@techreport{ndc27968,
           month = {October},
           title = {ACEs at Cork Simon: exploring the connection between early trauma and later negative life events among Cork Simon service users.},
       publisher = {Cork Simon Community},
            year = {2017},
            note = {Extracted and elaborated information from Cork Simon Community: Moving towards trauma informed care. a model of research and practice. By Dr. Sharon Lambert \& Graham Gill-Emerson. 2017.},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27968/},
        abstract = {Cork Simon Community works with some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people. We operate a ?low threshold? service, meaning we accept and support people with multiple needs, chronic addictions and challenging behaviours. As a consequence we often work with people excluded from other services - people who have no-where else to turn. We work in solidarity with men and women over the age of 18 and each year support about 1,200 people on their pathway back to independent or supported living. Our door is always open and we support people for as long as they need us.

ACE stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences. These traumatic events, experienced before the age of 18, have been shown to have long-term negative impacts on health and well-being. Children are especially sensitive to repeated trauma because their brains and bodies are just developing. High doses of adversity during childhood have been found to alter brain development as well as the immune system, with serious implications for later physical, mental and social health. ACE scores range from 0 to 10 and are assessed through a simple 10 question survey, with each question representing an area of trauma. Answering yes to a question counts as one ACE. 5 of the 10 types of childhood trauma measured through the ACE questionnaire are personal and five relate to other family members}
}

@techreport{ndc27832,
           month = {September},
           title = {Under the influence: factors affecting youth drinking in Dublin 12.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Dublin 12 LDATF},
            year = {2017},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27832/},
        abstract = {On November 22nd 2016, sixty young people living or attending school in Dublin 12 were  invited to a youth forum organized as part of European Action on Alcohol Week. This report has been written to provide a record of the event. On the day, young people where given the opportunity to spend two hours discussing alcohol with their peers and learning about the effects of alcohol. They also worked within groups to provide some insight into how young people think about alcohol. This feedback was collated and analyzed and the results are outlined.}
}

@misc{ndc27751,
          volume = {17},
          number = {646},
           month = {August},
          author = {Marina Bosque-Prous and Mirte AG Kuipers and Albert Espelt and Matthias Richter and Arja Rimpel{\"a} and Julian Perelman and Bruno Federico and M Teresa Brugal and Vincent Lorant and Anton E Kunst},
           title = {Adolescent alcohol use and parental and adolescent socioeconomic position in six European cities.},
       publisher = {BioMed Central},
         journal = {BMC Public Health},
            year = {2017},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27751/},
        abstract = {Background: Many risk behaviours in adolescence are socially patterned. However, it is unclear to what extent socioeconomic position (SEP) influences adolescent drinking in various parts of Europe. We examined how alcohol consumption is associated with parental SEP and adolescents? own SEP among students aged 14?17 years.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected in the 2013 SILNE study. Participants were 8705 students aged 14?17 years from 6 European cities. The dependent variable was weekly binge drinking. Main independent variables were parental SEP (parental education level and family affluence) and adolescents? own SEP (student weekly income and academic achievement). Multilevel Poisson regression models with robust variance and random intercept were fitted to estimate the association between adolescent drinking and SEP.

Results: Prevalence of weekly binge drinking was 4.2\% (95\%CI = 3.8?4.6). Weekly binge drinking was not associated with parental education or family affluence. However, weekly binge drinking was less prevalent in adolescents with high academic achievement than those with low achievement (PR = 0.34; 95\%CI = 0.14?0.87), and more prevalent in adolescents with {\ensuremath{>}}?50 weekly income compared to those with {$\leq$}?5/week (PR = 3.14; 95\%CI = 2.23?4.42). These associations were found to vary according to country, but not according to gender or age group.

Conclusions: Across the six European cities, adolescent drinking was associated with adolescents? own SEP, but not with parental SEP. Socio-economic inequalities in adolescent drinking seem to stem from adolescents? own situation rather than that of their family.}
}

@misc{ndc27552,
           month = {July},
           title = {The brain under construction [1]: a window into the developing brain.},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {Mentor ADEPSIS},
            year = {2017},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27552/},
        abstract = {This briefing paper is part of a mini-series on ?The Brain Under Construction?. This paper looks at the structure and function of the brain and considers the uniqueness of the adolescent brain. Pictures of the brain in action show that adolescent?s brains work differently than adults and scientific research is showing that the brain systems involved in decision-making, planning, social understanding and risk-taking are developing in adolescence. This research could have implications for education, rehabilitation and intervention.}
}

@misc{ndc27384,
          number = {5 May 2017},
           month = {May},
           title = {Intervention targets personality traits of high-risk London pupils.},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {Drug and Alcohol Findings},
            year = {2017},
         journal = {Drug and Alcohol Findings Bulletin},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27384/},
        abstract = {School staff trained to deliver personality-targeted substance use interventions to London high school pupils ? effectively delaying cannabis use among a subset (those identified as ?sensation-seekers?).

Key points from summary and commentary
?	The Adventure Trial tested the impact of personality-relevant coping skills on cannabis use among London high school pupils.
?	High-risk young people were allocated to receive an intervention matched to their specific vulnerabilities (?hopelessness?, ?anxiety-sensitivity?, ?impulsivity?, or ?sensation-seeking?).
?	Cannabis use was effectively delayed only among a subset ? those identified as ?sensation-seekers?}
}

@article{ndc27139,
          volume = {Early online},
           month = {April},
           title = {Factors associated with different smoking status in European adolescents: results of the SEYLE study.},
          author = {Raphaela Banzer and C Haring and A Buchheim and S Oehler and V Carli and C Wasserman and M Kaess and A Apter and J Balazs and J Bobes and R Brunner and P Corcoran and D Cosman and C W Hoven and J P Kahn and H S Keeley and V Postuvan and T Podlogar and M Sisask and A V{\"a}rnik and M Sarchiapone and D Wasserman},
       publisher = {Springer},
            year = {2017},
         journal = {European Child \& Adolescent Psychiatry},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27139/},
        abstract = {Early onset and long-term smoking are associated with physical and psychological health problems. The aim of the presented analysis was to investigate risk and influencing factors for different smoking status in a big sample of European adolescents. 

In the context of the "saving and empowering young lives in Europe" (SEYLE) study we surveyed 12,328 adolescents at the age of 13-17 from 11 countries. The survey took place in a school-based context using a questionnaire. Overall 58\% reported the onset of ever-smoking under the age of 14 and 30.9\% smoke on a daily basis. Multinomial logistic regression model showed significant positive associations between adolescent smoking and internalizing problems (suicidal behavior, direct self-injurious behavior, anxiety), externalizing problems (conduct problems, hyperactivity, substance consumption) and family problems (parental substance consumption, broken home). Our data show that smoking among adolescents is still a major public health problem and adolescents who smoke are at higher risk for mental problems. Further, adolescent smoking is associated with broken home families and parental behaviors. Therefore, early preventive measures are necessary not only for adolescents, but also for their parents.}
}

@misc{ndc27143,
          volume = {13},
          number = {6},
           month = {April},
          author = {Geir Smedslund and Sabine Wollscheid and Lin Fang and Wendy Nilsen and Asbj{\o}rn Steiro and Lillebeth Larun},
         address = {London},
           title = {Effect of early, brief computerized interventions on risky alcohol and cannabis use among young people.},
       publisher = {The Campbell Collaboration},
            year = {2017},
         journal = {Campbell Systematic Reviews},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27143/},
        abstract = {Background: 
Young people?s risky use of alcohol or recreational drugs, such as cannabis, remains a significant public health issue. Many countries have made substantial efforts to minimize the long-term consequences of alcohol and/or cannabis use at multiple levels, ranging from government policy initiatives to primary health care services. In this review, we focused on the effects of brief interventions, provided by electronic devices (computerized brief interventions). A brief intervention is defined as any preventive or therapeutic activity delivered by a health worker, psychologist, social worker, or volunteer worker, and given within a maximum of four structured therapy sessions each lasting between five and ten minutes with a maximum total time of one hour. Brief interventions may work by making the clients think differently about their alcohol/cannabis use, and by providing them with skills to change their behavior if they are motivated to change. A computerized brief intervention, in contrast, is not directly delivered by a human being, but may be delivered through online and offline electronic devices. Such interventions can reach large audiences at a low cost and can simultaneously simulate an ?interpersonal therapeutic component? by targeting recipients? feedback.

Objectives:
To assess the effectiveness of early, computerized brief interventions on alcohol and cannabis use by young people aged 15 to 25 years who are high or risky consumers of either one or both of these substances by synthesizing data from randomized controlled trials.


Search methods:
We searched 11 electronic databases including MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cinahl and The Cochrane Library in April 2016 for published, unpublished and ongoing studies using adapted subject headings and a comprehensive list of free-text terms. Additionally, we searched the reference lists of the included studies. We also have set up an EBSCO host alert notification (EPAlerts@EPNET.COM ) that continuously surveys the Cochrane Library (including CENTRAL), Medline and Embase. We receive updated searches via email. This search is up to date as of May 2016.

Selection criteria:
We included all randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of any computerized brief intervention used as a stand-alone treatment aimed at reducing alcohol and/or cannabis consumption. Eligible comparators included no intervention, waiting list control or an alternative brief intervention (computerized or non-computerized). Participants were young people between 15 and 25 years of age who were defined as risky consumers of alcohol or cannabis, or both.

Data collection and analysis:
Two researchers independently screened titles and abstracts against the inclusion criteria. Two researchers independently assessed the full texts of all included articles. We used standard methodological procedures expected by the Campbell Collaboration.

Results:
We included 60 studies that had randomized 33,316 participants in this review. Study characteristics: The studies were mostly from the United States and targeted high and risky alcohol use among university students. Bias/quality assessment: Some of the studies lacked clear descriptions of how the randomization sequence was generated and concealed. Many of the studies did not blind the participants. Some of the studies suffered from high loss to follow-up, and few studies had a pre-registered protocol. Findings: For alcohol, we found moderate quality evidence that multi-dose assessment and feedback was more effective than a single-dose assessment. We found low quality evidence that assessment and feedback might be more effective than no intervention. Assessment and feedback might also be more effective than assessment alone (low quality evidence). Short-term effects ({\ensuremath{<}} 6 months) were mostly larger than long-term (?6 months) effects. For cannabis, we found that assessment and feedback might slightly reduce short-term consumption compared to no intervention. Adding feedback to assessment may have little or no effect on short-term cannabis consumption. Moreover, there may be little or no difference between assessment plus feedback and education on short-term and long-term cannabis consumption. Adverse effects: We did not find evidence of any adverse effects of the interventions.
Implications for policy, practice and research:

Computerized brief interventions are easy to administer, and the evidence from this review indicates that such brief interventions might reduce drinking for several months after the intervention. Additionally, there is no evidence for adverse effects. This means that brief, computerized interventions could be feasible ways of dealing with risky alcohol use among young people. The evidence on cannabis consumption is scarcer, suggesting the need for more research.}
}

@techreport{ndc27153,
           month = {April},
           title = {Young lives in Ireland: a school-based study of mental health and suicide prevention.},
          author = {Elaine M McMahon and Grace O?Regan and Paul Corcoran and Ella Arensman and Mary Cannon and Eileen Williamson and Helen Keeley},
         address = {Cork},
       publisher = {National Suicide Research Foundation},
            year = {2017},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27153/},
        abstract = {Globally, mental disorders are the largest cause of disability among those aged 10-24 years (1), with approximately half of all mental disorders emerging during adolescence, broadly the period between the ages of 12 and 18 (2-5). Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people (6) and in Ireland peak rates of hospital-treated self-harm are among 20-24 year old males and 15-19 year old females (7). Connecting for Life, Ireland?s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020, has identified young people aged 15-24 as a priority group at whom to target approaches to reduce suicidal behaviour and improve mental health (Goal 3, page 29) (8).

