harm reduction: 2025 update to key data

(2025) London: Harm Reduction International

An evaluation of a psychoeducational harm-reduction focused intervention targeting music festival attendees/at risk of negative outcomes surrounding recreational substance use

Rayner, CL et al (2025) doi.org/10.1177/20503245251391113

Trauma-informed principles in practice: a mixed-method study of co-producing systems change with people who have experienced multiple disadvantage

Stone, Tracey et al (2025) Health Expectations, 28, (6). doi.org/10.1111/hex.70472

“My advice is to not let him in”: how support for concerned significant others is shaped by professionals’ understandings of alcohol and other drug problems

Hans, Fagerstrom et al (2025) Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Early online. doi.org/10.1177/14550725251388554

"You're not informed unless you make it your business": insights from a Scottish national study exploring attitudes towards residential rehabilitation

Dumbrell, Josh et al (2025) Harm Reduction Journal, 22. doi.org/10.1186/s12954-025-01336-3

Pathways of hope - lived experience of drug + alcohol dependence, and recovery. A public information comic

Humanising Healthcare et al (2025) Glasgow: University of Glasgow

Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adults with substance use disorder that have a co-occurring common mental health disorder: an umbrella review

Simpson, Emma L et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Review, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/dar.70066

Contingency management interventions for substance use and addictive behaviours: review of the United Kingdom evidence base

Getty, Carol-Ann et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70240

Universal treatment curriculum (UTC) self led courses

Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme. (2025) London: ISSUP

Risk reconsidered: insights from a data saturation analysis of sexual health research amongst gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men

Field, David James et al (2025) Culture, Health & Sexuality, Early online. pp. 1-12. doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2025.2567290

Drug-related violence hub page [Webpage]

(2025) European Union Drugs Agency

Femicides in 2024: global estimates of intimate partner/family member femicides

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UN Women. (2025) Vienna: United Nations

Reluctant risk-takers: how law enforcement practices at festivals can obstruct safer drug use

Ruane, Dara (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 145. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.105013

Research brief on transnational organized crime: special points of interest.

(2025) Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Tackling the drugs crisis in our prisons

House of Commons Justice Committee. (2025) London: House of Commons

Ending the cycle of reoffending – part one: rehabilitation in prisons

House of Commons Justice Committee. (2025) London: House of Commons

Drug use among people in prison: a global review of epidemiology, harms and interventions

Favril, Louis et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.7024

The health of people in prison, on probation and in the secure NHS estate in England

Chief Medical Officer for England. (2025) London: Department of Health and Social Care and Ministry of Justice

Supervised consumption sites and population-level overdose mortality: a systematic review of recent evidence, 2016-2024

Gariépy, Geneviève et al (2025) Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice, 45, (9), pp. 357-366. doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.45.9.02

Mortality and return to custody of individuals with a history of drug use one year post-release from the New South Wales custodial system

Remond, Marc et al (2025) Scientific Reports, Early online. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-23552-4

Predicting drug overdose and death after “before medically advised” hospital discharge.

Naik, Haiten et al (2025) Canadian Medical Association Journal, 197, (38). doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.250492

Comparison of Office for National Statistics (ONS) and National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM) data suggests that opioid-related deaths in England & Wales have been systematically underestimated

Chen, Shuoqi et al (2025) International Journal of Drug Policy, 145. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104976

Addressing the silent epidemic of recreational nitrous oxide use: a position, call to action and recommendations by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Committee on Biological Markers of Nitrous Oxide Abuse

Grzych, Guillaume et al (2025) Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Early online. doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2025-1060

Emergency department presentations, hospitalisations and police seizure data related to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in New South Wales, Australia, from 2015 to 2024

Siefried, Krista J et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70202

A review of the evidence on the use and harms of Carisoprodol

(2025) London: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Availability of nitazenes for purchase in Australia and internationally via cryptomarkets, September 2021 - August 2025.

