3rd February 2026
Understanding Addiction As A Growing Public Health Challenge
Addiction is a complex health issue that touches families, workplaces, and schools. It affects how people think and act, and it strains emergency rooms and public budgets. Behind every data point is a person trying to cope. Treating addiction like any other chronic condition, with prevention, timely care with addiction rehab and treatment and long-term support, which helps people rebuild their health and their lives.
Read the Eye on Annapolis article Here
2nd February 2026
‘No politics, just keep people alive’: Syringe services hope legality continues
Six Indiana counties operate a syringe service program, often acting as a bridge to health care, overdose prevention education and addiction treatment and rehab. But the programs could end in July. The Indiana Recovery Alliance has come a long way since its founding about a decade ago. Like other Indiana syringe service programs, the alliance does more than just provide sterile supplies and safely dispose of used needles. Staff say their work goes beyond basic addiction services; they’re a human rights advocacy organization. “Our biggest motto is we meet people where they’re at and try not to leave them there,” said Scott Pietrovich, syringe services program coordinator.
Read the Louisville Public Media article Here
30th January 2026
Number of teenagers with mental health issues attending drug addiction services ‘through the roof’
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
29th January 2026
Advancing brain-based therapeutics to the forefront of addiction care
As our understanding of the neurobiology of addiction evolves, so do opportunities to develop more precise, brain-based interventions for co-occurring disorders. In our free webinar, “Advancing Brain-Based Therapeutics to the Forefront of Addiction Care,” on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET., Victor Tang, M.D., MSc, FRCPC, Psychiatrist & Clinician Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and the recipient of a 2022 Young Investigator Award, will discuss his recent research on addiction and concurrent disorders (when mental illness and addiction co-occur).
Read the eurekalert.org article Here
28th January 2026
Trump signs executive order to combat drug addiction, substance abuse
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is launching a new federal effort to combat drug addiction and substance abuse, calling the issue one of the most serious challenges facing the nation. “Today, I’m signing a historic executive order to combat the scourge of addiction and substance abuse,” he said at the signing ceremony at the White House. The initiative will be known as the “Great American Recovery Initiative,” to help people who need addiction rehab and treatment. Trump noted that substance abuse continues to exact a heavy toll across the US. “We lose an estimated 300,000 people to drug and alcohol abuse (every year), and the real number is probably much, much higher than that,” he said.
Read the aa.com article Here
27th January 2026
24-year-old Sligo man with 30 previous convictions told to get help for his alcohol addiction
A 24-year-old man was told that he needs to get addiction rehab and treatment help for his alcohol addiction in Sligo District Court. Mark Sweeney of Beechlawn, Magheraboy, was charged with being intoxicated at Rathbraughan Park, on August 11, 2025. Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that Gardaí received a report from residents of Rathbraughan of a man trying to fight everyone. Upon arrival, Gardaí spoke to residents who described the defendant. Gardaí then noticed Sweeney staggering along a nearby footpath.
Read the Independent.ie article Here
26th January 2026
Meta, TikTok and YouTube heading to trial to defend against youth addiction, mental health harm claims
Los Angeles – For years, social media giants have argued against claims that their platforms harm young people’s mental health. Starting Tuesday, they will for the first time have to defend against those claims before a jury in a court of law. A 19-year-old identified as KGM and her mother, Karen Glenn, are suing TikTok, Meta and Google’s YouTube, alleging that the companies knowingly created addictive features that harmed her mental health and led to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. (Snap, also a defendant, settled last week under undisclosed terms.)
Read the CNN article Here
20th January 2026
Drug treatment courts can jam addiction’s ‘revolving door’
Calls to expand New Zealand’s Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court rang out across the country this month, and for good reason. Recent Ministry of Justice figures show that people who complete the drug treatment court programme are 50 percent less likely to reoffend in their first year than comparable high-risk, high-needs offenders who go through the District Court. Even four years after graduating, they are 20 percent less likely to reoffend. In the criminal justice world, these statistics are significant. More than 400 people came together at a two-day conference at the University of Auckland to discuss these specialist courts, the significant research that underpins them, and to hear compelling stories of graduates of these courts who have turned their lives around with this form of addiction rehab and treatment support.
Read the Auckland.au.nz article Here
19th January 2026
Risk of gambling addiction is higher in people whose family members have betting problems
Having a family member or a close friend with a gambling problem puts people at greater risk of developing one, too, a new study finds. The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that “when gambling is seen as normal by others, it can increase a person’s own risk of gambling,” the researchers wrote in the Journal of Gambling Studies. “It has long been known that alcohol-related problems run in families – this study demonstrates that this is also the case with gambling,” Richard Velleman, one of the study’s authors, said in a news release. “This is an important discovery, as many people don’t see gambling problems as equivalent to alcohol or drug problems, as gamblers don’t ‘ingest’ anything, yet gambling can equally lead to serious problems which cause serious harm to individuals and families.” Sufferers need a tailored addiction rehab and treatment approach.
Read the Phillyvoice.com article Here
16th January 2026
Dublin injection centre sees zero deaths despite 179 overdoses in nine months
The Medically Supervised Injecting Facility (MSIF) located on Merchants Quay opened its doors in December 2024 to provide a place where those addicted to injectable drugs, mainly heroin, can do so in a safe, medically supervised facility. While some objected to the centre opening, Green Party Councillor Michael Pidgeon has highlighted the overdose figures as a sign that these centres work. The centres can also provide a pathway to traditional addiction treatment and rehab services.
Read the Dublin Live article Here
15th January 2026
Drug addict ‘trying his best to move forward’
A Castlebar man with a long history of addiction has been given a suspended jail term for possessing cannabis. Eamon Hanrahan, of Spencer Street, Castlebar, appeared before Castlebar District Court in connection with offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court heard that the matter had been before the court on a number of previous occasions, during which no one had appeared on behalf of the defendant. On this occasion, solicitor Cathy McDarby said she was prepared to finalise the case on Hanrahan’s behalf. The court heard that Hanrahan is engaging with an addiction counsellor, as part of an addiction rehab and treatment programme, and is not being asked to stop abruptly, but rather to reduce his usage in a managed way. He has also undertaken studies in social studies, psychology and addiction at Atlantic Technological University and is attending regular counselling sessions.
Read the Western People article Here
14th January 2026
‘Laughing gas’ may be added to list of drugs tested for at roadside Garda checkpoints
Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, may be included among the drugs tested for at roadside checkpoints. Minister of State for Transport Sean Canney has confirmed his department is considering adding nitrous oxide to the substances drivers will be tested for when stopped by Gardai. There were 190 road deaths last year, the highest annual number of fatalities since 2014. The Minister, who has responsibility for road safety, said the deaths were “a sobering call to action for all of us to do more to make our roads safer”.
Read the Irish Times article Here
13th January 2026
Inside the Battle for the Future of Addiction Medicine
Elyse Stevens had a reputation for taking on complex medical cases. People who’d been battling addiction for decades. Chronic-pain patients on high doses of opioids. Sex workers and people living on the street. “Many of my patients are messy, the ones that don’t know if they want to stop using drugs or not,” said Stevens, a primary care and addiction medicine doctor specialising in the care of patients with addiction problems.
Read the kkffhealthnews.org article Here
12th January 2026
Rise in young people with ketamine-related bladder issues
Doctors have warned of a rise in the number of young people seeking help for ketamine-related bladder issues. Ketamine, originally intended as an anaesthetic, has become increasingly popular as a recreational drug. The HSE says its research indicated that ketamine is one of the most commonly used substances in nightlife and at festivals. A review of waste water from the Ringsend treatment facility indicated that it was the third most used drug, after cocaine and cannabis. Ketamine addiction requires a tailored addiction treatment and rehab approach.
Read the RTE News article Here
9th January 2026
I stopped paying for food and heating to spend it gambling – my period made it worse
She didn’t go food shopping or have gas to heat her home, but Kiki Marriott made sure she still had electricity and wi-fi to gamble online – and said the addiction got worse around her period. Kiki has sought help for her gambling addiction but is not alone in feeling a greater urge to gamble on her phone at certain times of her menstrual cycle. Now academics are working with a leading gambling harms charity to establish whether there is a link between hormonal fluctuations – caused by periods, ovulation, menopause and childbirth – and gambling addiction. The study has been welcomed by the body which licences and regulates commercial gambling in the UK.
Read the BBC News article Here
8th January 2023
‘Shame trapped me in addiction for 30 years, destroying my life, family and relationships’
A Cork publican who battled alcohol and drug addiction is launching an exhibition to cast light on that darkness and pain and on the redemption of recovery. Michael Droney will launch his exhibition ‘Finding Beautiful’ in an alcohol-free section of one of his pubs, Aye on Anglesea Street in Cork City, this weekend. “Shame trapped me in addiction for 30 years, destroying my life, family and relationships,” Mr Droney said. “Finding Beautiful attempts to show loved ones why the hurt is caused and attempts to lessen the shame of those in addiction or early recovery”.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
7th January 2026
Merchant’s Quay: Temporary supervised drug injection facility in Dublin to become permanent
Ireland’s first supervised drug injection facility, which opened on a temporary basis at MQI just over one year ago, has secured permanent permission from Dublin City Council. The amenity operated by homeless and addiction charity Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) has been used in excess of 10,000 times by more than 1,000 individuals since it opened on the south Liffey quays in December 2024. Legislation to allow for the facility was enacted in 2017, but permission to operate the service was granted on a temporary basis only and was due to expire in June of this year. Last October MQI applied for planning permission to operate the service on a permanent basis. Permission was granted by the council last month, despite it having refused to approve the temporary facility in 2019. Injecting centres can also link service users in with more traditional addiction rehab and treatment support services.
Read the Irish Times article Here
6th January 2026
One in five vape shops selling addictive products to children, inspections reveal
More than a fifth of vape shops tested are selling the highly addictive vaping devices to children despite a ban on sales to under-18s since 2023. Between January and October last year, 51 retailers were caught selling vapes to children. This represented more than 22 per cent of the 224 shops where inspectors carried out tests to see if the devices would be sold to under-18s. Inspections were carried out by the HSE National Environmental Health Service, which is responsible for enforcing a 2023 law that banned the sale of nicotine-inhaling vaping products to children.
Read the Irish Times article Here
5th January 2026
One doctor’s experience shows the battle for the future of addiction medicine
Dr. Elyse Stevens had a reputation for taking on complex medical cases, including people who’d been battling addiction for decades. Some were chronic-pain patients on high doses of opioids; others were sex workers and people living on the street. “Many of my patients are messy, the ones that don’t know if they want to stop using drugs or not,” said Stevens, a primary care and addiction medicine doctor.While other doctors avoided these patients, Stevens — who was familiar with New Orleans from her time in medical school at Tulane University — sought them out. She regularly attended 6 a.m. breakfasts for homeless people, volunteered at a homeless shelter clinic on Saturdays, and, on Monday evenings, visited an abandoned Family Dollar store where advocates distributed supplies to people who use drugs. This is such a brilliant way to provide addiction rehab and treatment to a vulnerable group of people.