Youth suicide prevention programmes are often based in a school setting. However, high-quality evidence has been limited, in both an Irish and international setting, to identify the true impact of suicide prevention interventions (9). In particular, no randomised controlled trials of school-based prevention programmes examining changes in suicidal behaviour had been conducted anywhere in Europe prior to the Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) study.

In this report we present the research findings of the SEYLE study, a mental health-promoting programme for adolescents in European schools (10). The study participants, 11,110 adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years old, were recruited from randomly selected mainstream second-level schools in ten European countries. The study was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aimed to identify an effective method of promoting adolescent mental health and decreasing suicidal thoughts and behaviours. A second aim was to gather information on the lifestyles and mental health of adolescents in order to identify risk and protective factors associated with suicidal behaviour. 

In this report we present both overall findings of the multi-centre trial and detailed findings on the mental health and lifestyles of Irish youth using data from the Irish study centre. In addition, this report details a range of risk and protective factors associated with mental ill-health and suicidal behaviour in Irish adolescents. The SEYLE trial identified one school-based intervention, Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), that was associated with a significantly lower number of subsequent suicide attempts and suicidal ideation compared to the control intervention (10). YAM is a brief, universal mental health awareness programme that was delivered in the classroom over a four-week period and includes role-play sessions, interactive lectures and workshops. The programme aimed to improve the mental health literacy and coping skills of young people, to raise awareness of risk and protective factors associated with suicide, and to enhance young people?s knowledge about mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.}
}

@misc{ndc26918,
          volume = {7},
          number = {2},
           month = {February},
          author = {James Williams and Gareth Hagger-Johnson},
           title = {Childhood academic ability in relation to cigarette, alcohol and cannabis use from adolescence into early adulthood: Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE).},
       publisher = {BMJ Publishing},
            year = {2017},
         journal = {BMJ Open},
           pages = {e012989},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/26918/},
        abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to determine the association between childhood academic ability and the onset and persistence of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use across adolescence in a representative sample of English schools pupils. Previous research has produced conflicting findings.

DESIGN: Data from 7 years of the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE), 2004-2010 (age 13/14-19/20).
SETTING: Self-completion questionnaires during home visits, face-to-face interviews and web-based questionnaires.
PARTICIPANTS: Data from 6059 participants (3093 females) with information on academic ability around age 11 and health behaviours from age 13/14 to 16/17 (early adolescence) and from age 18/19 to 19/20 (late adolescence).
OUTCOME MEASURES: Regularity of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and cannabis use from early to late adolescence.

RESULTS: In multinomial logistic regression models adjusting for a range of covariates, the high (vs low) academic ability reduced the risk of persistent cigarette smoking (RR=0.62; CI 95\% 0.48 to 0.81) in early adolescence. High (vs low) academic ability increased the risk of occasional (RR=1.25; CI 95\% 1.04 to 1.51) and persistent (RR=1.83; CI 95\% 1.50 to 2.23) regular alcohol drinking in early adolescence and persistent (RR=2.28; CI 95\% 1.84 to 2.82) but not occasional regular alcohol drinking in late adolescence. High academic ability was also positively associated with occasional (RR=1.83; CI 95\% 1.50 to 2.23) and persistent (RR=1.83; CI 95\% 1.50 to 2.23) cannabis use in late adolescence.

CONCLUSIONS: In a sample of over 6000 young people in England, high childhood academic at age 11 is associated with a reduced risk of cigarette smoking but an increased risk of drinking alcohol regularly and cannabis use. These associations persist into early adulthood, providing evidence against the hypothesis that high academic ability is associated with temporary 'experimentation' with substance use.}
}

@misc{ndc27500,
           title = {Childhood adversity, substance misuse and young people?s mental health.},
          author = {Agnes Aynsley and Rick Bradley and Linssay Buchanan and Naomi Burrows and Marc Bush},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {Addaction},
            year = {2017},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27500/},
        abstract = {Substance misuse is just one form of risk-taking behaviour, and can be a sign that young people are dealing with adversity, trauma, and/or experimenting with their identities. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are events that have a traumatic and lasting effect on the mental health of young people.

Children who experience four or more adversities, are twice as likely to binge drink, and eleven times more likely to go on to use crack cocaine or heroin}
}

@misc{ndc26512,
          number = {515},
           month = {December},
          author = {Ellen Leslie and Andrew Smirnov and Jake M Najman and John Scott},
         address = {Canberra},
           title = {Alcohol use and motivations for drinking among types of young adult illicit stimulant users.},
       publisher = {Australian Institute of Criminology},
         journal = {Trends \& Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/26512/},
        abstract = {Drinking among young adult users of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) during episodes of ecstasy and methamphetamine use is reported to have a number of possible functions, such as mitigating the unwanted effects of the drugs, enhancing intoxication and pleasure, and increasing drinking capacity. While there is evidence to suggest a high prevalence of risky drinking among users of ATS in Australia, little is known about how they combine their use of ATS with the consumption of alcohol or why they do so. This paper considers how ATS users consume alcohol during ecstasy and methamphetamine use, and also addresses alcohol abuse and dependence among low-risk and at-risk ATS users.

At-risk users are more likely to have experienced alcohol abuse and dependence during adolescence or early adulthood, suggesting that higher-risk use of ATS may be linked with problematic drinking patterns. The paper suggests that problematic behaviour relating to alcohol and ATS use is interlinked, and may be important in developing appropriate policy responses.}
}

@misc{ndc27622,
          volume = {16},
          number = {1},
           month = {November},
          author = {Xiangfei Meng and Carl D'Arcy},
           title = {Gender moderates the relationship between childhood abuse and internalizing and substance use disorders later in life: a cross-sectional analysis.},
       publisher = {BioMed Central},
            year = {2016},
         journal = {BMC Psychiatry},
           pages = {401},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27622/},
        abstract = {BACKGROUND: Although some studies examined the moderating role of gender in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and mental disorders later in life, a number of them examined the effects of only one or two types of maltreatment on an individual mental disorder, for instance, depression, substance use. It is of considerable clinical and theoretical importance to have in-depth understanding what roles of different types of childhood abuse play out in a wide range of mental disorders among women and men using well accepted instruments measuring abuse and mental disorders. The present study aimed to examine this issue using a large nationally representative population sample to explore the gender effect of different types of childhood abuse in mental disorders, and assess the moderating role of gender in the abuse-mental disorder relationship.

METHODS: Using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey 2012: Mental Health we sought to answer this question. Respondents with information on childhood maltreatment prior to age 16 were selected (N = 23, 395).

RESULTS: We found: i) strong associations between childhood abuse frequency and gender; ii) significant differences between men and women in terms of mental disorders; iii) strong associations between childhood abuse and mental disorders; and, iv) gender moderated the role of childhood abuse history on adulthood mental disorders. Females with a history of sexual abuse and/or exposure to interpersonal violence were at a greater risk of alcohol abuse or dependence later in life.

CONCLUSIONS: Intervention should occur as early as possible, and should help female victims of childhood sexual abuse and/or exposure to interpersonal violence, and their families to build more constructive ways to effectively reduce the negative affects of these experiences. Recognition of the moderating role of gender on the relationship between childhood abuse history and mental disorders later in life may aid clinicians and researchers in providing optimal health services.}
}

@techreport{ndc26344,
           month = {November},
           title = {Growing up in Ireland. Key findings: child cohort at 17/18 years. No. 4: risky health behaviours and sexual activity.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Economic and Social Research Institute},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/26344/}
}

@techreport{ndc26255,
          editor = {James Williams and Elizabeth Nixon and Emer Smyth and Dorothy Watson},
           month = {October},
           title = {Cherishing all the children equally? Ireland 100 years on from the Easter Rising.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Oak Tree Press},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/26255/},
        abstract = {Cherishing all the children equally? brings together contributions from a range of disciplines to shed light on the processes of child development and to investigate how that development is influenced by a variety of demographic, family and socio-economic factors. Making extensive use of research and data that have emerged over recent years from the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study of children, the book considers whether or not all children can participate fully and equitably in contemporary Irish society. It asks whether or not we do, in fact, cherish all our children equally in modern Ireland, regardless of their family circumstances, health or ethnic background.

Tables of contents:
1.	 Introduction
2.	Changing perceptions and experiences of childhood, 1916-2016
3.	Children and families, then \& now
4.	Is family structure a source of inequality in children?s lives?
5.	Parental investment \& child development
6.	Inequalities in access to early care and education in Ireland
7.	Inequalities from the start? children?s integration into primary school
8.	Insights into the prevalence of special educational needs
9.	The experiences of migrant children in Ireland
10.	Social variation in child health \& development: a life-course approach
11.	Child access to GP services in Ireland: do user fees matter?
12.	Anti-social behaviour at age 13
13.	Child economic vulnerability dynamics in the recession
14.	Concluding observations}
}

@misc{ndc26123,
           month = {September},
           title = {Youth drinking in transition.},
          author = {Ian Wybron},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {DEMOS},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/26123/},
        abstract = {This report explores the drinking habits of young adults in Great Britain. It seeks to contribute evidence to explain some of the shifting trends in these drinking habits as reported in the official statistics ? including the decline in binge drinking and rise in teetotalism. And it looks in particular at the drinking habits of students, those in work, and those not in education, employment or training (NEETs), as three major case studies. While we have sought to highlight where positive steps have been made ? following our earlier work Character and Moderation ? we have also sought to present a balanced view, identifying outstanding challenges for those concerned with excessive alcohol consumption.}
}

@article{ndc25573,
          volume = {23},
          number = {3},
           month = {May},
          author = {Aileen O'Gorman},
           title = {Chillin, buzzin, getting mangled, and coming down: Doing differentiated normalisation in risk environments.},
       publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},
            year = {2016},
         journal = {Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy},
           pages = {247--254},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25573/},
        abstract = {Aims: This paper examines differentiated normalisation through the lens of young drug users from a marginalised Dublin neighbourhood where drugs are readily available, prevalence rates are high, and a flourishing drugs market operates. 

