Reports: August |
Alcohol treatment demand in Ireland 2024
This is the annual, updated bulletin from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) on cases of treated problem alcohol use in Ireland. This bulletin includes a detailed summary of 8,745 cases treated for alcohol as a main problem in 2024. Trends cover an eight-year period 2017 to 2024 | HRB, Ireland
Fake Friend: How ChatGPT betrays vulnerable teens by encouraging dangerous behavior
CCDH's new research shows that ChatGPT is betraying young people by generating dangerous advice about self-harm and suicide, eating disorders and substance abuse | CCDH, USA
ToxIC Fentalog Study Group - Quarterly NPS Report: Q2 2025
Results were reported from 8 sites across the United States. Geographical differences were observed for opioids, poly-drug use, NPS and xylazine. Fentanyl overwhelming remains the most commonly detected opioid nationally. Numerous NPS were detected, including bromazolam, 5F-ADB, MDMB-4en-PINACA, and more | CFSRE, USA
Drug and Alcohol Trends Monitoring System (DATMS) 2024: year 9
2023 key findings include: Increase in drug-related harm, hidden harm & low-levels of help seeking / normalisation of drug & alcohol use hampers help seeking / drug use in dublin 15 is a community wide issues crossing all socio-economic boundaries / Evidence of drug use during school hours in all local secondary schools | Blanchardstown Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force, Ireland
Simplified summary of the National Benchmarking Report on the implementation of MAT Standards Scotland 2024-25
Over several years, drug-related deaths and drug-related harm in Scotland have increased. Research tells us that providing treatment is a way to lower the risk of harm linked with problematic drug use. The MAT Standards were published in 2021, by the Drug Death Task Force to help reduce drug-related deaths in Scotland | Public Health Scotland, UK
New European toolkit launched to help eliminate viral hepatitis B and C in prisons
The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have jointly produced a European toolkit for the elimination of viral hepatitis in prisons. This new practical online resource, launched ahead of Prisoners’ Justice Day on 10 August, aims to support local efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis in prison settings, in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Good Health and Well-Being | EUDA, Portugal
Prison to Rehab Protocol
The Prison to Rehab Protocol sets out the process for prison based staff, residential rehabilitation providers and individuals on accessing the Prison to Rehab Pathway. The pathway supports individuals leaving prison who would benefit from accessing abstinence based treatment on release | Scottish Government, UK
RADAR alert issued on nitazenes and contamination of the drugs supply
PHS has published a new RADAR alert on nitazenes to respond to increasing harms and availability in the drugs supply. Nitazene-type drugs are potent, synthetic opioids that are now widely detected in all parts of Scotland. They pose a substantial risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death. In Scotland, nitazenes are most commonly detected as a contaminant in drugs sold as heroin, benzodiazepines and oxycodone. The alert has been issued by Rapid Actions Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR), led by Public Health Scotland. Data within the latest RADAR report indicates that nitazene type opioids are increasingly identified in hospital and post – mortem toxicology in Scotland. Between January and March 2025, nitazenes were detected in 38 deaths | PHS, UK
Naloxone use in older adults: Report covers staying safe with opioids at home
With increasing age, older adults are more likely to encounter health conditions and injuries that require opioid therapy for pain relief. This reality means that opioid overdoses are a concern for older adults as well as for their family members and other caregivers. A new Gerontological Society of America report, "Staying Safe with Opioids at Home," describes questions about pain management and opioid reversal for older adults and their caregivers and presents a decision tree to guide their actions | Medical Xpress, USA
Protocol for modelling the risk of alcohol-attributable mortality and hospital admission in Ireland (PDF)
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is undertaking a study to estimate the risk of alcohol-related mortality and hospital admission in Ireland associated with different levels of alcohol consumption. The findings will support an update of Ireland’s low-risk alcohol guidelines, which were revised in 2015 to less than 11 standard drinks for women and less than 17 standard drinks for men per week | HIQA, Ireland
Digital influence: Young people’s exposure to the marketing of cigarettes, vapes, unhealthy food/drink, and alcohol (PDF)
In the UK, the number of new cancer cases diagnosed each year is projected to rise by around a fifth by 2040. But making healthy behaviour changes can reduce the risk of over 20 types of cancer. The aim of this study was to explore young people’s awareness of, and engagement with, marketing and content on social media related to age-restricted products (cigarettes, vapes, HFSS products and alcohol), and what they think about related policy options | Cancer Research UK, UK
New report on minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Wales
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has published a major new report that models the impact of alcohol pricing policies on alcohol consumption and harm in Wales | SARG, UK
Preventing Substance Use-Related Harms Among Young People in Scotland Evidence, Knowledge Gaps, and Systems Solutions (PDF)
This report explores how Scotland can strengthen its approach to preventing substance use and related harms among young people. While prevention is increasingly recognised as a public health priority, Scotland currently lacks a coordinated, evidence-based prevention system. Public Health Scotland is developing a wholesystems approach, and this report aims to contribute by synthesising evidence on effective interventions and conditions for sustainable prevention | DRNS, UK
Ketamine Use in the UK: Insights from Phoenix Futures’ Residential Services
As ketamine use continues to rise across the UK we have surveyed our residential staff and residents to shed light on the growing prevalence, motivations, and harms associated with ketamine use, particularly among young people. We hope this will aid the development of much-needed support for people affected by ketamine use | Phoenix Futures, UK
ASH Strategy 2025-2030
Our work over the next five years will free more people from harms of tobacco, allowing them to live longer, healthier and happier lives. This Strategic Plan builds on our past successes and sets out our next steps towards a world free from the harm caused by tobacco. ASH’s core strength has always been in our ability to bring coalitions together - together we are greater than the sum of our parts. We hope you will continue with us on this journey | ASH, UK
Monitoring the Future Panel Study annual report: National data on substance use among adults ages 19 to 65, 1976–2024 (PDF)
The percentage of young and midlife adults using nicotine pouches significantly increased last year, while cannabis use, vaping and the use of psychedelic drugs are at or near all-time highs, according to the latest data from the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Panel survey | University of Michigan, USA
Australia's Annual Overdose Report
The 2025 edition of Australia's Annual Overdose Report demonstrates overdose remains a national crisis, claiming the lives of over 6 Australians every day. The urgency for action remains as strong as ever | Oenington Institute, Australia
Drug Trends output: GP access among two samples of people who regularly use illicit drugs in Australia, 2019-2024
The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) and the Illicit Drugs Reporting System (IDRS) are national drug monitoring systems intended to identify emerging trends of local and national concern in illicit drug use and markets. These systems form part of the broader Drug Trends program. This bulletin presents findings on GP access among IDRS and EDRS participants between 2019 and 2024 | NDARC, Australia
Drug Trends output: Concomitant GHB and stimulant use among a national sample of people who regularly inject drugs in Australia, 2024
This bulletin examines the characteristics and patterns of use of concomitant GHB and stimulant use within a sentinel group of people who inject drugs in Australia | NDARC, Australia
Drug Trends output: Sexualised drug use among cisgender heterosexual and LGBTQ+ people who regularly use illicit stimulants in Australia
This bulletin aims to examine engagement in, and factors associated with, sexualised drug use among a sample of cisgender heterosexual and LGBTQ+ people who regularly use ecstasy and other illicit stimulants in Australia | NDARC, Australia