Read the VPN PBS article Here
2nd January 2026
New weekly addiction recovery meeting starting in Laois
The ARC Project (Addiction Recovery Community) is launching a new weekly community based recovery meeting in Portlaoise, offering a welcoming space for people in recovery from addiction, and anyone seeking to strengthen their recovery, in a supportive community setting. ARC’s approach blends peer support with practical tools including creativity, embodiment practices, journaling, and guided self-reflection, giving participants something real to take into everyday life. All ARC meetings and workshops are free to attend, confidential, and open to the wider community. ARC advises a level of commitment where possible so participants can get the full benefit of the addiction recovery programmes.
Read the Laois Live article Here
1st January 2026
A Narrative Review of Digital Addiction and Health: A New Challenge for Modern Medicine
Digital addiction, encompassing problematic use of the internet, smartphones, gaming, and social media, has emerged as a growing global public health concern. This narrative review synthesises current evidence on the epidemiology, neurobiological underpinnings, diagnostic challenges, health consequences, and management strategies for digital addiction. Addiction treatment services need to be tailored to meet the needs of people who are developing problems.
Read the Cureus.com paper Here
31st December 2025
Nutrition key in new alcohol abuse rehabilitation scheme to fight addiction
Researchers at the University of Bournemouth have partnered with a drug charity to launch an alcohol addiction rehabilitation scheme that emphasises the importance of healthy food in recovery. The project – Nourish the New You – looks at the science behind how better nutrition can prevent relapses during withdrawal and is the brainchild of Dr Chloe Casey.
Read the Sky News article Here
30th December 2025
‘Just like so many families’: US parents of addicted kids relate to the Reiners – but fear stigma
When news broke that Rob and Michele Singer Reiner had been killed and a possible suspect was their son, Nick Reiner, who had struggled with addiction and mental health issues, it brought addiction back into the public spotlight. But parents who have been affected by their children’s addiction fear the conversation will focus on the exceedingly rare act of violence instead of the more widespread risks. Stigma prevents families talking openly and can also be a barrier to people seeking addiction rehab and treatment support.
Read the Guardian article Here
29th December 2025
A clinic in Alaska is trying to help people with addiction survive incarceration
Inmates and people recently released from jails and prisons are among the most vulnerable to dying from a drug overdose. Experts say many don’t get the treatment they need. In Southcentral Alaska, one group is trying to change that, as Rachel Cassandra of Alaska Public Media reports and allow people with addiction problems access the rehab & treatment they need.
Read the npr.org article Here
26th December 2025
Pope Leo: ‘We must commit to preventing addiction’
“We must commit ourselves, in a concerted way, to a work of prevention.” Pope Leo XIV made this invitation in a video message, released on Friday, to Italy’s Seventh National Conference on Addictions taking place in Rome. In the message, the Pope acknowledged that, even if addictions such as drugs and alcohol continue to be the most prevalent, new forms of addiction have appeared. “The growing use of the internet, computers, and smartphones is associated not only with clear benefits,” he said, “but also with excessive use, which often results in addictions with negative consequences for health.” Addiction requires treatment options for sufferers to help them overcome their problems.
Read the Vatican News article Here
25th December 2025
Should you give your teenager alcohol at Christmas?
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
24th December 2025
Lily Allen Admits To Being In Therapy for This Unusual Addiction
Lily Allen recently revealed that she has an addiction to shopping and spending, and she is in therapy for it. The English singer shared the confession while speaking with her co-host, Miquita Oliver, in a new episode of her podcast, “Miss Me?” The episode was released on Monday, December 22. During the conversation, the artist spoke candidly about her struggles with spending and her experience with therapy. Compulsive Buying Disorder or Oniomania is an under recognised problem that requires a tailored addiction treatment and rehab approach.
Read the Reality Tea article Here
23rd December 2025
After 20 years struggling with addiction, this Six Nations woman wants to help others win their own battle
It’s small things, like a cigarette or a pair of clean socks, Rachel Montour says, that can go a long way to make you feel more human when you’re out on the street. “Just one moment of someone making eye contact with you, it just, it reminds you of who you are or who you were or who you can be,” Montour told CBC Hamilton. Montour struggled with addiction since she was 10 years old. At 34, she’s three years sober now and living a “full-circle moment” as she prepares care packages for people in Brantford, Ont., who are homeless. He rrecovery underscores the importance of readily available access to addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the cbc.ca article Here
22nd December 2025
The establishment and management of Addiction Research Network Ireland (ARNI)
The Department of Health has commissioned the Health Research Board (HRB) to establish a network to support the development of alcohol and other drugs research in Ireland. The ARNI will facilitate partnerships among academic institutions, policymakers, individuals with lived and living experience, and citizen scientists. The Department of Public Health & Primary Care, at Trinity is uniquely positioned to lead this work. As Ireland’s most research-intensive university, Trinity brings international research recognition, robust infrastructure, and strong interdisciplinary leadership.
Read the tcd.ie article Here
19th December 2025
New inpatient facility to support people with complex addiction needs
A new medical inpatient centre for people with complex addiction needs has been opened in west Dublin. The new purpose-built Cuan Dara centre in Palmerstown, Dublin 20 replaces the previous 12-bed facility in Cherry Orchard Hospital and provides the ability to expand residential, recovery-focused addiction rehab care for people with complex addiction needs, including those with dual diagnosis, pregnancy-related needs or other medical conditions.
Read the Irish Medical Times article Here
18th December 2025
Parenting Through Addiction: Love, Boundaries, and the Long Road to Recovery
When news broke that Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found fatally stabbed in their Los Angeles home and their son was arrested in connection with their deaths, the shock reverberated far beyond Brentwood. The story is still unfolding. In the scramble to understand what happened, one heartbreaking thread quickly comes to light. Nick Reiner suffered with mental health and addiction problems for years. The struggle is familiar to millions of parents across the country.
Read the She Knows article Here
17th December 2025
As gambling addiction spreads, one scientist’s work reveals timely insights
Arriving at a 1987 Gamblers Anonymous event in Dallas, Chris Anderson was at a low point. After years of losing money on high-risk stock option trades, his mental health had deteriorated and he had filed for bankruptcy. Fed up with the chaos and dishonesty, his wife had left him. Like many people contending with a severe gambling disorder, Anderson regularly experienced suicidal thoughts. Still, he couldn’t stop placing bets. He related his desperation to an older gentleman with kind eyes who nodded patiently. Ready access to good quality addiction rehab and treatment services for problematic gambling is essential.
Read the Science News article Here
16th December 2025
Ministers for Health introduce the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 to the Oireachtas
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, on behalf of the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, will today commence the passage of the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 through the Oireachtas. The legislation, which will be presented at Second Stage in Dáil Éireann this afternoon, provides for a prohibition on the sale of single-use vapes. This measure represents the latest in a series of actions aimed at reducing smoking and vaping prevalence and preventing the children and young people from starting to use nicotine.
Unfortunately, this Bill is not likely to meet its goals and will disproportionately effect smokers who get great benefit from the use of disposable vapes. If the age restriction was enforced the numbers of under 18s using vapes would likely have plummeted.
Read the Gov.ie article Here
15th December 2025
Pharmacists Now Authorized To Prescribe Buprenorphine For Opioid Use Disorder
On December 1, 2025, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR 2483) was signed into US law, allowing pharmacists to independently prescribe and administer buprenorphine, an important and life-changing medication in opioid addiction treatment and addiction rehab. To prescribe buprenorphine, pharmacists must complete 8 hours of training. This training, offered by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), ensures that all pharmacists are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and skills to safely prescribe and dispense buprenorphine to patients, including those receiving it for the first time.
Read the Addiction Center article Here
12th December 2025
The extreme dangers of inhaling nitrous oxide
A new report shows that Doctors at Tallaght University Hospital diagnosed 18 young people with a neurological disorder caused by inhaling nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this was Hugh Kearney, Consultant Neurologist St James hospital and Trinity College earlier. These worrying statistics underscore the need for tailored addiction addiction rehab and treatment services for people who have developed problematic use.
Listen to Newstalk Breakfast article Here
11th December 2025
Gambling addiction: The struggle for support
Kiki Marriott is one of the thousands of people in the UK whose life has spiralled out of control because of gambling addiction. However, research has shown that while people from ethnic minorities like Kiki are actually less likely to gamble than their white counterparts – they are more likely to suffer harm from gambling and less likely to seek help. Why is this? And what can be done to help those most in need feel more comfortable with getting support? Gambling addiction rehab and treatment are essential to help people overcome their problems.
Read the Sky News article Here
10th December 2025
Man recovering from over-the-counter drug addiction urges others to get help
A Belfast man who is currently receiving treatment for an addiction to over the counter medication has warned others of the dangers they pose. Michael Main said he started taking ibuprofen and codeine products around 12 years ago for pains in his legs and migraines. He said his addiction was so bad, he ended up in hospital to get operations for a perforated ulcer and to remove part of his bowel. Consultant addiction psychiatrist Dr Joy Watson said addiction to over-the-counter drugs is “an increasing problem in Northern Ireland”. People with this problem require ready access to addiction rehab and treatment support in the form of opioid substitution treatment.
Read the BBC News article Here
9th December 2025
Intercounty GAA players are six times more likely to develop a gambling addiction than the average person, new research has found.
The findings, published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science, found that 4.8% of respondents could be considered problem gamblers. By contrast, the prevalence among the general population is 0.8%. On Newstalk Daily, Associate Professor at the University of Limerick Dr Kieran Murray said there is an increasing awareness of the impact gambling has. It is also a priority that people suffering with this problem needs access to addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Newstalk article Here
8th December 2025
‘Addiction recovery service helped me stop feeling scared’
“There’s a saying in recovery – the opposite to addiction is connection.” Recovering addict Phil Bowman recently celebrated 12 years of sobriety, having abused substances including crack cocaine and heroin since he was in his teens. In 2015, he helped to set up Stoke Recovery Service, in Stoke-on-Trent, to support others going through similar situations. As the service marked its 10th anniversary, Mr Bowman shed a light on how difficult it could be for people to fight off their addictions and how connecting with others could help. Addiction rehab and treatment can bring people together and empower them to overcome their problems.
Read the BBC News article Here
5th December 2025
Staff for addiction services in west and north west ‘lowest in country’
A TD has questioned the ‘inadequate’ staffing numbers in the west and northwest for addiction services. Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West, John Connolly, raised the issue by way of Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Health. Deputy Connolly received a reply from the HSE to his question on the current staffing levels in each Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) of those providing therapeutic out-patient services for persons suffering from addiction. It is very important that addiction rehab and treatment services are adequately staffed.
Read the Donegal Daily article Here
4th December 2025
Drug addiction in Limerick at ‘epidemic’ levels amid call for new injection centre
Councillors are to lobby Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to open a new injection clinic in Limerick on a trial basis. It comes with the number of people suffering from addiction on the city streets, at “epidemic levels,” according to one councillor, Joe Leddin. A motion from councillor Shane Hickey-O’Mara was passed with widespread support at this month’s metropolitan meeting to write to the Health Minister in a bid to secure the facility for the city. The medically supervised Injecting centre has been a great success in Dublin and has a key role in nudging patients towards traditional addiction treatment supports such as opioid substitution treatment.