Findings: The narratives of these marginalised young people illustrate how drug use and drug choices are shaped by different intentions, avowed identities and diverse structural, temporal and socio-spatial settings. Their routines and drug repertoires echo the (mainly) reasoned consumption choices, the cost?benefit analyses and the emphasis on pleasure and fun ascribed to recreational drug users, including those who underpin the normalisation concept. However, their drug using practices continue to be rendered deviant due to their experience of social exclusion; exclusion from consumption-orientated lifestyles and from the night time economy; and their inclusion in the informal drugs economy. 

Conclusion: Normalisation is relative (not just differentiated) to the social status of the drug user. A reconstructed normalisation thesis inclusive of class (and race, and gender) could explore why the use of similar drugs and similar drug using behaviours by different social groups is differentially accommodated and accepted by mainstream society.}
}

@misc{ndc26943,
           month = {April},
           title = {Adolescents at risk. Psychosomatic health complaints, low life satisfaction, excessive sugar consumption and their relationship with cumulative risks.},
          author = {Sophie D Walsh and Zlata Bruckauf and Tania Gaspar},
         address = {Florence},
       publisher = {UNICEF Office of Research},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/26943/},
        abstract = {Adolescence is a time of transitions when experimentation, risk taking and active peer interactions can be viewed as a part of the development process. Yet, for some groups of young people with reported poor psychosomatic health, low life satisfaction or unhealthy eating habits these experiences may be different. Empirical evidence is limited in recognising the overlapping and cumulative risks of adolescents? health disadvantage and multiple externalized risk behaviours and outcomes (smoking, drinking, binge drinking, regular fighting, injuries and bullying). 

Drawing on the most recent 2013/2014 data of the Health Behaviour of School Children (HBSC) study, this paper examines the risks of individual and cumulative risks (three or more types) associated with being in the bottom group of psychosomatic health complaints, life satisfaction and unhealthy eating (excessive sugar consumption) across 29 countres. Using multivariate logistic modelling, the association that was the strongest, most consistent and independent of family affluence (FAS) was that between cumulative risks and high levels of psychosomatic health complaints. Similarly consistent, although weaker, is the association found between adolescents? low life satisfaction and unhealthy eating. Only in Greece and Hungary does the association between cumulative risks and life satisfaction seem to be mediated by family socio-economic status (SES). This is also the case for Denmark and Malta in the case of unhealthy eating.}
}

@misc{ndc25392,
           month = {April},
           title = {Fairness for children: a league table of inequality in child well-being in rich countries, Innocenti report card 13.},
         address = {Florencd},
       publisher = {UNICEF Office of Research ? Innocenti},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25392/},
        abstract = {This Report Card presents an overview of inequalities in child well-being in 41 countries of the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It focuses on ?bottom-end inequality? ? the gap between children at the bottom and those in the middle ? and addresses the question ?how far behind are children being allowed to fall?? in income, education, health and life satisfaction.

Across the OECD, he risks of poverty have been shifting from the elderly towards youth since the 1980s. These developments accentuate the need to monitor the well-being of the most disadvantaged children, but income inequality also has far-reaching consequences for society, harming educational attainment, key health outcomes and even economic growth. A concern with fairness and social justice requires us to consider whether some members of society are being left so far behind that it unfairly affects their lives both now and in the future. This Report Card asks the same underlying question as Report Card 9, which focused on inequality in child well-being, but uses the most recent data available and includes more countries.}
}

@misc{ndc27676,
          volume = {16},
          number = {169},
           month = {March},
          author = {Yvonne Kelly and Alice Goisis and Amanda Sacker and Noriko Cable and Richard G Watt and Annie Britton},
           title = {What influences 11-year-olds to drink? Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study.},
       publisher = {BioMed Central},
            year = {2016},
         journal = {BMC Public Health},
           pages = {169},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27676/},
        abstract = {BACKGROUND: Drinking in youth is linked to other risky behaviours, educational failure and premature death. Prior research has examined drinking in mid and late teenagers, but little is known about the factors that influence drinking at the beginning of adolescence. Objectives were: 1. to assess associations of parental and friends' drinking with reported drinking among 11 year olds; 2. to investigate the roles of perceptions of harm, expectancies towards alcohol, parental supervision and family relationships on reported drinking among 11 year olds.

METHODS: Analysis of data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study on 10498 11-year-olds. The outcome measure was having drank an alcoholic drink, self-reported by cohort members.

RESULTS: 13.6 \% of 11 year olds reported having drank. Estimates reported are odds ratios and 95 \% confidence intervals. Cohort members whose mothers drank were more likely to drink (light/moderate = 1.6, 1.3 to 2.0, heavy/binge = 1.8, 1.4 to 2.3). Cohort members whose fathers drank were also more likely to drink but these estimates lost statistical significance when covariates were adjusted for (light/moderate = 1.3, 0.9 to 1.9, heavy/binge = 1.3, 0.9 to 1.9). Having friends who drank was strongly associated with cohort member drinking (4.8, 3.9 to 5.9). Associated with reduced odds of cohort member drinking were: heightened perception of harm from 1-2 drinks daily (some = 0.9, 0.7 to 1.1, great = 0.6, 0.5 to 0.7); and negative expectancies towards alcohol (0.5, 0.4 to 0.7). Associated with increased odds of cohort member drinking were: positive expectancies towards alcohol (1.9, 1.4 to 2.5); not being supervised on weekends and weekdays (often = 1.2, 1.0 to 1.4); frequent battles of will (1.3, 1.1 to 1.5); and not being happy with family (1.2, 1.0 to 1.5).

CONCLUSIONS: Examining drinking at this point in the lifecourse has potentially important public health implications as around one in seven 11 year olds have drank, although the vast majority are yet to explore alcohol. Findings support interventions working at multiple levels that incorporate family and peer factors to help shape choices around risky behaviours including drinking.}
}

@techreport{ndc25297,
           month = {March},
            type = {Annual Report},
           title = {Children's Rights Alliance report card 2016.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Children's Rights Alliance},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25297/},
        abstract = {The Children's Rights Alliance Annual Report Card, now in its eighth edition, scrutinises the Government on its key commitments to children in the Programme for Government. For the fourth year in a row, the Government is awarded an overall ?C? Grade, as assessed and graded by our independent panel of experts, and reflecting a number of positive developments. However, there are also a number of key areas within which the government has continued to fail the most marginalised groups and these need to be urgently addressed.

One ?A? grade appears in Report Card 2016, namely the section on ?Inequalities in Family Life?. This is as a result of much-needed, comprehensive family law reform during 2015. The Chapter on Education fared well: ?School Buildings? received an ?A-? and ?Child Literacy? gained a ?B+?. The Right to Protection from Abuse and Neglect also did well receiving an overall ?B? grade. These were all dragged down by poor grades for ?Child Poverty? awarded an ?E-? grade and ?Child and Youth Homelessness? which dropped to an ?F?. The situation for ?Traveller and Roma Children? and ?Migrant Children? only slightly improved, receiving an ?E-? and a ?D-? respectively.

P.63 Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs
?Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs? gets a ?B? grade in Report Card 2016, an increase from the ?C-? awarded in Report Card 2015. 2015 saw the long awaited publication of the Public Health Alcohol Bill 2015, the successful passage of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 and a commitment to develop a new Drugs Strategy in 2016.}
}

@misc{ndc25306,
           month = {March},
           title = {Growing up unequal: gender and socioeconomic differences in young people's health and well-being.},
         address = {Copenhagan},
       publisher = {WHO Regional Office for Europe},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25306/},
        abstract = {The report releases data from 42 countries on a range of new topics, such as peer relationships and family support, the school environment, migration, cyber-bullying and serious injury, with the more traditional data on alcohol and tobacco consumption, mental health and nutrition-related behaviour. The report provides data on gender differences and behaviour change in the 11?15-year age group, years that mark a period of increased autonomy that can influence how health and health-related behaviour develops and continues into adulthood. The report highlights socioeconomic differences and variations between countries and regions. It identifies opportunities for policy interventions, as the findings underline the importance of the wider social context and the effect it can have on young people's health.}
}

@misc{ndc25046,
           month = {January},
           title = {Impact of advertisements promoting candy-like flavoured e-cigarettes on appeal of tobacco smoking among children: an experimental study.},
          author = {Milica Vasiljevic and Dragos C Petrescu and Theresa M Marteau},
       publisher = {BMJ Publishing},
            year = {2016},
         journal = {Tobacco Control},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25046/}
}

@article{ndc25134,
          volume = {Issue 56, Winter 2016},
           month = {January},
          author = {Deirdre Mongan},
           title = {Adolescents? exposure to alcohol marketing.},
       publisher = {Health Research Board},
         journal = {Drugnet Ireland},
           pages = {6},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25134/}
}

@article{ndc25818,
          volume = {185},
          number = {3},
          author = {P Barrett and C Bradley},
           title = {Attitudes and perceived risk of cannabis use in Irish adolescents.},
       publisher = {Springer},
         journal = {Irish Journal of Medical Science},
           pages = {643--647},
            year = {2016},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25818/},
        abstract = {INTRODUCTION
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the developed world and its use is associated with several adverse physical and mental health effects and negative social outcomes. Earlier use of cannabis increases the risk of adverse effects. Attitudes and perceived risk towards drugs are regarded as strong influences in determining whether or not a person uses cannabis, but there is little existing research on Irish teenagers' attitudes to the risks of this drug.

METHODS
This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a structured, anonymous questionnaire. The study was undertaken in nine public and private secondary schools in Cork City and suburbs. Students aged 15-18 and in fourth, fifth or sixth year of school were included.

RESULTS
Of the 507 participating students, 39.3 \% (n = 199) reported previous cannabis use. There were significantly lower levels of perceived risk of cannabis among those who had used the drug compared with those who had not, for all categories of risk (p {\ensuremath{<}} 0.01). Attitudes towards cannabis were more liberal among males and those with previous use of the drug. A minority of students (n = 92; 18.2 \%) support legalisation of cannabis. The majority of teenagers (n = 382; 75.8 \%) believe that they are not given enough information about the drug.