Man, Nicola et al (2025) UNSW Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

The rise of nitazenes: what pharmacists need to know

Wilkinson, Emma (2025) The Pharmacist

The nitazene epidemic in Estonia: a first report

Abel-Ollo, Katri et al (2025) European Journal of Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf160

Afghanistan opium survey 2025

(2025) Vienna: UNODC

Post-discharge use of opioids, psychostimulants, and treatment medications following residential opioid discontinuation with NET Device™ monotherapy

Greenwald, Mark K et al (2025) Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1627267

A systematic review investigating prenatal cannabis and tobacco co-exposure: impacts on neonatal, behavioral, cognitive and physiological outcomes

Argote, Mathilde et al (2025) Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 17. doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2025.100376

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, 2016 to 2022

Swartz, James A and Franceschini, Dana (2025) JAMA Network Open, 8, (11). doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.45310

Neighborhood level factors and use of cigarettes, cannabis and e-cigarettes: a population-based study among Canadian adults

Fraser Wood, Truman et al (2025) PLoS ONE, 20, (11). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320035

UK policy paper. Licensing taskforce report and government response

(2025) London: Department for Business & Trade

Regulatory capture in UK alcohol licensing policy: the 2025 'licensing taskforce' report

Nicholls, James and Fitzgerald, Niamh (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70241

A healthier future. A long-term vision to tackle alcohol harm in the UK

(2025) London: Institute of Alcohol Studies

Has alcohol consumption in England returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels? A monthly population study, 2014 to 2024

Buss, Vera Helen et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70258

QualityWatch indicator: alcohol-related harm and drinking behaviour

(2025) London: Nuffield Trust

Do alcohol industry-funded organisations act to correct misinformation? A qualitative study of pregnancy and infant health content following independent analysis

Mitchell, Gemma et al (2025) Globalization and Health, 21. doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01125-4

'Zero-alcohol' products and the guise of responsibility

Edwardes, Fraser et al (2025) Journal of Public Health Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1057/s41271-025-00607-4

The use of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks in pregnancy in the UK

Maslin, Kate et al (2025) European Journal of Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf188

Examining changes in the prevalence of cost-motivated alcohol reduction attempts in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and alcohol duty reforms: A population survey of risky drinkers in Great Britain, 2021-2024.

Jackson, Sarah E et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70248

Barriers to recovery: overcoming obstacles to alcohol recovery in the UK

(2025) London: Institute of Alcohol Studies

“It has some major knock-on effects”: ambulance clinicians’ experiences of attending alcohol-related call-outs and perceived impact on the Scottish ambulance service (IMPAACT study)

Uny, Isabelle et al (2025) Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2025.2576804

Delineating trajectories of alcohol consumption and alcohol problems from adolescence to young adulthood: an integrated assessment of genetic, familial, and psychosocial factors

Cheng, Hui G et al (2025) Alcohol, Clinical & Experimental Research, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/acer.70166

Socio-economic differences in the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy use in alcohol use disorder: a cohort study of 148 626 individuals in Sweden

Elling, Devy L et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70238

Outcomes from a national consensus event targeting service development strategies for alcohol related brain damage

Quelch, Darren et al (2025) Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Early online. doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2025.2579313

The combined impact of smoking, alcohol, and obesity on past trends in educational inequalities in life expectancy in England and Wales, Finland, and Italy, 1990-2017

Janssen, Fanny et al (2025) European Journal of Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf181

Smoking profile tool [Data for England; 2024 analysis for UK].

(2025)United Kingdom. Department of Health & Social Care.

Trends in initiation of regular cigarette smoking in 28 European countries, 1940-2019: retrospective reconstruction from repeated cross-sectional surveys

Teshima, Ayaka et al (2025) European Journal of Public Health, Early online. doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf184

Social determinants of support for tobacco control policies to end the use of commercial cigarettes: findings from the 2022 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

Feliu, Ariadna et al (2025) Tobacco Control, Early online. doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059676

The risk of lung cancer from vaping or e-cigarette usage: a systematic review

Mohapatra, S et al (2025) ESMO Open, 10, (12). doi.org/10.1016/j.esmoop.2025.105910

Evidence update on the respiratory health effects of vaping e-cigarettes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Kundu, Anasua et al (2025) Tobacco Induced Diseases, 23, 177. doi.org/10.18332/tid/209954

'I'd rather have worse gums than worse lungs': young people's views of nicotine pouches in the UK.

MacGregor, Andy et al (2025) Addiction, Early online. doi.org/10.1111/add.70214

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