Read the Limerick Live article Here
3rd December 2025
From your brain’s perspective, getting hooked on video games isn’t all that different from developing an addiction to gambling, social media, alcohol or drugs. “They all work on our dopamine response pathways in very similar ways,” said Bradley Zicherman MD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine. Videogame addiction requires a tailored addiction rehab and treatment approach.
Read the Stanford Medicine article Here
2nd December 2025
Trump signs law to unlock billions for drug addiction recovery
President Donald Trump on Monday signed into law a measure authorizing billions of dollars in federal funding to help prevent drug overdoses and aid patients recovering from addiction, according to the White House. The measure effectively reauthorizes a public health program that was first established under Trump in 2018 and expired five years later. Included are a raft of addiction rehab and treatment services designed to combat drug addiction and address mental health, as well as initiatives to bolster research and repay loans for professionals treating substance abuse. Funding generally will still be subject to future appropriations by Congress.
Read the Columbian news article Here
1st December 2025
The scourge of addiction and where to get help in Derry and Donegal
Several tragic deaths and serious incidents across the north west over recent months and years have brought into sharp focus once again the devastation being wrought on families and entire communities by hard drugs and those pedalling them. The scourge of addiction shows no signs of abating, and if anything is becoming more endemic as increasingly dangerous batches of drugs filter into the region. It underscores the need for timely and accessible addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Derry Journal article Here
28th November 2025
Drug addiction surge in England blamed on new ‘potent’ cannabis
A major representative survey of mental health in England has revealed a worrying surge in drug addiction driven by use of strong cannabis. One in every 15 people in England is now a drug addict with most undiagnosed and receiving no treatment or support services. It is very important that people who develop problems with cannabis have access to readily available addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Mirror article Here
27th November 2025
Catherine calls for end to ‘stigma’ around addiction
The Princess of Wales has called for an end to the “stigma” surrounding addiction, and urged people to offer “empathy and support” to those dependent on alcohol, drugs or gambling. Catherine, who sent the message to mark Addiction Awareness Week, said “significant progress” has been made to better understand addiction, but warned more needs to be done. The princess is the patron of The Forward Trust, a charity that tries to break the cycle of addiction and is behind the campaign running from 23-30 November. Stigma reduces the chances of a person seeking addiction rehab and treatment for their problem.
Read the BBC article Here
26th November 2025
New threat assessment system launched to strengthen Europe’s response to drug-related threats
The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) today launched the new EUDA Helath and Security Threat Assessment System (ETAS), designed to strengthen Europe’s preparedness for serious and emerging drug-related threats and to support coordinated responses. Foreseen under the EUDA regulation the service was unveiled at the meeting of the Heads of Reitox national focal points (NFPs), taking place this week in Lisbon, bringing together representatives from across Europe.
Read the EUDA article Here
25th November 2025
Over 1,170 patients now receiving buprenorphine
The number of patients receiving buprenorphine reached 1,172 at the end of September, according to figures provided to this newspaper. This marks an increase from 748 in April 2023, the last time the Medical Independent (MI) reported on the issue. A HSE spokesperson told MI that Suboxone is a trade name for buprenorphine, and other buprenorphine preparations are also available. Opioid substitution treatment (OST) is the the treatment of choice for people with opioid dependence who need addiction rehab and treatment.
Read the Medical Independent article Here
24th November 2025
Princess of Wales: Show people with addictions ‘compassion and love’ instead of ‘judgement’
The Princess of Wales has said it is time to end the “fear, shame and judgement” endured by people with drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions, and for society to show them “compassion and love” instead. Kate said the moment had come to stop the “stigma” and bring the issue “out of the shadows ” in a message to mark Addiction Awareness Week, which started yesterday and runs until 30 November. She said: “Addiction is not a choice, or a personal failing, but a complex mental health condition that should be met with empathy and support”. It also needs good quality addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Sky News article Here
21st November 2025
He is putting addiction therapy in the hands, and headsets, of patients
Jarrod Reisweber has created a new world to address a harsh reality of addiction.“It strikes at the most inconvenient times,” said Reisweber, Psy.D., an affiliate assistant professor of psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University as well as a clinical psychologist. A therapy session might happen at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, but a craving or trigger pays no attention to the clock or calendar. Reisweber, who works closely with the Veterans Health Administration, saw how patients who are being treated for trauma, depression and substance use could benefit from support when they need it most – for example, in the middle of the night. Managing cravings successfully is an important component of addiction rehab treatment.
Read the vcu.edu article Here
20th November 2025
LA Jails Scale Back Opioid Addiction Treatment
Los Angeles County jails pared back access to life-saving opioid addiction treatment this fall during one of the system’s deadliest years on record, according to records obtained by CalMatters and interviews with staff. The policy change came one week after Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the county over “inhumane” conditions across its jail system, citing a “shocking rate of deaths,” including overdoses. Lack of access to the lifesaving opioid substitution treatments, methadone and buprenorphine increases the risk of overdose.
Read the KQED news article Here
19th November 2025
Death toll from drugs has more than doubled worldwide over past three decades
Researchers used new statistical methods to analyze public data on the global health burden due to drug addiction. They showed that drug-related mortality has increased 2.2-fold between 1990 and 2021, especially in high-income countries, despite a 6% reduction in cases after correcting for population growth. This surge in the public health burden from drugs was greatest in the US, and likely due to the combination of opioids and cocaine and worsening social and healthcare conditions for drug users. People with cocaine and opiate problems need ready access to addiction treatment services.
Read the Frontiers article Here
18th November 2025
Government approves Minister for Health’s proposals to prohibit the sale of disposable vapes and regulate future nicotine products
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill T.D., has received Government approval to publish the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill 2025 and bring it forward for enactment. The Bill will prohibit the retail sale of single use or disposable vapes. The Minister also received approval to develop law to prohibit the sale to minors of other nicotine products such as pouches. That law will also prohibit the advertising of these products in all retail outlets and their display in mixed retail outlets.
Read the Gov.ie press release Here
17th November 2025
Medics should consider rethinking their attitude to drink spiking cases
Dr Chris Luke explains why suspected cases of drink spiking can sometimes go unheeded in emergency departments – and why that should change. When someone alleges that they’ve been seriously sexually assaulted, their chances of ‘obtaining justice’ in the form of an effective police investigation and successful criminal prosecution can be surprisingly low. In the United Kingdom, it is staggeringly low; fewer than 4% of reported rape offences lead to criminal charges, of which roughly half result in a subsequent conviction. It is strikingly low in Ireland, where around a fifth of (‘filed’) sexual offence reports lead to prosecution, and the actual conviction rate is described in the Irish legal literature as ‘extremely low’ (possibly just 0.3%).
Read the Journal.ie article Here
14th November 2025
Addiction expert warns over ‘loot boxes’ and lure of online gaming
A leading psychiatrist has called for greater controls on “loot boxes” – virtual treasure chests in video games that give players prizes. Professor Colin O’Gara, head of addiction services in St John of God Hospital in Dublin, was warning about internet gaming disorder and the need to protect young people. Gaming addiction presentations to addiction rehab and treatment services have increased in recent years
Read the Independent.ie article Here
13th November 2025
The Joint Committee on Drugs Use, chaired by Deputy Gary Gannon, will meet Thursday, the 13th of November 2025
he Minister will update the Committee on the review of the National Drugs Strategy to inform the Committees report. A review of the National Drugs Strategy was published in July 2025 and included ten recommendations including improving the right to health for people who use drugs, an increase in community engagement and involvement with people who uses community services, ensuring they’re central to the policy – making and service design, and aligning service deliveries to regional areas and ensuring the allocation of resources are appropriate to local populations. The Joint Committee on Drugs Use has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad. A health led approach with enhanced addiction rehab and treatment services is a more humane and evidence based way of treating people who use drugs.
Read the gov.ie publication Here
12th November 2025
Drug-driving surging due to ‘really concerning’ rates of cocaine use
Drug-driving has surged in the Republic this year, with Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly saying cocaine was the substance of choice for most drivers caught, and he was now “really concerned” about it. If current trends continue to year end, as expected, the number of drug-driving detections on the roads of the Republic look set to increase by about 30 per cent this year compared to 2024. People with cocaine use disorder are likely to always be at risk of roadside testing positive for the drug and this highlights the need for readily accessible cocaine addiction treatment support.
Read the Irish Times article Here
11th November 2025
The Sugar Pathway That Links Alcohol Addiction and Liver Damage
Alcohol hijacks the body’s sugar metabolism, producing internal fructose that reinforces addiction and liver damage. Blocking this process may help treat both alcohol use disorder and liver disease. Scientists have discovered a surprising biological link between how the body processes sugar and how it responds to alcohol. The finding points to a possible new treatment strategy for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). This underscores the need to readily accessible alcohol addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Sci Tech Daily article Here
10th November 2025
New project aims to reduce addiction through prevention infrastructure development
Researchers at Wayne State University will work with Michigan agencies and education partners to improve access to school-based substance use prevention and treatment programs for adolescents who are at risk of substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUDs). The research will be funded by a two-year, $883,176 R61 exploratory grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Andria B. Eisman, associate professor of community health in Wayne State’s College of Education, will lead the study, “Reducing Addiction through Prevention Infrastructure Development (RAPID).” Prevention is an important component of any drug strategy as well as providing timely addiction rehab and treatment support.
Read the News Medical Life Sciences article Here
7th November 2025
Can exercise help rewire the brain against internet addiction?
A new study published in ‘Frontiers in Psychology’ reveals that footbike training can significantly improve neural inhibitory control in college students with internet addiction. Such improvement can potentially help students suppress their addictive behaviors and resist distractions. This adds a new dimension to addiction rehab and recovery options to sufferers.
Read the News Medical Life Sciences article Here
6th November 2025
Angels doctor testifies he ‘had no idea’ how addictive opiates he prescribed Eric Kay were
The Los Angeles Angels team physician acknowledged in testimony on Wednesday that he prescribed Eric Kay 600 opioid pills over a three-plus-year span, stating that he didn’t fully grasp how addictive the medication was at the time. Dr. Craig Milhouse, who has worked for the Angels for 31 years, prescribed Kay, the team’s former communications director, to take up to six Vicodin pills a day, as well as the opiate NORCO at different times spanning 2009 through 2013. Opioid addiction requires readily accessible addiction rehab and treatment options to help sufferers overcome their dependence.
Read the New York Times article Here
5th November 2025
Teen opioid addictions often untreated as youth overdose deaths rapidly rise in US – study
Fewer than one in three with opioid use disorder receive addiction rehab treatment, according to a study published in this month’s Health Affairs journal that looked at the disorder in minors from 2022 to 2023. In 2023, 557 teens dided of opioid overdose, nearly threefold as many as in 2018, while adult opioid deaths only went up by 65% during this time, according to the study. Drug overdoses are now among the leading cause of death among US teenagers.
Read The Guardian news article Here
4th November 2025
‘Ball junkie’: some dogs show signs of addiction, study finds
Whether it is a spaniel with an insatiable love for a ball or a flat-coat that cannot be without its squeaky bear, dogs can be very keen on their toys. Now researchers say some may even show signs of addiction. While humans can take a host of activities to excess, from work to shopping, only gambling and internet gaming disorders are classified as addictive disorders, a main feature of which is repeating acts that are initially rewarding, even though they can result in longer-term harm.