CONCLUSIONS
Cannabis use is very widespread among teenagers in Cork. There are relatively low levels of perceived risk of mental and physical health problems with use of the drug. Attitudes towards cannabis are associated with personal use of the drug and gender.}
}

@article{ndc25341,
          volume = {13},
          number = {3},
           title = {Pathological internet use and risk-behaviors among European adolescents.},
          author = {Tony Durkee and Vladimir Carli and Birgitta Floderus and Camilla Wasserman and Marco Sarchiapone and Alan Apter and Judit A Balazs and Julio Bobes and Romuald Brunner and Paul Corcoran and Doina Cosman and Christian Haring and Christina W Hoven and Michael Kaess and Jean-Pierre Kahn and Bogdan Nemes and Vita Postuvan and Pilar A Saiz and Peeter V{\"a}rnik and Danuta Wasserman},
       publisher = {MDPI},
            year = {2016},
         journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/25341/},
        abstract = {Risk-behaviors are a major contributor to the leading causes of morbidity among adolescents and young people; however, their association with pathological Internet use (PIU) is relatively unexplored, particularly within the European context. The main objective of this study is to investigate the association between risk-behaviors and PIU in European adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of the FP7 European Union project: Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE). Data on adolescents were collected from randomized schools within study sites across eleven European countries. PIU was measured using Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire (YDQ). 

Risk-behaviors were assessed using questions procured from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS). A total of 11,931 adolescents were included in the analyses: 43.4\% male and 56.6\% female (M/F: 5179/6752), with a mean age of 14.89 {$\pm$} 0.87 years. Adolescents reporting poor sleeping habits and risk-taking actions showed the strongest associations with PIU, followed by tobacco use, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. Among adolescents in the PIU group, 89.9\% were characterized as having multiple risk-behaviors. The significant association observed between PIU and risk-behaviors, combined with a high rate of co-occurrence, underlines the importance of considering PIU when screening, treating or preventing high-risk behaviors among adolescents.}
}

@article{ndc26167,
          volume = {169},
          number = {1-3},
           month = {December},
          author = {Louise Dolphin and Barbara Dooley and Amanda Fitzgerald},
           title = {Prevalence and correlates of psychotic like experiences in a nationally representative community sample of adolescents in Ireland.},
       publisher = {Elsevier},
            year = {2015},
         journal = {Schizophrenia Research},
           pages = {241--7},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/26167/},
        abstract = {Adolescent psychotic like experiences (PLEs) are an important area of research, yet only a small number of community surveys have investigated their psychosocial correlates. This study presents the prevalence and correlates of three types of PLEs in a nationally representative community sample of 12-19 year olds in Ireland (N=5910). 

Correlates are considered across five domains: demographic, stressful life experiences, emotional/behavioral problems, substance use, and personal resources. Auditory hallucinations were reported by 13.7\% of participants, 10.4\% reported visual hallucinations and 13.1\% reported paranoid thoughts. Participants who had experienced two of the three PLEs were assigned "risk" status (10.4\%; n=616). Using binary logistic regression, 

PLEs were associated with a range of correlates across the five domains. Key correlates of risk status include depression, low self-esteem, low optimism school misconduct, and high avoidance coping. These associations remained significant in a multivariate analysis. While correlates for each of the three PLEs were similar, there were some nuances in these patterns. Notably, demographic and substance use variables were the weakest groups of correlates. Personal resources (e.g. self-esteem, optimism and coping) have been poorly studied in the adolescent PLE literature and these findings provide important insights for future research and intervention design.}
}

@techreport{ndc24854,
           month = {November},
           title = {Alcohol marketing and young people?s drinking behaviour in Ireland.},
          author = {Cathy Ann Fox and Colette Kelly and Michal Molcho},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Alcohol Action Ireland},
            year = {2015},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24854/},
        abstract = {Alcohol Marketing and Young People?s Drinking Behaviour in Ireland, a study commissioned by Alcohol Action Ireland and carried out by the Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway, found that Irish children are exposed to large volumes of alcohol marketing, which increases their likelihood of drinking alcohol and engaging in risky drinking behaviour.

?	More than 90\% of children reported that they were exposed to traditional, or offline, alcohol advertisements in the week prior to the study and more than half saw four or more alcohol advertisements per day 
?	77\% of children reported exposure to alcohol marketing online 
?	61\% of children reported that they owned alcohol branded merchandise}
}

@article{ndc24618,
          volume = {53},
           month = {October},
          author = {Timo-Kolja Pf{\"o}rtner and Anne Hublet and Christina Warrer Schnohr and Katharina Rathmann and Irene Moor and Margaretha de Looze and Tibor Ba{\vs}ka and Michal Molcho and Lasse Kannas and Anton E Kunst and Matthias Richter},
           title = {Socioeconomic inequalities in the impact of tobacco control policies on adolescent smoking. A multilevel study in 29 European countries.},
       publisher = {Elsevier Science},
         journal = {Addictive Behaviors},
           pages = {58--66},
            year = {2015},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24618/},
        abstract = {Data were used from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2005/2006 comprising 50,338 adolescents aged 15 years from 29 European countries. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association of weekly smoking with components of the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS), and to assess whether this association varied according to family affluence (FAS). Analyses were carried out per gender and adjusted for national wealth and general smoking rate.

Results indicated that most tobacco control policies are not clearly related to adolescent weekly smoking across European countries. Only tobacco price seemed to be adequate decreasing smoking prevalence among boys, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.

Highlights:
? We examine social inequalities in associations of tobacco control with youth smoking
? Multilevel analyses were applied separately for boys and girls
? Tobacco price was associated with lower male smoking, independent of family affluence
? Female smoking was not associated with tobacco control policies}
}

@misc{ndc24124,
          editor = {T George and F Vaccarino},
           month = {June},
           title = {The effects of cannabis use during adolescence.},
         address = {Ottawa},
       publisher = {Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse},
            year = {2015},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24124/},
        abstract = {So what does this report tell us about the health effects of adolescent cannabis use? First and foremost, cannabis is not a harmless drug. It can be addictive and the risk increases the earlier it is used. Early and frequent use also increases the risk of short-term cognitive impairment and under performing in school, as well as psychotic symptoms and disorders. Cannabis use significantly impairs coordination and reaction time, so it is not surprising that it is the most common illicit drug found to be involved in car accidents, including fatal ones. And although we do not know the full extent of the impact of early cannabis use on long-term cognitive ability and associated educational and occupational successes, evidence is mounting that cannabis affects the young brain in a harmful way that cannot be ignored.

This report presents an immediate opportunity to enhance youth drug use prevention and intervention programs, as well as emerging policy frameworks, with factual information and in a fashion that has been shown to work. We know that cannabis is not a benign substance. It has clear harms and poses risks to those who use it on a regular and frequent basis, including negative health, economic and social ramifications. It is now up to readers to take the information in this report and use it to help reduce the incidence of harms associated with cannabis use among adolescents, to help young people make smarter and more informed choices about their todays and their tomorrows.}
}

@article{ndc23998,
          volume = {25},
          number = {3},
           month = {June},
          author = {Irene Moor and Katharina Rathmann and Michela Lenzi and Timo-Kolja Pf{\"o}rtner and Gera E Nagelhout and Margreet de Looze and Pernille Bendtsen and Marc Willemsen and Lasse Kannas and Anton E Kunst and Matthias Richter},
           title = {Socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent smoking across 35 countries: a multilevel analysis of the role of family, school and peers.},
         journal = {European Journal of Public Health},
           pages = {457--63},
            year = {2015},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23998/},
        abstract = {BACKGROUND
Tobacco-related heath inequalities are a major public health concern, with smoking being more prevalent among lower socioeconomic groups. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms leading to socioeconomic inequalities in smoking among 15-year-old adolescents by examining the mediating role of psychosocial factors in the peer group, family and school environment.

METHODS
Data were derived from the international WHO-collaborative 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC)' study 2005/2006, including 52 907 15-year-old students from 35 European and North American countries. Socioeconomic position was measured by the Family Affluence Scale. Multilevel logistic regression models were conducted to examine the contribution of family, school and peer factors in explaining the association between family affluence and weekly smoking.

RESULTS
Across countries, adolescents from low affluent families had an increased risk of weekly smoking (ORboys 1.14, confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.23; ORgirls 1.36, CI 1.26-1.46) compared with adolescents from high affluent families. Family and school factors mediated the association between family affluence and smoking to a high extent up to 100\% (boys) and 81\% (girls) in joint analyses. The most important single factors were family structure, relationships with parents, academic achievement and school satisfaction. Peer factors did not mediate the association between family affluence and adolescent smoking.

CONCLUSION
The association between socioeconomic status and adolescent weekly smoking can largely be explained by an unequal distribution of family- and school-related factors. Focusing on the parent-adolescent relationship and adolescent school achievement can help to better understand inequalities in adolescent smoking behaviour.}
}

@techreport{ndc23799,
           month = {April},
            type = {Other},
           title = {Being young in Europe today.},
         address = {Luxembourg},
       publisher = {Publications Office of the European Union},
            year = {2015},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23799/},
        abstract = {Being young in Europe today presents some of Eurostat?s most interesting data on children and young people in the European Union. It gives an insight into the past, current and future situation of our youngest fellow citizens, ranging from attending school and participating in sport and leisure activities, to leaving the parental home and entering the professional life. Data are presented for the European Union and its Member States as well as for the EFTA countries.

Being young in Europe today provides an overview of the wealth of information that is available on Eurostat?s website and within its online databases.}
}

@article{ndc23744,
          volume = {5},
          number = {6},
           month = {April},
          author = {Jon P Nelson},
           title = {Binge drinking and alcohol prices: a systematic review of age-related results from econometric studies, natural experiments and field studies.},
       publisher = {Springer},
         journal = {Health Economics Review},
            year = {2015},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23744/},
        abstract = {Background: Heavy episodic (?binge?) drinking of alcohol has serious public health implications, especially for youth and young adults. Previous summaries and surveys have failed to address in a comprehensive manner the effects of alcohol prices on binge drinking by gender or age group.

Methods: A qualitative systematic review is performed for effects of alcohol prices (or tax surrogates) on binge drinking for three age groups: youth, young adults, and adults. Outcomes examined include binge participation, intensity and frequency. Criteria for data collection and potential sources of bias are discussed, including adequacy of price data. Price-binge relationships are judged using a 95\% confidence interval (p {$\leq$} 0.05) for statistical significance.

Results: Fifty-six relevant econometric studies were found, with studies and results distributed equally among three age groups. Also found were five natural experiments for tax reductions and six field studies. Null results or mixed results are found in more than half of the studies. The body of evidence indicates that binge drinkers are not highly-responsive to increased prices. Non-responsiveness holds generally for younger and older drinkers and for male and female binge drinkers alike. A limitation of the current literature is that results are only available for higher-income countries.