Read the Guardian article Here
3rd November 2025
Alcohol addiction in 73% West Cork treatment cases – report
Alcohol remains the leading cause of treatment for addiction in West Cork, according to the latest statistics from Coolmine therapeutic centres. Its report for the first nine months of the year shows almost three quarters – 73% – of those seeking help and support are presenting for alcohol addiction. In total 68 individuals, 43 men and 25 women, have sought treatment at the Ahiohill hub in West Cork from January to the end of September 2025. The average age group is 30-34 years of age, with almost one third of those presenting aged 50 or over. The number seeking addiction rehab and treatment support for cocaine addiction is lower than the national average at 12%.
Read the Southern Star article Here
31st October 2025
Trump cuts have decimated the federal addiction and mental health agency
The Trump administration has dismantled large portions of the federal agency focused on mental health and addiction treatment and rehab, reducing its staff by more than half and alarming local governments, nonprofits, and behavioral health providers that rely on the office for funding and expertise, according to a STAT examination. Since January, layoffs and funding cuts at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have ground much of the agency’s work to a halt.
Read the Stat 10 news article Here
30th October 2025
Minister Jim O’Callaghan announces allocation of over €4 million from proceeds of crime to 42 community projects across the country
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has today announced the allocation of €4.4 million through the Community Safety Fund to 42 community safety projects nationwide. The Community Safety Fund redirects proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Siochana back into communities. This year’s allocation is a 33% increase on the €3 million awarded in 2024. This is a welcome funding boost for these addiction rehab programmes.
Read the Gov.ie article Here
29th October 2025
Coolmine in Cork and Kerry has provided nearly 850 people with addiction treatment this year
Nearly 850 people have received addiction rehab treatment from Coolmine in Cork and Kerry so far this year, including 415 people seeking alcohol treatment. The statistics for the first nine months of the year were recently released by Coolmine Therapeutic Community. They indicate a continued predominance of alcohol-related treatment in the South-West, with 50% of all presentations linked to alcohol use, followed by 24% linked to cocaine use and 11% linked to cannabis use.
Read the Irish Independent article Here
28th October 2025
New addiction studies course in Laois launched at Arc Project celebration
A vital boost to supports for Laois people struggling with or recovering from addiction has been announced, with the news that Laois Partnership Company (LPC) is offering a training course in Community Addiction Studies. The new course, a level 5 module that will be delivered over 18 weeks at the LPC headquarters in Portlaoise, will equip learners with the knowledge and skills required to engage effectively with the issues and impacts of addiction in communities and knowledge of the models of addiction rehab treatment that can help sufferers.
Read the Laois Today article Here
27th October 2025
Doctors call for warnings on ‘proven link between alcohol and cancer’ to be displayed on alcoholic drinks
Health warnings on alcoholic drinks around the “proven link between alcohol and cancer” are needed, more than 20 health groups across Europe have said. The groups warned “alcohol is a known carcinogen and decades of robust science clearly link consumption to at least seven types of cancer, including breast cancer”. The newly-formed European Health Alliance on Alcohol said some 239,530 deaths are estimated as being caused by alcohol consumption annually in Europe. The vast majority of people who die from alcohol related illnesses will never have received addiction rehab treatment for their problem.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
24th October 2025
Why a tax-hike on e-cigarettes is prompting vapers to buy in bulk
Claire Brock asked Mark Murphy, Senior Policy Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation and Dr Garrett McGovern, Medical Director and Addiction Specialist at the Priority Medical Clinic their views on the pending tax increase on vaping liquids. It is Dr McGovern’s contention that increasing taxes will not reduce youth use and is likely to adversely effect smokers who are using e-cigarettes to quit a lifelong habit.
Listen to the RTE Drivetime interview Here
23rd October 2025
‘Secret ketamine addiction killed my daughter’
The mother of a young woman who spent months in excruciating pain before her death has issued an urgent warning about the dangers of ketamine. Beth Ashton, 25, weighed less than her four-year-old sister, had a perforated lung and her bladder had “completely collapsed” by the time she died last November. Natalie Tolan, from Skelmersdale in Lancashire, said she was “blindsided” by how quickly the Class B drug ravaged her daughter’s body and has now dedicated her life to spreading awareness. Ketamine abuse is on the rise and addiction rehab abd treatment services need to be upscaled to meet the demand for new presentations.
Read the BBC new article Here
22nd October 2025
Alcohol made up 50% of presentations at Cork & Kerry addiction treatment centre
Read the Echo Live article Here
21st October 2025
‘Explosion’ in use of crack cocaine among mothers in parts of south Dublin, experts say
Areas of Dublin have seen a steep rise in the use of crack cocaine, particularly among mothers and other women, according to research by the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce. “In recent years, we had an explosion of crack-cocaine use and it’s not decreased since,” Grace Hill, co-ordinator of the taskforce. “We’re seeing an increase across the board of cocaine use among women and mothers, in line with data nationally and around the EU. It’s been climbing for some time and it’s very concerning. Crack cocaine dependence needs a tailored addiction rehab and treatment approach.
Read the Sunday World article Here
20th October 2025
One in four inmates receiving methadone for opioid addiction at Mountjoy Prison
Almost one in four inmates at Mountjoy Prison is receiving methadone for opioid addiction, new figures have revealed. The proportion is highest among inmates in the women’s prison at the Mountjoy campus, where 40 per cent of prisoners are receiving methadone or a similar drug for addiction to opioids such as heroin. Over one in five inmates at the men’s prison is currently receiving methadone as part of Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT), according to data contained in tender documents published by the Irish Prison Service (IPS).
Read the Breaking News article Here
17th October 2025
Charity Spotlight: Innovative menopause service for women who are homeless or living with addiction
Reproductive health is recognised as a priority public health issue by the Scottish Government, including support for menopause and menstrual health. However, women living with addiction or experiencing rough sleeping and other forms of homelessness are missing out on support, according to a leading academic. The Salvation Army is working in partnership with Dr April Shaw, formerly of SACASR (Salvation Army Centre for Addictions Services Research) at the University of Stirling, and currently at the University of the West of Scotland, on an innovative programme to raise awareness of the menopause among women living with addiction or in recovery, the workers who support them and healthcare professionals, providing addiction rehab and treatment support.
Read the Scottish Housing News article Here
16th October 2025
Global drug addiction mortality rates double despite fewer new cases
Drug addiction is a looming public health problem, triggering a recent review on the worldwide situation using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. The paper appeared in Frontiers in Psychiatry and underscores the need for readily available access to addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the News Medical Life Sciences article Here
15th October 2025
Ketamine-related admissions doubled at Surrey addiction centre
A Surrey addiction rehab and treatment centre say they have seen numbers double for people being referred with Ketamine addictions since 2020. Primrose Lodge in Guildford, which is part of UKAT, has revealed ketamine admissions this year are already the highest on record. As well as this, they say they have seen people as young as 18 becoming addicted to ketamine. Johnny Bigachi, who is the manager at the centre, says that he has noticed a surge in patients arriving with ketamine as their primary addiction.
Read the Hello Rayo article Here
14th October 2025
Limerick woman who beat heroin addiction now helps others find hope
Childhood trauma led Stacey Quin to numb her pain with drugs when she was just 14 years old. By 18, Quin, from Southill, Limerick, was pregnant with her first child, addicted to heroin, and sleeping on the streets.She hit rock bottom and had ratcheted up a raft of petty theft convictions. “By the time I was 18, I was hooked on heroin, I was doing my leaving cert, and I was sick with aches and pain in my body,” Quin said. Thanks to the right addiction rehab and treatment option she is now in active recovery.
Read the Kildare Nationalist article Here
13th October 2025
Inside the alcohol industry’s global campaign to delay Ireland’s world-first health labels
In 2018 Ireland passed a law that should have put it at the forefront of global public health policy – cigarette-style cancer warnings on alcohol. The Public Health (Alcohol) Act would impose warning labels on every single alcoholic can and bottle. The message would simply read: “There is a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers.” After years of wrangling with Brussels, the plan finally received EU clearance in 2022 and was due to take effect in 2026. Ireland has a longstanding problem with alcohol and a strong public health policy which includes legislation as well as readily available alcohol addiction rehab and treatment facilities for people who develop a problematic pattern of drinking.
Read The Journal.ie article Here
10th October 2025
Former Olympian says he snorted cocaine off his London 2012 gold medal
Sir Bradley won the 2012 Tour de France race, becoming the first Brit to do so, and won gold for Great Britain at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games. But after retiring from cycling in 2016 following his Olympic success, Sir Bradley fell into a cocaine-fuelled drug addiction. Speaking to The Times ahead of the release of his upcoming autobiography The Chain, Sir Bradley opened up about a range of topics, including his addiction and recovery, and sexual abuse he’d experienced as a child. With the right addiction rehab support and treatment Wiggins found a way out of his addiction and is now in active recovery.
Read the One News article Here
9th October 2025
MSPs vote against legal right to addiction treatment
A bill that would have given people with drug and alcohol addictions the legal right to rehab addiction treatment has been rejected by the Scottish Parliament. Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who tabled the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill, said the legislation would have saved lives. However, opponents said the proposals risked overburdening already stretched services. Parliament voted by 63 votes to 52 to reject the bill.
Read the BBC News article Here
8th October 2025
Scientists find brain circuit that traps alcohol users in the vicious cycle of addiction
Addiction often isn’t about chasing pleasure—it’s about escaping pain. Researchers at Scripps Research have discovered that a tiny brain region called the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) becomes hyperactive when animals learn that alcohol eases the agony of withdrawal. This circuit helps explain why people relapse: their brains learn that alcohol brings relief from stress and anxiety. Relapse prevention programmes can help people by dealing with triggers for relapse.
Read the Science Daily News article Here
7th October 2025
‘Addiction is messy, chaotic and takes your soul’
A former drug addict, whose addiction had a “traumatic” effect on his family, has said he wants to help others going through the same thing. Andrew Deane-Williams, 47, from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, battled with alcohol and drug addiction from his early teens, but said it was the impact on his “broken family” later in life that really struck him. Now he is launching a new charity, called Broken Chains UK, to support children and young people whose parents are dealing with drug addiction. Addiction rehab and treatment are essential components of an effective recovery programme.
Read the BBC News article Here
6th October 2025
‘I was a shopping addict – it needs to be taken more seriously’
Surrounded by racks of shirts, dresses and jumpers, Lucy tells me that she could spend up to 14 hours a day searching out new clothes as an escape from reality. The 37-year-old’s life may sound like a dream, but Lucy is clear that excessive shopping damaged her life. At one point, Lucy found herself not paying her bills so she could continue to buy clothes. “It’s like a physical and an emotional drowning. I have felt like I’m just under a weight of clothes constantly,” she says. Oniomania or compulsive buying disorder is an addiction that requires tailored addiction rehab and treatment interventions.
Read the BBC News article Here
3rd October 2025
Will the Benzodiazepine Wars Ever End?