Conclusions: Increased alcohol taxes or prices are unlikely to be effective as a means to reduce binge drinking, regardless of gender or age group.}
}

@article{ndc23566,
          volume = {32},
          number = {Special issue 1},
           month = {March},
          author = {M Harley and D Connor and MC Clarke and I Kelleher and H Coughlan and F Lynch and C Fitzpatrick and M Cannon},
           title = {Prevalence of Mental Disorder among young adults in Ireland: a population based study.},
       publisher = {Cambridge},
            year = {2015},
         journal = {Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine},
           pages = {79--91},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23566/}
}

@misc{ndc24075,
           month = {March},
           title = {Building resilience and character in young people. Alcohol and drug prevention briefing paper.},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {Mentor ADEPSIS},
            year = {2015},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24075/},
        abstract = {Building resilience in children and young people is one of the key principles of good education, and a necessary requirement in facilitating personal growth, whilst enabling children and young people to successfully navigate life and life challenges.

This briefing paper looks at resilience in the context of universal educational settings (both formal and informal). By giving definitions of key terms to provide a better understanding, it will then explore ways in which these can be contextualised and translated into practice.}
}

@article{ndc24644,
          volume = {50},
          number = {11},
          author = {Kareena McAloney},
           title = {Clustering of sex and substance use behaviors in adolescence.},
       publisher = {Informa healthcare},
         journal = {Substance Use \& Misuse},
           pages = {1406--1411},
            year = {2015},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24644/},
        abstract = {BACKGROUND
Adolescents often experiment with substance use and sexual activity, which can impact upon their health and well-being, and establish harmful patterns of behavior which continue into adulthood. While substance use and participation in sexual behaviors often co-occur, few studies have examined whether these behaviors cluster in adolescence.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate clustering of sexual activity and substance use among youth in Northern Ireland.

METHOD
Data from 875 young people (aged 16) who participated in the 2008 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey were used to investigate clustering using the Odds/Expected ratio method. Gender differences in clustering were explored.

RESULTS
Alcohol consumption was the most prevalent risk behavior (75\%), followed by cigarette smoking, sexual intercourse, illicit substance use, and solvent use the least prevalent. Over 40\% of young people participated in multiple risk behaviors (2 or more). Several behavior combinations were statistically clustered, for most the reported prevalence was lower than expected, however, participation in all five risk behaviors occurred at a much higher rate than expected, particularly for male youth.

CONCLUSIONS
While experimentation with risky behaviors is often considered developmentally appropriate in adolescence it is important to understand how young people experience these behaviors, and the potential for multiple risk exposures as a result of participation in substance use and sexual behaviors. These findings highlight the clustering of substance use and sexual behaviors, and indicate variations in vulnerability to participation in multiple risk behaviors by gender.}
}

@article{ndc23984,
          volume = {171},
          number = {12},
           month = {December},
          author = {Natalie Castellanos-Ryan and Maren Struve and Robert Whelan and Tobias Banaschewski and Gareth J Barker and Arun L W Bokde and Uli Bromberg and Christian B{\"u}chel and Herta Flor and Mira Fauth-B{\"u}hler and Vincent Frouin and Jurgen Gallinat and Penny Gowland and Andreas Heinz and Claire Lawrence and Jean-Luc Martinot and Frauke Nees and Tomas Paus and Zdenka Pausova and Marcella Rietschel and Trevor W Robbins and Michael N Smolka and Gunter Schumann and Hugh Garavan and Patricia J Conrod},
           title = {Neural and cognitive correlates of the common and specific variance across externalizing problems in young adolescence.},
       publisher = {American Psychiatric Association},
            year = {2014},
         journal = {The American Journal of Psychiatry},
           pages = {1310--1319},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23984/},
        abstract = {Longitudinal and family-based research suggests that conduct disorder, substance misuse, and ADHD involve both unique forms of dysfunction as well as more specific dysfunctions unique to each condition. Using direct measures of brain function, this study also found evidence in both unique and disorder-specific perturbations.}
}

@techreport{ndc23037,
           month = {November},
            type = {Other},
           title = {Dynamics of child economic vulnerability and socio-emotional development: an analysis of the first two waves of the growing up in Ireland study.},
          author = {Dorothy Watson and Bertrand Maitre and Christopher T Whelan and James Williams},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Department of Children and Youth Affairs},
            year = {2014},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23037/},
        abstract = {This research report draws on the longitudinal Growing Up in Ireland study to examine change over time in the economic vulnerability of families and its consequences for the socio-emotional development of children. Economic vulnerability refers to an increased risk of multidimensional material disadvantage, involving a distinctive profile in relation to low income, household joblessness and economic stress. Socio-emotional development is measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). As well as examining the risk factors for economic vulnerability and socio-emotional problems, the report examines the factors associated with improved outcomes for children, enhancing their resilience.

The report addresses the following research questions:
1. How did the economic vulnerability of families change as Ireland moved from boom to recession?
2. Which families are most at risk of economic vulnerability? Does this differ between the ?98 Cohort and the ?08 Cohort?
3. What is the relationship between family economic vulnerability and the child?s socio-emotional well-being?
Does the relationship differ depending on whether the economic vulnerability is persistent or transient?
4. Are there factors which appear to protect children from the impact of economic vulnerability on socio-emotional development?}
}

@article{ndc23124,
          volume = {40},
          number = {4},
           month = {October},
          author = {Martin P Davoren and Kevin Hayes and Mary Horgan and Frances Shiely},
           title = {Sexually transmitted infection incidence among adolescents in Ireland.},
       publisher = {PMH publications},
            year = {2014},
         journal = {Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care},
           pages = {276--282},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23124/},
        abstract = {OBJECTIVE
The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) rests with young people, yet in Ireland there has been very little research into this population. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence rate and establish risk factors that predict STI occurrence among adolescents in Ireland.

DESIGN
Routine diagnostic, demographic and behavioural data from first-time visits to three screening centres in the southwest of Ireland were obtained. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess risk factors that predict STI occurrence among adolescents.

RESULTS
A total of 2784 first-time patients, aged 13-19 years, received 3475 diagnoses between January 1999 and September 2009; 1168 (42\%) of adolescents had notifiable STIs. The incidence rate of STIs is 225/100 000 person-years. Univariate analysis identified eligible risk factors (p{\ensuremath{<}}0.2) for inclusion in the multivariable model. Multivariable logistic regression showed the dominant risk factors for STI diagnosis to be: males who sometimes [odds ratio (OR) 2.02] or never (OR 1.83) use condoms; and females 18-19 years (OR 2.26) and 16-18 years (OR 1.8), with 2 (OR 1.33) or 3+ (OR 1.56) partners in the last 12 months, who are non-intravenous drug users (OR 0.72), are most likely to receive a positive STI diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS
STI diagnosis has become increasingly common in Ireland. The proportion of notifications among those aged under 20 years is increasing. These data illustrate the significance of age, condom use and number of sexual partners as risk factors for STI diagnosis. Furthermore, providing data for the first time, we report on the high incidence rate of STIs among adolescents in Ireland. The high levels of risk-taking behaviour and STI acquisition are highlighted and suggest that there is a need for an integrated public health approach to combat this phenomenon in the adolescent population.}
}

@misc{ndc22462,
           month = {August},
           title = {Women and girls at risk. Evidence across the life course.},
          author = {Di McNeish and Sara Scott},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {DMSS Research},
            year = {2014},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/22462/},
        abstract = {The purpose of this review is to inform a new cross-sector strategic alliance focused on women and girls with complex needs. It reviews the evidence base for the underlying hypotheses of the initiative:
? There are groups of women and girls with similar clusters of extreme vulnerabilities in very damaging circumstances and systems.
? For some women the trajectories towards these highly damaging outcomes appear to be driven by unaddressed or unresolved trauma (defined broadly to include abuse, neglect, exploitation and disrupted attachment). Other risk factors, such as personality type, genetics and family history, may also play a role.
? Girls may begin to exhibit the behavioural manifestations of this early experience in different ways from boys in adolescence (which is also when service responses begin to differ).
? Some women have been failed as children and as adults by the services meant to protect them, to support their resilience and to assist their recovery.
? There are opportunities to address these issues and support women and girls by taking a ?life course? approach, looking holistically at a structural, social and cultural context.

The review is based on a search of a broad range of evidence sources including: published research, theoretical literature, data available on UK government websites and ?grey literature? such as organisational reports and websites.

The parameters of the search strategy have been literature published in the English language since 2000, supplemented by a selective review of significant literature since 1980 (identified primarily through citations).The review has explored available research and other sources of data on the characteristics and risk factors of women or adolescent girls who experience negative outcomes, including those:
? In contact with the criminal justice system as adults or young women
? Experiencing homelessness
? Involved in prostitution or sexual exploitation
? Experiencing severe mental health problems
? With serious drugs and/or alcohol problems.

We consider the relationship between these outcomes and the prevalence or accumulation of negative and abusive experiences across the life course, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, disrupted or poor attachments, domestic violence, negative school experiences and being in care, highlighting differential impacts by gender.

We also review the available evidence on the characteristics of interventions that succeed in interrupting these pathways, and increase resilience and the possibility of recovery at different points of the life course, for example drug and alcohol and mental health interventions, education and training, maternity and parenting provision, and housing and criminal justice responses.}
}

@article{ndc21685,
          volume = {Issue 49, Spring 2014},
           month = {April},
          author = {Johnny Connolly},
           title = {Investigating the links between substance misuse and crime among young offenders.},
       publisher = {Health Research Board},
         journal = {Drugnet Ireland},
           pages = {16--17},
            year = {2014},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21685/}
}

@misc{ndc12531,
           month = {April},
           title = {Interventions to reduce substance misuse among vulnerable young people.},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence},
            year = {2014},
            note = {NICE public health intervention guidance 4.},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/12531/},
        abstract = {The Department of Health asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to produce public health guidance on community-based interventions to reduce substance misuse among vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people.

The guidance is for NHS and non-NHS practitioners and others who have a direct or indirect role in ? and responsibility for ? reducing substance misuse. This includes those working in local authorities and the education, voluntary, community, social care, youth and criminal justice sectors.}
}

@misc{ndc24326,
          volume = {39},
          number = {3},
           month = {March},
          author = {Matthew Kwan and Sarah Bobko and Guy Faulkner and Peter Donnelly and John Cairney},
           title = {Sport participation and alcohol and illicit drug use in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review of longitudinal studies.},
       publisher = {Elsevier Science},
            year = {2014},
         journal = {Addictive Behaviors},
           pages = {497--506},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/24326/},
        abstract = {Sport participation can play an important and positive role in the health and development of children and youth. One area that has recently been receiving greater attention is the role that sport participation might play in preventing drug and alcohol use among youth. 