First released in the early 1960s, benzodiazepines quickly became the most widely prescribed medications in the world.1 By the 1970s, they had become the most controversial as well. Newspaper headlines such as, “A New Kind of Drug Abuse Epidemic,” appeared, followed by the international best-selling tale of benzodiazepine addiction, I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can. Benzodiazepine addiction requires readily accessible addiction and rehab treatment services.
Read the Psychiatric Times article Here
2nd October 2025
Smart patch reduces cravings for alcohol and drugs
A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham and Harvard shows that a non-drug, wearable device can help people with substance use disorders manage stress, reduce cravings, and lower their risk of relapse in real time. The results are published in JAMA Psychiatry. This is a very exciting development in the management of alcohol dependence.
Read the Harvard Gazette article Here
1st October 2025
Time for government to stop turning a blind eye to alcohol’s role in domestic violence
With a new national strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) due next year, and with the Programme for Government stating that alcohol licensing laws are set to be updated – both of which fall within the remit of Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan – Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, along with representatives from the SAOL Project and MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence), are going to Leinster House tomorrow (Thursday, 2 October, 11am-12) to brief TDs, Senators, and political staff on the importance of recognising the role of alcohol in DSGBV. A strong alcohol policy at national level allied to ready access to alcohol addiction rehab and treatment services are essential tools in combatting the perils of alcohol dependence.
Read the alcohol Ireland article Here
30th September 2025
As sports betting explodes, should states set more limits to stop gambling addiction?
It’s hard to promote moderation and financial discipline from the bowels of a casino. But that’s what Massachusetts state workers try to do every day, amid the clanging bells and flashing lights of the slot machines. At the MGM Springfield in western Massachusetts, these workers, wearing green polos, stand outside their small office, right off the casino floor. Sensible gambling policy with restrictions and gambling addiction rehab and treatment services provide the best way to help people who may run into trouble.
Read the article www.npr.org Here
29th September 2025
Laws on advertising ‘zero-alcohol’ drinks ‘long overdue’
The introduction to the Dáil this week of a Bill designed to protect children from the harmful marketing practices of the alcohol industry is welcome but long overdue, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has said. The Public Health (Alcohol) (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to amend the 2018 Act by restricting how the industry promotes ‘zero-alcohol’ versions of their products. The proposed legislation would prohibit these drinks from being advertised with trade descriptions, logos, emblems or other images already used in alcohol drinks, to prevent the indirect promotion of that alcohol product. Strong national alcohol policy allied to accessible addiction rehab and treatment services for people with alcohol problems are important components of a good overall alcohol strategy.
Read the IMT.ie article Here
26th September 2025
‘When the fun stops, stop.’ Addiction experts consider the rise of gambling in the UK a test case
If you walk around Blackpool, England — a one-time seaside resort on the west coast of England — you see carnival rides, a flashy boardwalk and a handful of neon-marketed casinos and arcades. Some call it the Las Vegas of Britain on the basis of betting opportunities per square mile. NEPM’s Karen Brown spent a weekend in Blackpool, hoping it might serve as a trial-by-fire to learning about gambling in Britain. And within 15 minutes, she said she managed to lose her entire 20-pound budget (about $27) on roulette machines at the Coral Island Casino. Gambling addiction is on the rise in the UK and it requires appropriate legislation and gambling addiction treatment and rehab services to reduce the negative impact on people and their families.
Read the world.org article Here
25th September 2025
Minister Donohoe signs commencement order for the E-liquid Products Tax
The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, has signed the commencement order to operationalise the E-liquid Products Tax (EPT), as legislated for in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Finance Act 2024. The new excise duty will apply from 1 November 2025. The introduction of EPT underlines Ireland’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding public health and tackling the increasing consumption of vapes and related products, particularly among young people. It could be argued that an age restriction with proper penalties for vendors who break the law should be enough. This legislation is likely negatively impact those who are trying to switch from smoking to e-cigarettes the most.
Read the E-Liquid Products article Here
24th September 2025
What’s delaying the rollout of alcohol health labelling on bottles & cans?
Analysis: Health labelling is one of a suite of measures aiming to reduce alcohol consumption levels and associated harms in Ireland. The recent decision to delay the introduction of health labelling of alcohol products in Ireland is a timely reminder that policy enactment does not necessarily guarantee the speedy implementation of policy measures. Estimates indicate that an average of four deaths every day in Ireland are alcohol related and about 1,000 alcohol-related cancers are diagnosed each year.
Read the RTE Brainstorm article Here
23rd September 2025
Four Four drug education series: ketamine
22nd September 2025
High-Intensity Exercise May Protect Against Cocaine Addiction
A new study shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is more effective than moderate exercise at protecting adolescent lab animals from cocaine use. Animals exposed to HIIT developed a preference for non-drug environments and an aversion to cocaine, linked to increases in ΔFosB, a molecular switch involved in addiction. This is an exciting development in cocaine addiction rehab and treatment support.
Read the Neurosciencenews.com article Here
19th September 2025
Alcohol use rising among young people
Alcohol consumption among 15-24 year olds is rising, with three-in-four people in this group using the drug last year, new figures show. A report from Alcohol Action Ireland found that, while drinking among young people declined from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s, since 2015 that downward trend has reversed with consumption by 15- to 24-year-olds increasing from 66 per cent in 2018 to 75 per cent in 2024. This is a worrying trend and addiction rehab and treatment services must be available to meet this need.
Read the IMT.ie article Here
18th September 2025
Breaking New Ground in Alcohol Use Disorder Research: UT Health Science Center Scientist Awarded Nearly $400K Grant
For many families, Alcohol Use Disorder is more than a diagnosis – it is a daily struggle marked by loss, relapse, and unanswered questions. Despite decades of research, the biology of why some people become tolerant and dependent on alcohol, and how to stop it, remains one of medicine’s most pressing mysteries. A new intervention provides another potential option in alcohol addiction and rehab that could help many sufferers.
Read the uthsc.edu article Here
17th September 2025
Quitting smoking linked to better recovery from drug and alcohol addiction
Adults who smoke cigarettes and are addicted to alcohol or other drugs were more likely to achieve sustained remission of their substance use disorder symptoms if they also quit smoking, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Based on their analysis of data from a large U.S. study of smoking and health, researchers believe the results clearly show the benefit of pairing smoking cessation with addiction recovery efforts. This could offer great potential to people who smoke who suffer from other addictions as part of their addiction rehab and treatment journey.
Read the News Medical Life Sciences article Here
16th September 2025
Stress Relief, Not Pleasure, Drives Alcohol Relapse
What compels someone to keep engaging in alcohol use, even if it damages their health, relationships and wellbeing? A new study from Scripps Research offers an important clue: a small midline brain region plays a key role in how animals learn to continue drinking to avoid the stress and misery of withdrawal. This is is an important study to help understand the triggers that can result in symptoms of alcohol dependence and be helpful in alcohol rehab and treatment approaches.
Read the technologynetworks.com article Here
15th September 2025
Danish Minister warns against children gambling in schools
Denmark’s Minister of Taxation, Rasmus Stoklund, has laid bare the extent of problem gambling in the country. The Ministry warned approximately 500,000 Danes “have some degree of gambling problems”, and said that gambling has become “an integral part of everyday life for many people” – including children who gamble during school hours. As a result, Stoklund has called on the parties in the Danish Parliament to enter negotiations over the country’s regulatory framework. Gambling addiction is a pervasive problem that requires robust legislation as well as gambling addiction rehab and treatment services, which are readily available.
Read the iGamingexpert.com article Here
12th September 2025
Cork City to become ‘safer’ site under new alcohol strategy for Cork and Kerry
The most frequent alcohol-related hospitalisations in Cork and Kerry are due to “mental and behavioural disorders” and liver disease, according to an alcohol strategy for the region. Cork is among the counties with the greatest number of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) hospitalisations in the country, with the most recent figures recording 511 cases in 2022. Problematic alcohol use is prevalent in Ireland and there are public health strategies which can reduce this toll, including minimum unit pricing, stricter laws around alcohol advertising as well as ready access to addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
11th September 2025
Professor Eamon Keenan, HSE’s National Clinical Lead on Addiction Services talks about vaping cannabinoids
Professor Eamon Keenan talked to Claire Byrne about vaping synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids are a reflection of the changing illicit market and the availability of a wide variety of synthetic cannabinoids with uncertain effects.
Listen to the Morning Ireland interview Here
10th September 2025
Minister Butler publishes findings of public consultation on Ireland’s new suicide reduction plan
Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler T.D. has published the findings of a public consultation to inform Ireland’s next suicide reduction strategy, on World Suicide Prevention Day 2025. This year’s theme calls on people, communities, organisations and government to foster open, honest conversations about suicide. The public consultation, which ran from March to April 2025, received 1,895 responses from individuals and organisations across all 26 counties of Ireland. The link between addiction and suicide risk is well established and this underscores the need for dual diagnosis services which provide mental health services and addiction rehab and treatment .
Read the Gov.ie article Here
9th September 2025
Pancreatic Cancer: Cigarette Smoke May Fuel Tumor Growth and Spread
A new study has shed light on how cigarette smoking can worsen pancreatic cancer. It has long been understood that there was a link between smoking and pancreatic cancer, but the exact mechanism was unclear. Now, a group of scientists has discovered that certain chemicals in cigarette smoke actually reprogram the immune system in a way that helps tumors grow and spread. This could point to new treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer, which currently has very few options. Smoking is a well established risk factor for pancreatic cancer development and highlights the importance of smoking prevention programmes in young people as well as increasing access to all forms of smoking cessation treatment as well as safer nicotine products.
Read the Healthline.com article Here
8th September 2025
Fear ‘cocaine kits’ sold in Dublin shops will ‘encourage’ young to try drugs
A former Garda has urged the Government to quickly ban shops from selling so-called ‘cocaine kits’ in order to prevent them “encouraging” young people to take drugs. The kits are being legally sold in Dublin and contain a mirror, razor blade, snorting tube, vial and metal spoon – all of which are designed to make the highly addictive drug easier to consume. An alternative view might be that like statutory harm reduction services that provide sterile drug using paraphernalia to cocaine and heroin users, this services may make cocaine use safer.
Read the Newstalk article Here
5th September 2025
Semaglutide may one day be used to treat cocaine addiction
A drug already prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity may one day be used to treat cocaine addiction. In animal studies, researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, found that semaglutide reduced both cocaine use and relapse. One of the world’s most prescribed drugs for type 2 diabetes and obesity, semaglutide also reduced rats’ motivation to keep taking cocaine. Scientists believe the drug may blunt cocaine’s ability to raise dopamine levels in the brain, lowering the sense of reward. Exactly how semaglutide works in the brain is still not fully understood. This is very good news and for an addiction where pharmacological agents, as part of an addiction rehab and treatment programme, are sadly lacking.
Read the News Medical Life Sciences article Here
4th September 2025
The Hidden Signs of Gambling Addiction
In this Health Minute report, reporter Mandy Gaither explores gambling addiction with experts from the American Gaming Association and National Council on Problem Gambling. Learn to identify critical warning signs including constantly thinking about betting, needing to wager larger amounts, and feeling restless when trying to stop. The report reveals how problem gambling can escalate from a social activity to severe consequences including bankruptcy, legal troubles, job loss, family breakdown, and even suicidal thoughts. This pervasive addiction needs addiction rehab and treatment interventions.