The current study is a systematic review of 17 longitudinal studies examining the relationship between sport participation and alcohol and drug use among adolescents. Results indicated that sport participation is associated with alcohol use, with 82\% of the included studies (14/17) showing a significant positive relationship. Sport participation, however, appears to be related to reduced illicit drug use, especially use of non-cannabis related drugs. Eighty percent of the studies found sport participation associated with decreased illicit drug use, while 50\% of the studies found negative association between sport participation and marijuana use. Further investigation revealed that participation in sports reduced the risk of overall illicit drug use, but particularly during high school; suggesting that this may be a critical period to reduce or prevent the use of drugs through sport. 

Future research must better understand what conditions are necessary for sport participation to have beneficial outcomes in terms of preventing alcohol and/or illicit drug use. This has been absent in the extent literature and will be central to intervention efforts in this area.}
}

@techreport{ndc21452,
           month = {January},
            type = {Other},
           title = {Promoting the participation of seldom heard young people: a review of the literature on best practice principles.},
          author = {Cathy Kelleher and Mairead Seymour and Ann Marie Halpenny},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Centre for Social \& Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology},
            year = {2014},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21452/},
        abstract = {1. Introduction p.1.
1.1 Background
1.2 Who participates?
1.3 Structure of the report

2. Methodology p.6.
2.1 Literature selection
2.2 Critical engagement and synthesis
2.3 Thematic structuring of the review
2.4 Research advisory group

3. Legislation and policy context p.9.
3.1 International context
3.2 European context
3.3 National context
3.4 Conclusion

4. Seldom heard young people p.24.
4.1 Who are ?seldom heard? young people?
4.2 Conclusion

5. Setting the context: the challenges and barriers to participation for seldom heard young people p.29.
5.1 Barriers and challenges to participation for seldom heard young people
5.2 Barriers and challenges to participation for seldom heard young people in school/student councils
5.3 Conclusion

6. Representing the perspectives of seldom heard young people in participation structures p35.
6.1 Improving seldom heard young people?s inclusion in participation structures
6.2 Conclusion

7. Improving participation experiences for seldom heard young people p.42.
7.1 Young people?s perspectives on meaningful participation
7.2 Levels of participation
7.3 Youth development versus youth involvement approaches
7.4 Methods of participation
7.5 Informal participation
7.6 The whole-systems approach
7.7 Outcomes from participation
7.8 Conclusion

8. Drawing key messages together p.53.
8.1 What do we mean by ?seldom heard young people??
8.2 Defining participation
8.3 Barriers and challenges to participation for seldom heard young people
8.4 Considerations for the development of more effective approaches to participation
9. References p.67}
}

@techreport{ndc21286,
           month = {January},
            type = {Other},
           title = {Young people, alcohol and sex: what?s consent got to do with it? Exploring how attitudes to alcohol impact on
judgements about consent to sexual activity: a qualitative study of university students.},
          author = {Padraig MacNeela and Thomas Conway and Siobhan Kavanagh and Lisa Ann Kennedy and John McCaffrey},
         address = {Galway},
       publisher = {Rape Crisis Network Ireland},
            year = {2014},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21286/},
        abstract = {This qualitative study explores the intersection of university students? attitudes to alcohol use and consent to engage in sexual activity. The study was carried out by researchers at the School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, commissioned by Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI), between March and December, 2013. This report describes:
?	The background to the study
?	The two qualitative methodologies used to collect and analyse data
?	The findings that arose from student reactions to hypothetical scenarios of non-consenting sexual activity, and
?	Discusses the findings in respect of the scope to support change in attitudes to alcohol use and consent.

One of the key findings in the extensive RCNI Rape and Justice in Ireland report (Hanley et al., 2009) was the high rate of co-occurrence of heavy drinking with rape, by perpetrators and / or victims. This finding led RCNI to develop a year-long campaign in 2012, titled Calling Time on Sexual Violence and Alcohol. The current study builds on this work to address the links that exist between sexual violence and alcohol use. Internationally, it is recognised that extreme intoxication is a component of how the public understand sexual coercion and rape. For instance, this link underpins a ?double standard? attitude, whereby victims are attributed more responsibility if they had been drinking while perpetrators are often perceived as less responsible (Abbey, 2008). 

Studies of university student attitudes to alcohol use and non-consenting sexual encounters are not available in the Irish context, so relevant work from other countries will be cited in introducing this study. One reference point in the existing research literature is that of stereotypical rape myths (Ryan, 2011). These myths rely on attitudes and social scripts that support a network of fixed, false beliefs about sexual violence. Such rape myths are linked to the stigmatisation of victims by others. They are also associated with self-stigma, as many women who have been forced to have sex do not label the experience of rape, due to their own internalised expectations for what rape entails (Littleton et al., 2006). Thus, a victim who has been drinking may be less likely to label sexual violence as rape, in the mistaken belief that he or she shares responsibility for the assault.

It is not just through rape-specific expectations that preconceptions and stereotypes inform attitudes to non-consenting sex. Berntson et al. (2013) take a broader view on how college students use scripts and pre-existing expectations to make sense of their relationship experiences. For them, relationships and sexual activity are interpreted through interpersonal sexual scripts that are shared among peers. Berntson et al. suggest that women are more likely to view their sexual activity within a communicative, relationship-based script. They contrast this with the traditional male preference for a recreational script for ?no strings? sex. This picture reflects long-standing cultural norms, in which men and women may be pursuing different, potentially conflicting objectives through sexual activity. It should be noted that gender role differences in expectations for sexual activity may now be changing. According to U.S. research, recreational sexual scripts have gained traction among young adults as an acceptable option for both sexes. This has been seen in the emergence of the ?hook up? culture. Hooking up refers to engaging in sexual behaviours without a pre-existing romantic relationship (Downing-Matibag \& Geisinger, 2009). This might include sexual intercourse, but a hook up can also include or be restricted to oral sex, sexual touching, or masturbation.

It is at this point that it becomes essential to consider the intersection between attitudes to sex and the impact that alcohol use has for sexual expression among young adults. Alcohol use has been identified as a critical issue for the well-being of young adults who take part in hook ups. In one recent survey of U.S. students, Thomson Ross et al. (2011) found that non-consenting sex was strongly associated with binge drinking and reports of harms arising from alcohol consumption. 

The link between drinking and non-consenting sex is especially relevant in an Irish context, as, quite apart from the emergence of a hook up culture, alcohol use is a dominant feature of socialising among young adults. For instance, a comparative study of 21 countries established that Irish university students exhibited one of the highest rate of drinking internationally (94\%) (Dantzer et al., 2006). Dantzer et al. found no gender difference in the rate of non-drinking among Irish students, whereas in most countries rates of non-drinking are substantially higher among females than males. Ireland is one of several European countries with particularly high rates of alcohol consumption, along with Denmark, England, Scotland, Wales, and the Netherlands (Dantzer et al., 2006). All of these countries have high rates of binge drinking as well, a style of drinking that involves the consumption of large amounts of alcohol within a short period. There is by now little doubt that binge drinking is associated with considerably elevated risks of exposure to alcohol-related harms. These span the physical domain (e.g., injury, blackouts), psychological harms (e.g., lower quality of life, alcohol dependence), and social harms (e.g., higher rates of public disorder convictions, lower academic performance) (Kypri et al., 2009). Following repeated exposure to harms among peer networks, negative events such as a memory blackout or interpersonal conflict may become normalised.

It may be the case that these adverse outcomes become accepted as the cost of accommodating heavy drinking as an integral part of the university experience. The degree to which alcohol-related harms such as non-consenting sex, rape, and sexual assault have been normalised is as yet unstudied in the Irish context.}
}

@article{ndc21868,
          volume = {23},
          number = {3},
          author = {Tunde Apantaku-Olajide and Philip James and Bobby P Smyth},
           title = {Association of educational attainment and adolescent substance use disorder in a clinical sample.},
       publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},
         journal = {Journal of Child \& Adolescent Substance Abuse},
           pages = {169--176},
            year = {2014},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21868/},
        abstract = {This study explores substance use, psychosocial problems, and the relationships to educational status in 193 adolescents (school dropouts, 63; alternative education, 46; mainstream students, 84) who attended a substance abuse treatment facility in Dublin, Ireland. The study found that the 3 groups exhibited statistically significant differences in their substance use problems, with the school dropouts displaying significantly more problems. The need for early detection and intervention of at-risk students, and collaborative interagency work aimed at addressing substance use, cannot be overemphasized as strategies to ultimately prevent school dropout.}
}

@misc{ndc22810,
           title = {Alcohol and the developing adolescent brain: evidence review.},
         address = {Edinburgh},
       publisher = {Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems},
            year = {2014},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/22810/},
        abstract = {?	Section One: Introduction
?	Section Two: In the first paper, Dr. Iroise Dumontheil summarises the processes of development that occur during adolescence, the links between adolescence and mental health, and findings from research into peer influences on behaviour. 
?	Section Three: In the next paper, Dr. Killian Welch reviews evidence on detectable brain abnormalities in young people with alcohol use disorders. 
?	Section Four: Professor Gunter Schumann then goes on to discuss what advances in genetic research can teach us about different responses to alcohol by individuals. 
?	Section Five: Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes makes the case for the importance of understanding the neuropsychobiological mechanisms for early-onset alcohol use and escalation of drinking so as to inform prevention and treatment.
?	Section Six: Dr.Gordon Fernie reviews the available evidence to determine alcohol?s impact on impulsivity and control processes.
?	Section Seven: This aims to capture the main themes of our round table discussion. This process was facilitated by the discussants; Professor Stephen Lawrie, Dr. Peter Rice, Dr. Evelyn Gillan and Eric Carlin.
?	Appendix One: Dr. Deborah Shipton discusses findings of national surveys of self-reported alcohol consumption provide insight into adolescent drinking in Scotland.
?	Appendix Two: Dr. Lesley Graham examines the evidence on harms to young people from alcohol consumption.}
}

@techreport{ndc21891,
            type = {Other},
           title = {Health for the world?s adolescent.},
         address = {Geneva},
       publisher = {World Health Organization},
            year = {2014},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21891/},
        abstract = {The report brings together all WHO guidance concerning adolescents across the full spectrum of health issues. It offers a state-of-the-art overview of four core areas for health sector action:

providing health services
collecting and using the data needed to plan and monitor health sector interventions
developing and implementing health-promoting and health-protecting policies and mobilizing and supporting other sectors.

The report concludes with key actions for strengthening national health sector responses to adolescent health.

The website will be the springboard for consultation with a wide range of stakeholders leading to a concerted action plan for adolescents.}
}

@misc{ndc20423,
          volume = {25 Jul},
           month = {July},
           title = {Effectiveness Bank Bulletin [Multiple risk behaviour].},
       publisher = {Drug and Alcohol Findings},
            year = {2013},
         journal = {Effectiveness Bank Bulletin},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/20423/},
        abstract = {An overview of prevention of multiple risk behaviour in adolescence and young adulthood.
Jackson C.A., Henderson M., Frank J.W. et al. Journal of Public Health: 2012, 34(S1), p. i31?i40.