Read the nbcpalmsprings.com article Here
3rd September 2025
Nova Scotia advocate sounds alarm about young people and online gambling addiction
A problem gambling support advocate is sounding the alarm about a surge in addiction stemming from online gambling. Carey Murphy, who founded the Compulsive and Problem Gamblers Society, says increased access to digital gambling platforms is having an impact on young people. And Murphy knows full well the effects of gambling addiction. “The casino opened and it just blew my world apart,” he said. Murphy is open about how he overcame gambling addiction, with addiction rehab and treatment, years ago and started his non-profit group to help others.
Read the Global News.ca article Here
2nd September 2025
Lulu Admits Secret Battle With Alcoholism
Lulu has admitted that she had become a “secret drinker” later in life, having shared her recent battle with alcohol addiction.The Scottish singer said in an interview that she had recently becoming increasing dependant on drinking wine following some huge life changing moments, including hitting the menopause, as well as losing her parents and her children leaving home. Lulu also went on to describe alcohol as a “family illness” and said “the gene is there”, with her father being an alcoholic. However, she said that nobody noticed the increased role wine had in her life. She got the help she needed through an addiction rehab and treatment programme, an important step in overcoming problematic alcohol use.
Read the Classic Hits article Here
1st September 2025
New Garda Commissioner calls out eco-conscious people who use cocaine despite environmental impact
Commissioner has criticised people who drive “green eco-cars” but also use cocaine as the production of the drug “destroys vast tracts of the Amazon”. In July, Justin Kelly was appointed as Garda Commissioner, taking over the role from Drew Harris. Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Kelly said he is “surprised” at the “complete disconnect” between cocaine users and the “damage that’s doing”. It could be argued that Mr Kelly, who believes the Government should resist any attempt to decriminalise drugs is himself disconnect between the criminalisation of people who use drugs and the harm that causes.
Read the Journal.ie article Here
29th August 2025
Ireland’s top organised crime investigator links Irish criminals to Iranian-backed drugs gangs
Ireland’s most senior organised crime investigator has said the main driving force behind large-scale cocaine smuggling around our shores are Irish criminals but that in the background they have aligned with Iranian-backed organised crime gangs. Speaking to The Journal recently, Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland – who leads the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) – said Ireland’s own criminal networks are pitching for business with cartels in South America and in the Middle East. Unfortunately this is the consequences of prohibition. A dangerous drug market bot in terms of the purity of drugs as well as the dangers of the market itself. Sensible drug policies would explore decriminalising and regulating drugs as well as providing addiction rehab and treatment support for problematic users.
Read the Journal.ie article Here
28th August 2025
Minister for Health in favour of nicotine pouch ban for children
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said she would “absolutely” be in favour of banning nicotine pouches for under-18s. The pouches, which are the size of a stick of chewing gum and contain nicotine powder of varying doses, are consumed by being placed between the lip and the gum, which releases the nicotine”. This ban is likely to come at the expense of smokers who are trying to quit smoking.
Read the RTE.ie news article Here
27th August 2025
HSE returns to Electric Picnic to identify current drug trends
The HSE Safer Nightlife Harm Reduction Programme returns to Electric Picnic 2025 this weekend. The service includes free and confidential ‘back of house’ drug checking to identify current drug trends and help reduce harms for people who use. Festivalgoers can visit either of the two drugs.ie tents (located in the Electric Arena and Hendrix Campsite) or medical spaces where they can surrender drugs for analysis. These are non-monitored safe spaces where people can discuss a range of issues and submit substances to the HSE for analysis. Initially piloted at Electric Picnic, the programme is now in its fourth year at the festival. It is the first of its kind in Ireland, combining harm reduction advice with drug-checking results from samples submitted by festival goers.
Read the HSE press release Here
26th August 2025
Record low number of Americans report drinking alcohol, and new teetotalers are explaining why
More Americans than ever are choosing not to drink alcohol, according to a new Gallup Poll. Only 54% of respondents to Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits survey conducted last month say they consume alcohol, which is the lowest on record in nearly 90 years. “This coincides with a growing belief among Americans that moderate alcohol consumption is bad for one’s health, now the majority view for the first time,” Gallup said in a press release. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism cites nine body systems impacted by alcohol use. People with alcohol problems require timely interventions in the form of alcohol rehab and treatment.
Read the Fox News article Here
25th August 2025
Mum speaks out about ‘shame’ of husband’s addiction
A mother has urged others affected by addiction in their families not to “suffer in silence”. Jo – not her real name – sought addiction rehab and treatment help from Wiltshire-based charity Families Out Loud when her husband’s alcoholism pushed her to the brink of a nervous breakdown.She said she felt blamed for his addiction and that at one point he needed intensive care, but that the charity gave her counselling and practical support.Jo said: “There’s always hope. Even when someone is in the worst possible place.”
Read the BBC News article Here
22nd August 2025
Fruit flies can help us understand cocaine addiction
For the first time, scientists have created genetically modified fruit flies that can develop an addiction to cocaine. Given the option, these flies will self-administer the drug. This new model may offer a faster way to develop therapies aimed at preventing and treating cocaine use disorder, a serious condition affecting about 1.5 million people in the United States. Novel addiction treatment and rehab options for cocaine are most welcome.
Read the Earth.com news article Here
21st August 2025
Cocaine business: corrupt ship crew members earn €200k to drop drugs off Irish coast, gardaí say
on legitimate cargo ships are being paid up to €200,000 to drop cocaine shipments in the waters off Ireland, the garda who leads the investigations into organised crime has said. The figure gives an indication of the huge amounts of money involved in the lucrative drug smuggling market, even for people at the bottom rungs of the ladder.
Read the Journal.ie article Here
20th August 2025
Call for regulation of ‘laughing gas’ due to harm posed to reproductive health
The Government has been urged to take action and regulate the sale of nitrous oxide following its classification by the EU as toxic for human reproduction and the nervous system. Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward, who has been vocal on the issue, has drafted legislation to ban the sale of nitrous oxide to the public and is appealing to the government to cooperate with him and pass the bill. It is essential that people who run in trouble have access to rehab and addiction support programmes.
Read the Journal.ie article Here
19th August 2025
Alcohol addiction drives 77% of West Cork referrals – Coolmine
Alcohol abuse accounted for 77% of all presentations to the addiction treatment centre in Ahiohill – a rate which is 24% higher than the average for other Cork centres. Cocaine follows at 13% with cannabis (6%) the third most prevalent ahead of benzodiazepines (4%). There were no presentations to the West Cork centre seeking treatment for heroin addiction. The Ahiohill centre worked with 55 individuals so far in 2025 – 64% of those male and the remaining 36% female. It reported a 45% retention rate. Alcohol addiction rehab and treatment are essential supports for people with drinking problems.
Read the Southern Star article Here
18th August 2025
Man addicted to gambling at 16-years-old explains gateway that spiralled into addiction
A man who became addicted to gambling after winning big on a bet as a teenager has explained the gateway which triggered his addiction. At just 16 years old, Lewis would place a 50p bet and received a return of a whopping £64,000. The money would transform his life, but not in a good way, as it triggered the start of a gambling addiction. Lewis would lose £40,000 in his attempts to build on the initial windfall, followed by a further £80,000 over the following 11 years as his addiction spiralled further. This story underscores the importance of early intervention for gambling addiction with rehab and treatment services.
Read the LAD Bible article Here
15th August 2025
Booze up: is gen Z’s ‘sensible’ relationship with alcohol moving towards hedonism?
Gen Z have long been hailed as “generation sensible” – dozens of articles have charted how they drink less alcohol, exercise more and eat a more healthy diet. But could that be about to change? Recent data has shown the proportion of gen Z – those born roughly between 1997 and 2012 – who are of legal drinking age and have consumed alcohol in the past six months has increased by 7% between 2024 and 2025. Problematic alcohol use requires tailored addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Guardian article Here
14th August 2025
‘Gambling addiction cost my sick mum thousands’
The daughter of a woman who became addicted to slot machines and lost thousands while undergoing cancer treatment is calling on the government to introduce tougher controls. Jackie Olden said her late mother Wendy Hughes got hooked after working at a bookmakers where she was asked to play the machines on a free demonstration mode to help drum up customer interest. She said it prompted Ms Hughes, who died from cancer in 2024 at the age of 64, to begin playing slots in her own time before spiralling into debt. Gambling addiction is pervasive and sufferers need ready access to addiction rehab and treatment support.
Read the BBC News article Here
13th August 2025
Public Health Scotland. Public health alert for action: Nitazene-type drugs in Scotland
Nitazenes are a group of synthetic (lab-made) opioids that are now widely detected in all parts of Scotland. Due to their high potency and increasing presence in the drug supply, nitazenes pose a substantial risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death. Nitazenes have been seized in both Scottish communities and custodial settings. They are most commonly detected in drugs sold as: heroin, benzodiazepines, oxycodone. They are often found alongside other drugs, and the risk of harm associated with nitazenes should be addressed in the context of polysubstance use (mixing drugs). This underscores the necessity of readily available opioid rehab and treatment support in the form of opioid substitution treatment, nalaoxone availability and other psychosocial supports.
Read the Public Health Scotland publication Here
12th August 2025
Minister Butler convenes new Cross Government Group to Coordinate Mental Health Policy
A major step toward integrated mental health policy has been taken as Minister for Mental Health and Government Chief Whip, Mary Butler convened the inaugural meeting of a newly formed ‘Interdepartmental Steering Group for Mental Health’. The meeting brought together representatives from 14 government departments, along with the HSE, Mental Health Commission and the OPW. The session was chaired by Siobhán McArdle, Assistant Secretary for Social Care, Mental Health, and Unscheduled Care at the Department of Health. This is a welcome development although dual diagnosis services (addiction rehab and treatment coupled with mental health) are still lacking.
Read the Gov,ie Press release Here
11th August 2025
Terms of Reference – Steering Group established to provide oversight and guidance to the development of the new national drugs strategy
The Steering Group will be established for a period of six months to provide expert opinion and oversee the drafting of the new National Drugs Strategy. The Steering Group will provide a forum in which key stakeholder representatives from government, civil society and persons with lived experience can collaborate to prepare and recommend the vision of a whole of society approach to prevent and mitigate illicit drug use and its impact on individuals, their families and communities. This approach also includes greater addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Gov.ie press release Here
8th August 2025
Will the Benzodiazepine Wars Ever End?
The controversies swirling around benzodiazepines continue to this day. Some doctors and researchers have labeled benzodiazepines as the “new opioids,” and others speak of wide misuse among prescribers causing an “iatrogenic epidemic.” Scientific publications call out a “benzodiazepine scandal,” describe them as an “overused drug class”5 and wonder, “will we every learn? It is important that people who do develop problems with benzodiazepines are offered help in the form of benzodiazepine rehab tapering programmes.