Different youth 'problem' behaviours overlap and share common causes, so it should make sense to implement programmes which affect several at once. That was the thesis of this Scottish review, which looked at studies reporting on both substance use and risky or underage sex. The literature was scarce but did give some reasons for optimism.

Summary 
Substance (alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug) use and sexual risk behaviour share some common underlying determinants. This 'rapid review' sought to synthesise the international evidence on 'what works' to prevent these overlapping risk behaviours, focusing largely on the 'microenvironment' rather than broader social and legal issues, and on universal approaches addressing whole youth populations rather than selected 'high-risk' groups or individuals.

The reviewers found no previous reviews of intervention studies which had reported multiple risk-behaviour outcomes, so instead they identified reviews focused on single risk-behaviours, and also looked for individual evaluation studies which reported both substance use and sexual risk behaviour outcomes. The latter had to be based on the young people's behaviour at age 11 to 25 and the impacts of interventions implemented between the ages of about five and 25.}
}

@article{ndc20133,
          volume = {Issue 46, Summer 2013},
           month = {July},
          author = {Martin Keane},
           title = {Young people appeal for a more inclusive society.},
       publisher = {Health Research Board},
         journal = {Drugnet Ireland},
           pages = {12--13},
            year = {2013},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/20133/}
}

@article{ndc22234,
          volume = {18},
          number = {11},
           month = {June},
          author = {Daniel Regan and Todd G Morrison},
           title = {Adolescents' negative attitudes towards non-drinkers: a novel predictor of risky drinking.},
       publisher = {Sage},
            year = {2013},
         journal = {Journal of Health Psychology},
           pages = {1465--1477},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/22234/},
        abstract = {The Regan Attitudes towards Non-Drinkers Scale was developed to address the concept that consumption of alcohol may serve as a means of avoiding social costs associated with being a non-drinker. This study sought to examine the Regan Attitudes towards Non-Drinkers Scale within a sample of Irish school-age adolescents. Results indicated that the Regan Attitudes towards Non-Drinkers Scale was a statistically significant predictor of self-reported problematic drinking. 

The findings of this study underscore the importance of this newly identified construct and highlight the necessity of further empirical tests of the Regan Attitudes towards Non-Drinkers Scale.}
}

@misc{ndc20038,
           month = {April},
           title = {Investigating parental monitoring, school and family influences on adolescent alcohol use.},
          author = {Kathryn Higgins and Mark McCann and Aisling McLaughlin and Claire McCartan and Oliver Perra},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {Alcohol research UK},
            year = {2013},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/20038/},
        abstract = {This study aims to: 
?	test different causal hypotheses explaining the longitudinal relationship between parental monitoring and alcohol use trajectories 
?	test the role of peer- and school-level factors in influencing individual drinking trajectories and monitoring 
?	investigate how patterns of monitoring dimensions (e.g. parental control and child disclosure) and their association with alcohol use change when considering other factors 

To achieve these aims, this study was divided into a number of sections; path analysis investigating how parental monitoring and alcohol use are related; multilevel modelling, investigating how alcohol use, and parental monitoring varies between different schools, and finally; structural equation models to assess the direct and indirect associations between monitoring and other important family characteristics.

Key findings
? Children whose parents exert greater control over their free time activities tend to drink less frequently.
Early control has a lasting influence on alcohol use
? Higher rates of drinking in early adolescence leads to reduced levels of parent-controlled boundaries and limits at home
? Being in a school with a higher proportion of frequent drinkers is a risk factor for frequent drinking
? Girls who attend single-sex post-primary schools tend to drink more than pupils attending co-educational schools or male-only schools}
}

@misc{ndc19279,
          volume = {15 Feb},
           month = {February},
           title = {Effectiveness Bank Bulletin [Assertive outreach strategies for narrowing the adolescent substance abuse treatment gap].},
       publisher = {Drug and Alcohol Findings},
            year = {2013},
         journal = {Effectiveness Bank Bulletin},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/19279/},
        abstract = {Assertive outreach strategies for narrowing the adolescent substance abuse treatment gap: implications for research, practice, and policy.
Ozechowski T.J., Waldron H.B. et al. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research: 2010, 37(1), p. 40?63.
This comprehensive US-focused review addresses the need to enrol more young problem substance users in treatment even if they at first refuse, validated methods for identifying such young people and engaging them in treatment with the help of family and others, and ethical and financial considerations involved in implementing these methods. 

Summary 
The Gateway Provider Model of youth service access hinges on equipping providers within so-called gateway service systems for youth with the knowledge and tools to recognise substance use problems, and to work in a coordinated manner across agencies to link youth exhibiting such problems with appropriate treatment services. Primary gateway service systems for adolescent substance abusers include juvenile justice, child and adolescent mental health, school-based counselling and other special programmes, emergency rooms, hospitals, and primary medical care settings, child welfare and related social services, as well as shelters and other facilities serving runaway and homeless youth.

However, specialised strategies may be warranted for the subpopulation of adolescents whose substance use disorders are unaccompanied by other emotional or behavioural disorders. In the USA, about one third to one half of the population of adolescents with substance use disorders may be relatively free of diagnosable comorbid conditions, which, some evidence suggests, may be associated with the likelihood of receiving substance abuse treatment. Specialised assertive outreach strategies may benefit this subpopulation given that such adolescents are unlikely to make contact with existing services and systems that could provide an entryway into substance abuse treatment, are relatively unlikely to have their substance use problems detected even if such contact is made, and may have parents who are not fully aware of the severity of their substance use problems and who may be unmotivated or unable to persuade or compel them to enter substance abuse treatment. The remainder of this review discussed some promising directions for developing assertive outreach strategies for this subpopulation which may also be useful for young people who do have other diagnosable comorbid conditions.}
}

@techreport{ndc19228,
           month = {January},
            type = {Other},
           title = {Well-being in post primary schools. Guidelines for mental health promotion and suicide prevention.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Department of Education and Skills; Health Service Executive \& Department of Health},
            year = {2013},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/19228/},
        abstract = {Section 1: introduction p.1
Section 2: mental health promotion and suicide prevention 5
Section 3: school support for all: a whole-school approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention p.13
Section 4: school support for some: a whole-school approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention p.31
Section 5: school support for a few: a whole-school approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention p.35
Section 6: support for schools: addressing mental health promotion and suicide prevention p. 43
Conclusion p. 51
References  p.52}
}

@article{ndc19150,
          volume = {131},
          number = {1-2},
           month = {January},
          author = {Mike Vuolo},
           title = {National-level drug policy and young people's illicit drug use: A multilevel analysis of the European Union.},
       publisher = {Elsevier Science},
            year = {2013},
         journal = {Drug and Alcohol Dependence},
           pages = {149--156},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/19150/},
        abstract = {Introduction:
Recent research has called upon investigators to exploit cross-national differences to uncover the cultural and structural factors influencing drug use. While the individual-level correlates are well-established, little is known about the association between cross-national variation in drug policies and young people's substance use. This study examines, net of individual-level predictors, the association between national-level drug policy and use of an illicit drug other than cannabis.

Methods:
The study uses Eurobarometer repeated cross-sectional surveys in 2002 and 2004 of adolescents aged 15?24 drawn in multistage, random probability samples proportional to population size and density within regions of their country (N = 15,191). Participants completed self-reported measures of last month drug use, attitudes toward drugs, school and work participation, and demographics. Gathered from several international bodies, national-level policy measures include drug offense levels, possession decriminalization, and presence and usage of harm reduction strategies.

Results:
Hierarchical logistic regression models demonstrate that, while controlling for important individual-level predictors, in countries where there is no restriction on possession of drugs for personal use, the odds of drug use in the last month are 79\% lower (p {\ensuremath{<}} 0.05). On the other hand, higher usage of treatment and drug substitution are associated with higher levels of drug use. These results are robust to several alternate specifications.

Conclusions:
Among the strongest and most consistent findings, eliminating punishments for possession for personal use is not associated with higher drug use. The results indicate that researchers should take national-level context into account in individual-level studies of drug use.}
}

@article{ndc19849,
          volume = {16},
          number = {7},
          author = {Brigid Arkins and Mark Tyrell and Eddie Herlihy and Brenda Crowley and Rose Lynch},
           title = {Assessing the reasons for deliberate self-harm in young people.},
       publisher = {RCN Publishing Company},
         journal = {Mental Health Practice},
           pages = {28--32},
            year = {2013},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/19849/},
        abstract = {A history of deliberate self-harm (DSH) is one of the main indicators for suicide. There has been a rise in the number of presentations to emergency departments as a result of DSH, predominantly among 15 to 24 year olds. The main risk factors for this are risk-taking behaviour, substance misuse and interpersonal conflict, often occurring in combination in the 24 hours before the self-harm occurred. Studies of adolescents identify family, friends and school to be the main sources of support in preventing suicidal behaviour, proving more important than help from external agencies. Support and guidance for families and friends may therefore be valuable. Repeated presentation with DSH to the emergency department can signify an underlying problem that is not being identified or addressed, leading to recurrent crises. National early-intervention programmes involving screening for risk factors, and brief intervention in emergency departments, could be cost-effective interventions.}
}

@techreport{ndc19479,
            type = {Other},
           title = {Young voices: have your say. Summary report.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Department of Children and Youth Affairs},
            year = {2013},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/19479/},
        abstract = {Young Voices - Have your say' was a series of regional consultations with young people on how they can be more fully included in society.

In workshops young people discussed:
?	What does ?being included? mean?
?	What stops young people being included?
?	What are the times in a young person?s life when they are most at risk of being left out?
?	What groups of young people are most at risk of being left out?
?	What helps young people feel more included?
?	What do young people get from being involved in clubs and activities?
?	How could these activities be better and what new ideas do you have for clubs and activities?}
}

@article{ndc21056,
          volume = {43},
          number = {6},
           title = {Adolescents exposed to suicidal behavior of others: prevalence of self-harm and associated psychological, lifestyle, and life event factors.},
          author = {Elaine M McMahon and Paul Corcoran and Helen Keeley and Ivan J Perry and Ella Arensman},
            year = {2013},
           pages = {634--645},
         journal = {Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21056/},
        abstract = {Exposure to suicidal behavior of others was examined among 3,881 Irish adolescents in the Child and Adolescent Self-harm in Europe (CASE) study. One third of the sample had been exposed to suicidal behavior, and exposed adolescents were eight times more likely to also report own self-harm. Exposed adolescents shared many risk factors with those reporting own self-harm. Those reporting both exposure and own self-harm presented the most maladaptive profile on psychological, life event, and lifestyle domains, but neither anxiety nor depression distinguished this group. Exposed adolescents are burdened by a wide range of risk factors and in need of support.}
}

@article{ndc21057,
          volume = {34},
          number = {4},
          author = {Elaine M McMahon and Paul Corcoran and Carmel McAuliffe and Helen Keeley and Ivan J Perry and Ella Arensman},
           title = {Mediating effects of coping style on associations between mental health factors and self-harm among adolescents.},
       publisher = {Hogrefe},
         journal = {Crisis},
           pages = {242--250},
            year = {2013},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21057/},
        abstract = {There is evidence for an association between suicidal behavior and coping style among adolescents.}
}

@misc{ndc18967,
           month = {December},
           title = {Young people \& alcohol. Essential information for social workers.},
         address = {Birmingham},
       publisher = {British Association of Social Workers},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18967/},
        abstract = {This guide seeks to support Social Workers in their practice with young people who drink alcohol and whose use of alcohol is excessive or problematic. It will also be relevant for other social and health care professionals. The information in the guide should be supplemented by further reading and learning.