Read the Psychiatric Times article Here
7th August 2025
Laws and regulations addressing the acceptability, availability and affordability of alcoholic beverages
The WHO Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030 aims to accelerate the implementation of high-impact interventions for alcohol consumption and related harm. Such interventions are often implemented through laws and regulations. This publication seeks to support countries in designing legislation and regulations to effectively implement policies that reduce population-level alcohol consumption and related harm, support compliance monitoring and enable enforcement. These policies together with ready access to alcohol addiction rehab and treatment programmes are essential components of an effective alcohol strategy.
Read the WHO press release Here
6th August 2025
Demographic for cocaine addiction is changing- says Limerick addiction counsellor
Ciaran Carey, an addiction counsellor based in Eastway Business Park says cocaine addiction is becoming all too casual. A Limerick addiction counsellor says there’s been a worrying shift in demographics, looking at cocaine addiction in Ireland. A new report from the Rutland Centre shows that women are making up one of the fastest-growing groups seeking addiction rehab help for cocaine addiction. While men still represent the majority of those treated, one-third of all cocaine related cases now involve women.
Read the Live95 article Here
5th August 2025
Government workers in Manila need protection from online gambling addiction – senator
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Friday raised concern over the growing accessibility of online gambling platforms, warning that government workers are at risk of falling into digital addiction without clear institutional safeguards. .Villanueva called on the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to update its policies to protect civil servants from the lure of online gambling, stressing that the shift from physical to digital betting requires responsive measures. Gambling is a pervasive addiction that requires tailored addiction rehab and treatment options.
Read the Philippines News Agency article Here
4th August 2025
Minister Murnane O’Connor announces investment in alcohol treatment services in response to growing demand
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing, and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, has announced a significant investment in alcohol treatment services. The Department of Health has committed €1 million in 2025, rising to €1.8 million in 2026, to expand and enhance alcohol treatment services across all six Health Service Executive (HSE) health regions for the first time. Ready access t0 alcohol addiction and rehab and treatment services is essential.
Read the gov.ie article Here
1st August 2025
HRB treatment figures underscore urgent need to support alcohol harm’s invisible victims, children
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, notes with concern the figures contained in the Health Research Board’s (HRB) alcohol treatment report for 2024, published today 31 July 2025. While the headline figures around numbers accessing alcohol treatment are similar to the 2023 report, raising questions as to why has there been so little improvement in alcohol treatment numbers despite the huge chasm between what’s required and what’s currently in place. Alcohol addiction rehab and treatment services need to meet this demand.
Read the HRB.ie article Here
31st July 2025
Minister Murnane O’Connor attends inaugural steering group meeting to oversee the development of the new National Drugs Strategy
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, has today attended the inaugural meeting of the steering group established to oversee the development of the successor National Drugs Strategy (NDS). The group has been convened for a limited time period (until December 2025) and has been tasked with overseeing the drafting of a successor national drugs strategy, as well as a two-year action plan to support its delivery. Addiction rehab and treatment investment is an essential component of an evidence based drug policy.
Read the www.gove.ie press release here
30th July 2025
Department of Health. [Department of Health] Ministers for Health announce that HHC is now classified as an illegal drug
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor and the Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler have announced that the drug Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) has been categorised as a Schedule 1 controlled drug Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. This means that the import, export, production, possession, sale, and supply of products containing HHC is now illegal. Whilst banning this substance would appear to be the right move the allure of HHC is reflective of cannabis prohibition.
Read the www.gov.ie article Here
29th July 2025
Diversion scheme for those caught in possession of drugs to be in place by November
The long-awaited diversion scheme for people caught in possession of drugs for personal use is expected to begin before November, the Irish Examiner understands. The health diversion scheme, announced as Government policy almost six years ago, will operate on an “administrative” basis by gardaí under rules agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions. People who are caught in possession of illicit drugs will be referred to a health committee and if they need further support they will be referred for drug addiction and rehab treatment.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
28th July 2025
Time to face the reality of synthetic drug use among young people
The Government must stop sleepwalking through youth mental health crisis induced by the use of certain drugs. HHC is one of those drugs. It is a synthetic cannabis product, with established links to psychosis and serious mental health damage, and yet it is still being sold legally and openly in this country. Recently, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland issued a stark warning about Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) — that is available without restriction in vape or gummy form. They rightly said it “beggars belief” that such a drug is unregulated. I agree.
For people who develop problems with drug use there should be readily available addiction rehab and treatment support services.
Read the Journal.ie article Here
25th July 2025
Cork man carried out shoplifting spree around city supermarkets to pay for his crack cocaine addiction
A 45-year-old man with a catalogue of shoplifting convictions carried out “to pay for his heroin and crack cocaine addiction” was jailed on Thursday for 11 months for his latest spree of stealing from shops in Cork City. On Thursday, he was given the total sentence of 11 months for what Judge Mary Dorgan described as a recent batch of offences and an earlier batch of offences between February and November 2024. This case highlights the impact of drug addiction and the link with acquisitive crime to finance problematic use. It also underscores the importance of early intervention and addiction rehab and treatment programmes.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
24th July 2025
Consequences of alcohol labelling delay will be felt by ordinary Irish people every day
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, is disappointed with the news that the government has taken a decision to delay the introduction of alcohol health information labelling, which had been scheduled for May next year, until 2028. Alcohol labelling is a key aspect of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act (2018) (PHAA), which aims to reduce population-level alcohol consumption and to minimise the amount of alcohol marketing children and young people are exposed to. This policy allied to good quality addiction rehab and treatment facilities will reduce alcohol related harm.
Read the AlcholIreland.ie article Here
23rd July 2025
A new vision is needed for Ireland’s biggest drug problem
Alcohol Action Ireland welcomes the publication of the independent evaluation of the National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, 2017-2025. Data included in the report shows that alcohol remains Ireland’s largest drug problem by far. 73% of the population currently consume alcohol compared with 7.3% using any illegal drugs. While there has been some reduction in the level of alcohol use by children, the report also points to high levels of hazardous and binge drinking by international standards particularly among men. Sensible, proportionate alcohol policies alongside readily available access to alcohol addiction rehab and treatment support services are essential components of an overall alcohol harm reduction policy.
Read the AlcoholIreland.ie press release Here
22nd July 2025
Prof Colin O’Gara on the Rise of Cocaine Use in Ireland
Prof. Colin O’Gara, Consultant Addiction psychiatrist and Head of Addiction Services at St John of Gods Hospital was invited to talk to Sean Moncrieff about the rise in cocaine use in Ireland and the associated problems with addiction and health related problems, notably increased risks of depression, anxiety, psychosis as well heart problem such as heart attacks and heart rhythm issues and stroke. Prof. O’Gara also discusses the presentations he seeing in his addiction rehab and treatment clinics.
Listen to Prof. O’Gara’s interview on Newstalk’s Moncrieff Show Here
21st July 2025
Available, affordable, potent: Ireland is being hit by ‘a perfect storm’ of cocaine
Ireland is in the midst of a “perfect storm” of cocaine, with increased availability, higher purity, and greater affordability, according to new research. The country’s leading drug experts said a range of indicators consistently point to a worsening problem and warn that there is potential for even “further increases” in cocaine use and harms. This underscores the need for greater resources for drug addiction rehab and support services.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
18th July 2025
Do we need to decriminalise drugs?
Dr McGovern, Medical Director and founder of the Priority Medical Clinic, was invited to talk on Newstalk’s Hard Shoulder today to discuss the comments by Minister of Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD, regarding his view that illicit drugs should not be decriminalised, which was a recommendation being considered following the Citizens Assembly on Drugs in 2023. Prof. Patricia Casey was also a guest on the show and she agreed with Minister O’Callaghan. The Citizens Assembly advised a health led approach to drug use and advocated for more resources being invested in addiction rehab and treatment services.
Listen to Dr McGovern’s interview on Newstalk’s Hard Shoulder Here
17th July 2025
Cocaine related deaths surge by 1,800% since 2000
Dr McGovern, Medical Director and founder of the Priority Medical Clinic, was invited to talk on Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show yesterday to discuss the rise in problematic cocaine use. “I think the one that stuck out is the 62 fold increase in people presenting for treatment,” he said. “This is a very, very big problem and I don’t think we have enough treatment to go around really, to be quite honest with you. “We are seeing more and more of it, certainly on the ground, and that’s the experience of my colleagues.” To meet the need for this problem more cocaine addiction treatment and rehab services are needed.
Listen to Dr McGovern’s interview on Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show Here
16th July 2025
Delay on health labelling on alcohol comes amid uncertain trading environment
The expected deferral of health labelling on alcohol products is a signal of just how nervous the Government is about the present trading and economic environment. At a time when businesses and exporters are facing unprecedented uncertainty about trading conditions, Ministers were reluctant to add another cost for something many say is important, but fewer believe is urgent. Health labelling along with minimum unit pricing, curtailed alcohol advertising and greater access to alcohol addiction treatment and rehab services are important components of reducing alcohol related harm.
Read the Irish Times article Here
15th July 2025
10% increase in number of women seeking drug, alcohol treatment
There was a 10% increase in the number of women seeking treatment and rehab support for drug and alcohol addiction in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2024. The figure is from Coolmine Therapeutic Communities (CTC) in Dublin, which treated 1,394 people in the year to April. Alcohol remains the main substance that people seek treatment for, with cocaine following close behind. The drug surpasses alcohol in a number of regions, including Dublin.
Read the RTE.ie article Here
14th July 2025
Behind the scenes: Ships delivering drugs to Ireland are making drop-offs in other countries first
Cargo ships delivering large amounts of cocaine and other drugs to Ireland are suspected of making deliveries off the coast of Spain and Africa before coming to Irish shores, The Journal has learned. The ships, which are colloquially called motherships, meet smaller vessels off the coast and transfer the drugs in a process known as “coopering”. Sources have said that there is growing evidence that the drug ship, the MV Matthew, the site of Ireland’s biggest ever drug seizure, may have made a drop-off at the Canary Islands before moving on towards Ireland in September 2023. Unfortunately, prohibitionist drug policies do not reduce the amount of psychoactive drugs finding their way on to the streets, and people with addiction related issues are not well served being treated through a criminal justice rather than a health led avenue. Decriminalisation is being explored in light of the findings of the Citizens Assembly on Drugs, which also advocated for greater access to drug addiction treatment and rehab.
Read the Journal.ie article Here
11th July 2025
Benzodiazepine Addiction rehab treatment and support
Benzodiazepines are a large group of pharmaceutical drugs, with twelve million prescriptions issued per year; allowing for an increase in Benzo addiction within the UK, stemming from misusing prescription drugs such as Valium, Xanax, Tranax and Bromazepam. If you are dealing with benzodiazepine addiction, you should know you are not alone. The addictive nature of benzodiazepine drugs is constantly catching people from all walks of life off guard and inducing a full-blown addiction before too long, making it essential never to underestimate the dangers posed by pharmaceutical drugs. Benzodiazepine addiction rehab and treatment can help people mange their addiction and taper their dose in a safe way.
Read the ukat.co.uk article Here
10th July 2025
Stigma around addiction still very real, though data suggests a shift in attitudes
81% of Irish people say the drugs problem is out of control in this country, but are more educated and aware of the causes and solutions to tackling addiction than 25 years ago, according to new research published by Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI), the homelessness and addiction charity. Addiction is often misunderstood and sometimes viewed as a moral failing rather than a problem that becomes unmanageable. Addiction rehab and treatment services offer people the support and compassion they need to help them get better.
Read the MQI.ie article Here
9th July 2025
Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland Gambling Regulator publishes licensing application guidance
As we prepare for the commencement of licensing in the coming months the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has published Licensing Application Guidance to assist operators and future licensees familiarise themselves with the licensing process and the various steps to successfully submit their licence application. Under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, providers of gambling activities operating in Ireland or providing gambling products / gambling related services to consumers in Ireland will require a gambling licence granted by the GRAI. The initial focus is on opening for certain Business-to-Consumer licence applications. Gambling addiction is a desolate dependency which requires tailored addiction rehab and treatment support services.
Read the GRA.ie Guidance Here
8th July 2025
HSE aims to improve public knowledge that alcohol is a carcinogen that causes at least 7 types of cancer
New HSE research on alcohol shows that only 4 in 10 people are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer. Each year in Ireland there are approximately 1,000 alcohol related cancer cases. The World Health Organisation estimates that 40% of cancers are preventable through making behaviour changes. One of these is limiting alcohol intake as even small amounts can increase the risk of cancer. The HSE is promoting information and resources to the public to improve knowledge of the health impacts of alcohol, including cancer risk. The risk of cancer is particularly high for those drinking in a dependent was, These people need to address their drinking with ready access to alcohol addiction rehab and treatment support.
Read the HSE publication Here
7th July 2025
Opioid addiction three times higher in Dublin than the rest of Ireland, new study finds
The number of people with problematic use of opioids like heroin is three times higher in Dublin than the rest of Ireland, according to the findings of a new study. Research on the prevalence of problematic opioid use carried out by the Health Research Board and University College Cork estimated there were about 19,460 people countrywide at risk of harm from their use of opioids in 2022. It represents 5.8 per 1,000 population nationally affected by such drugs which include morphine, methadone, fentanyl, codeine and tramadol. Opioid addiction responds very well to opioid substitution treatment and patients should have no barriers to this treatment.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
4th July 2025
Sir Bradley Wiggins feared being found dead by his children during height of cocaine addiction
Sir Bradley Wiggins, Britain’s first Tour de France winner, has revealed how years as a functioning cocaine addict post-retirement left him fearing for his life. The 45-year-old five-time Olympic goal medallist outlined in his unflinching autobiography, The Chain, the extent to which he descended into debt and addition after retiring from cycling in 2016. “There were times my son thought I was going to be found dead in the morning,” said father-of-two Wiggins. “I was a functioning addict. People wouldn’t realise. I was high most of the time for many years.” Wiggins was able to overcome his addiction without entering a formal addiction rehab and treatment programme.
Read the Skysports.com article Here
3rd July 2025
‘A State-Backed Social Disease’: How Gambling Flourishes in Serbia and Bosnia
2nd July 2025
Minister for Children Disability and Equality Norma Foley announces €330,000 in funding to support Ireland’s Prevention and Early Intervention programmes for children and young people
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, TD has today announced a suite of measures to support Ireland’s Prevention and Early Intervention programmes for children and young people, including a new funding scheme, a series of webinars, and research funding for a new Prevention and Early Intervention model. The funding for these initiatives is being made available through the What Works prevention and early intervention initiative which receives its funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF). The DAF is managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Prevention programmes are an essential component of fostering good mental health and well being in young people as well adolescent addiction rehab and treatment services for those developing addiction related difficulties.
Read the gov.ie publication Here
1st July 2025
More women are being jailed for theft, addiction, and trauma-linked crimes
Research conducted by the Irish Examiner of more than 5,000 court cases from the Cork city courts between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024, found 13% of people sentenced to jail time in Cork in that time period were women. The research shows that just over half of female offenders jailed for theft have addiction issues, and are likely to either have an address with Cork Simon or be of no fixed address. The percentage of offenders with addiction issues stands at around 70% for those convicted on public order or assault charges.. Given this level of addiction problems it is important that addiction rehab and treatment services are made available to women both inside and outside prison.
Read the Irish Examiner article article Here
30th June 2025
169 young people sought treatment for HHC drug in last 18 months – Health Research Board
Since the beginning of last year, 169 young people have sought treatment for problems with Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a drug contained in some vapes and edibles, figures from the Health Research Board show. The substance is available for sale in vape shops across the country. The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has reiterated its call for the drug to be banned because of problems with addiction and serious mental health issues. John, 18, who does not want to be identified, became addicted to and had serious mental health effects from vapes containing HHC. It is imperative that readily available addiction rehab and treatment services are available to meet the need of people running into addiction problems.
Read the RTE.ie article Here
27th June 2025
Why Ireland needs to rethink the stories we tell about drug use
Today is global day of action calling for drug policies based on health and human rights — Support. Don’t Punish Day. On a day like today, it’s clear that we need to move away from the narrative of blaming individuals and predominantly focusing on enforcement. Consistent, empathetic narratives must become the standard if health-led drug policies are to be effective.
Read the Journal article Here
26th June 2025
Alcohol health-warning labels to be delayed amid US-EU tariff dispute, says Harris
The introduction of health-warning labels on alcohol products will need to be delayed due to concerns over the trade tariff dispute with the United States, according to Tánaiste Simon Harris. He also highlighted how there is just “13 days to do a deal between Europe and the United States” that will protect jobs, investment and the economy here and elsewhere in the European Union. When he announced his tariffs, US president Donald Trump initially said trade coming from the EU would be subject to a 20 per cent rate, before more recently threatening tariffs of 50 per cent if no deal was agreed before July 9th. There should be no further delay in implementing this health promoting policy. Along with alcohol addiction rehab and treatment it is an essential step in reducing alcohol related harm.
Read the Irish Times article Here
25th June 2025
‘Devastating’ nitrous oxide available to buy on popular Irish websites
A psychoactive drug used by teenagers and party goers, could be bought by Irish shoppers on popular online sites. The Journal Investigates found large canisters of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, on online classified ad sites and even the Irish version of Amazon. During our investigation, we could also buy it directly from brands who sell the gas online, revealing just how easy it can be for anyone, including children, to obtain it. Nitrous oxide use comes with harms and timely intervention in addiction rehab and treatment need to be available to those developing dependence.
Read the Journal article Here
24th June 2025
Bursar of private school jailed for stealing €500,000 from school to fund gambling addiction
A bursar at a private secondary school has been jailed for one year for stealing half a million euros from the school to fund a gambling addiction. The judge said that, despite mitigation, including her selling her home and signing over her pension to repay most of the money, the ‘egregious breach of trust’ had to be marked with a custodial sentence. Mary Higgins (63), with an address at Hawthorn Lawn, Castleknock, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today. She had pleaded guilty to stealing €500,000 from Mount Sackville Secondary School in Chapelizod between January 1, 2012, and March 23, 2017. Theft is a well recognised feature of problematic gambling and early intervention with addiction rehab and treatment is essential to reduce the inevitable toll that is associated with it.
Read the Journal article Here
23rd June 2025
Cork crime: homeless people account for a quarter of jail terms, new ‘Irish Examiner’ study reveals
Theft, assault, public order, or drugs offences were the most mentioned offences in the city courts, with men accounting for 87% of all the jail terms. Their sentences were on average twice as long as those imposed on women, the data shows. Interestingly, 72% of those sampled had addiction related issues underscoring the need for timely and optimum addiction rehab and treatment interventions.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
20th June 2025
Minister for Mental Health launches ‘Navigator’ signposting tool to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people
New digital tool by spunout provides anonymous, immediate, and personalised access to mental health resources and service recommendations. Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD, has today launched ‘Navigator’ a signposting tool designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 14 to 34 across Ireland. Youth mental health and addiction are often closely linked and requires tailored dual diagnosis mental health and addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the www.gov.ie article Here
19th June 2025
North city parks becoming virtual no-go areas for council workers due to drug crime, TD says
Three Dublin city parks are in danger of not being maintained as council workers say they are too dangerous to work in, a TD has claimed. Gary Gannon, the Social Democrats justice spokesman and a Dublin Central TD since 2020, has highlighted significant problems with violence and intimidation by young men engaged in the drugs trade in the north inner city. Addiction to illicit drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin can often lead to people entwined in a life of crime to pay drug debts off. Sufferers need access to addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Jornal.ie article Here
18th June 2025
Outcry over ‘exploitative’ gaming machine arcade planned for Ballymun
HSE addiction services, youth and community projects, sports clubs, businesses, residents, TDs and councillors have condemned the proposal, for one of the most socially disadvantaged areas in the state, as inappropriate and harmful. Plans for the facility show rows of machines with individual seats in front of them, raising acute fears locally that slot and other gambling machines will be installed. The unit is just metres from a HSE drug treatment clinic. Gambling is a pervasive addiction and it requires prompt intervention with rehab and treatment facilities.
Read the Journal.ie article Here
17th June 2025
‘Ongoing concern in relation to ketamine use among young people’
HSE experts have issued fresh warnings of the risks posed by ketamine, as new research from the Netherlands deepens concerns associated with the drug. Ketamine, an hallucinogenic drug that is increasingly popular among some young people, has featured in a number of drug hauls in Ireland this year and is typically seized alongside other “party drugs”, such as cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy). Ketamine addiction requires readily available addiction rehab and treatment services.
Read the Irish Examiner article Here
16th June 2025
Up in smoke: Minister for Health snubs tobacco industry
The tobacco industry’s hopes of meeting the Minister for Health went up in smoke recently when requests were snubbed citing commitments to World Health Organisation (WHO) articles on tobacco regulation. Two of the largest tobacco companies in the world have urged the Irish Government to regulate nicotine pouches and to add age restrictions to the product, according to documents released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act. Addiction to combustible tobacco requires a tailored approach and safer nicotine products play a huge part in helping smokers quit.
Read the Irish Times article Here
13th June 2025
Gambling addiction recovery app launches in West Virginia
The Problem Gambling Help Network of West Virginia (PGHNWV) has teamed up with CHESS Health to launch a new app to support people struggling with gambling addiction. The PGHNWV has debuted a customised version of the Connections recovery app, which has been specifically designed for gambling-related issues for the first time. The app offers 24/7 crisis support, virtual support meetings, and moderated peer communities, as well as daily check-ins and educational content. The app also has the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline integrated into it, alongside dedicated forums for gambling-related support. This is an important development in supporting people with gambling problems who need addiction rehab and treatment
Read the Gaming Intelligence article Here
12th June 2025
WHO launches new collaborating centre on alcohol policy and public health research
The World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Health Promotion is pleased to announce the designation of the Institute for Social Marketing and Health (ISMH) at the University of Stirling, Scotland, as a new WHO Collaborating Centre for Alcohol Policy and Public Health Research. With more than four decades of international research expertise on marketing, behaviour change and public policy, ISMH becomes one of the few WHO Collaborating Centres specifically focused on alcohol policy. Strong alcohol policy allied to access to good quality alcohol rehab and treatment support are important features of a good strategy in reducing alcohol related harm.
Read the WHO report Here