Contents:
3 Reasons young people drink
4 Understanding the pressures
5 Education \& awareness
6 Risks \& safety planning
7 Working with parents/carers
8 Stages of alcohol use \& suggested interventions
10 Assessment: principles
11 Assessment: practice
13 Intervention
15 Resources
16 Local contact information}
}

@techreport{ndc18859,
           month = {November},
            type = {Government Publication},
           title = {Growing up in Ireland. Key findings: 13-year-olds. No. 3. The family and financial circumstances of 13-year-olds.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Department of Children and Youth Affairs},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18859/},
        abstract = {This Key Finding reports on data from the second wave of interviews with Growing Up in Ireland?s Child Cohort. The 8,568 children and their families were first interviewed when the children were 9 years old, and then at age 13 years, when 7,400 were reinterviewed between August 2011 and February 2012.

The majority (81\%) of 13-year-olds lived in two-parent families, the main caregiver generally being their mother. Family structures were broadly stable between 9 and 13 years; just over 3\% of the children changed from one-parent to two-parent families over the period in question, while 4\% changed from two-parent to one-parent families.

The mother?s employment status was strongly related to her education. Better-educated mothers were much more likely to be at work outside the home. Family income (adjusted to account for differences in size and composition of family) was also strongly related to mother?s education and family structure.

The effects of the recession of the last four years were clearly felt by families with 13-year-olds. The extent of difficulties experienced in making ends meet increased substantially ? 29\% were experiencing difficulties at the first interview compared with 61\% at the second. Of most concern is the substantial minorities of families who, at the time of interview, could not afford or had to cut back on basics (31\%) or who were behind with their utility bills (13\%) or rent/mortgage payments (11\%).}
}

@techreport{ndc18597,
           month = {October},
            type = {Government Publication},
           title = {How we see it. Report of a survey on young people's body image.},
          author = {Angela O'Connell},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Department of Children and Youth Affairs},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18597/},
        abstract = {There is a growing body of research in Western and developing cultures demonstrating that teenagers, and teenage girls in particular, are worried about body image, although earlier studies also indicated an increasing concern with body image among boys. Negative body image is associated with poorer mental well-being, eating disorders, self-harm, acceptance of plastic surgery, smoking, use of anabolic steroids and dieting aids, excessive exercise, becoming the target of teasing and bullying, and developing a lack of confidence in interpersonal relationships. Fear of being seen as gay or lesbian (homophobia) in defining both male and female bodies, and in policing behaviour, is also implicit in many of the studies.

The main recommendations made by the young people who completed the survey can be broadly grouped under four approaches:
?	A Body Image Awareness campaign ? to highlight the complex issues facing young people in relation to how they feel about their bodies.
?	Personal Development programmes and education ? to help young people to develop a more positive body image.
?	Information that is made available and accessible to young people on issues such as healthy eating, eating disorders, obesity and anabolic steroids.
?	Promoting sports and exercise ? to make young people healthier.}
}

@misc{ndc18356,
           month = {September},
           title = {Silent voices. Supporting children and young people affected by parental alcohol misuse.},
          author = {Jon Adamson and Lorna Templeton},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {The Office of the Children?s Commissioner},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18356/},
        abstract = {Main table of contents:
?	Summary of Key Messages and Recommendations 	 
?	Section One: Background 	 
?	Section Two: Methodology 	 
?	Section Three: Consultation with children and young people 	 
?	Section Four: Review Findings 	 
?	Research Question One: What is known about the experiences of children and families where there is parental alcohol misuse and to what extent is this informed by the views of children and young people themselves? 	 
?	Research Question Two: What are the key wider issues associated with PAM (e.g. unemployment, domestic abuse, mental health) and how do they relate to risk/protective factors for children and families? 	 
?	Research Question Three: What is known about protective factors and processes in this population and how they can minimise risk/negative outcomes? 	 
?	Research Question Four: What is known about services, and their delivery, and the impact/benefit of such services for children (and families) where there is PAM and to what extent is this informed by the views of children and young people themselves? 	 
?	Research Question Five: What is the current policy context for children and families where there is PAM and how might it be improved? 	 
?	Research Question Six: Thinking about questions 1 to 5 above, what are the gaps in our knowledge about children affected by PAM and services for these children?}
}

@article{ndc18255,
          volume = {105},
          number = {7},
           month = {August},
          author = {Kevin Malone and L Quinlivan and S McGuinnes and F McNicholas and Cecily Kelleher},
           title = {Suicide in children over two decades: 1993-2008.},
       publisher = {Irish Medical Organisation},
         journal = {Irish Medical Journal},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18255/},
        abstract = {Suicide rates have increased in Ireland?s youth over the past two decades. However, no research report has focussed on suicide rates in those aged under 18 ? the children of Ireland. We retrieved national disaggregated age and sex-specific suicide mortality data from 1993-1998 and compared it with similar suicide mortality data from 2003-2008. Significant age (older vs younger) and sex effects (boys greater risk than girls) are apparent in both decades Suicide rates in both males and females have increased (males: 9.3 - 13.5 / 100,000), (females: 2.4 - 5.1/100,000. Suicide rates in under 15 year olds boys and girls is extremely rare for both time periods studied (1.6/100,000). Results are discussed in light of the rights of children and the obligation of the nation in this regard, as well as more child-specific and transition to adulthood-specific suicide prevention policy implications.}
}

@techreport{ndc18167,
          editor = {Claudia Stoicescu},
           month = {July},
            type = {Other},
           title = {The global state of harm reduction 2012. Towards an integrated response.},
       publisher = {Harm Reduction International},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18167/},
        abstract = {In 2008 Harm Reduction International released the Global State of Harm Reduction, a report that mapped responses to drug-related HIV and hepatitis C epidemics around the world for the first time. The report has since been published every two years.

The Global State of Harm Reduction 2012 presents the major developments in harm reduction policy adoption and programme implementation that have occurred since 2010, enabling some assessment of global progress. It also explores several key issues for developing an integrated harm reduction response, such as building effective harm reduction services for women who inject drugs, access to harm reduction services by young people, drug use among men who have sex with men, global progress toward drug decriminalisation and sustainability of services in challenging environments.

This report, and other global state of harm reduction resources, are designed to provide reference tools for a wide range of audiences, such as international donor organisations, multilateral and bilateral agencies, civil society and non-governmental organisations, including organisations of people who use drugs, as well as researchers and the media.}
}

@techreport{ndc17774,
           month = {June},
            type = {Other},
           title = {Report of the Independent Child Death Review Group 2000-2010.},
          author = {Geoffrey Shannon and Norah Gibbons},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Government Publications},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/17774/},
        abstract = {The report, authored by Dr. Geoffrey Shannon and Norah Gibbons, gives details of the 196 children who died over the period 2000-10, both of natural and unnatural causes. The children in the report include children who were in the care of the state at the time of their death, young adults who were in aftercare and other children who were not in care but were known to the HSE.

Speaking at the publication of the report, Minister Fitzgerald said; ?Before this Government took office; there was conflicting data about the numbers of children who died in state care. The lack of transparency and the lack of accountability, shocked. It was utterly unacceptable that the state could not even tell how many children had died in state care.

The Minister stated that this report now gives clarity on this vital issue. There were 112 children who died of unnatural causes; 17 of whom were in care, 27 of whom were in receipt of aftercare and 68 of whom were not in care, but were in some way known to the HSE child and family services. The children and young adults in this report died from a range of causes. Some died from a range of illnesses, 4 died of accidental drowning; 5 died in house fires; 17 died from road traffic accidents; 16 were unlawfully killed; and at least 28 died by suicide.

The Minister stated: ?I wish to extend my deepest sympathy, and that of the state, to all those touched by a loss in this report. No parent should expect to lose a child. I do not expect today?s report to bring closure. Indeed, I am sure it will, for many, bring fresh pain. But this work shines a light on a dark, often unexamined and tragic corner of Irish life. The authors have done a professional and painstaking job in making real and understandable the lives and deaths of children who are no longer with us.?

Responding to the report the Minister stated: ?The findings of this report are deeply disturbing. We read of children and young people and families, often vulnerable, often in crisis, who needed support. We read of services often willing, but fragmented and not comprehensive in their response. The question must arise how, after a period of such unprecedented economic prosperity, we were left with a child protection service in need of such reform.

?If ever evidence was required of the scale of the challenge which this Government and I have had to face into, then this report is it. If ever evidence was required of why we need an utterly reformed system of state care and intervention, then this report is it. And if ever evidence was required of the need to take child protection away from the HSE, wherein up until recently, it was lost, and to set up a new agency; the Child and Family Support Agency, then this report is it.

The report highlighted system failings in the Irish child protections services including
? Poor risk assessment
? Poor co-ordination between services
? Poor flows of information
? Limited access to specialist assessment and therapeutic services
? Limited interagency work for children and families with complex needs.
? A lack of early intervention and family support services responding proportionately to the needs of children at risk and families in crisis.

Commenting on these failings Minister Fitzgerald stated: ?if the system had done a better job, outcomes for some of these children might well have been very different. The key to a successful child protection service is early intervention. This concept must become part of our national psyche. Parachuting in a service at a late stage is not the most efficient or effective way to help the child, or to help the family.

Responding to the report Minister Fitzgerald stated that ?the current government reform programme is an essential response to this report, in particular the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency led by CEO Designate Gordon Jeyes.  Already, under Gordon?s leadership we are seeing implementation of a ?change agenda? in children and families services which will continue and be accelerated under the new agency; and will be further informed by the recommendations of this report.

Key element of the ?change agenda? in children and families services include:
? A service delivery model that will address a multi-agency, albeit differentiated, approach to managing the child welfare and protection system;
? A nationwide consistency of approach in practice and implementation of Children First and child welfare and protection services generally;
? Use of standardised definitions, criteria  and thresholds for reporting and referrals including prioritisation of cases;
? Greater reliance on real-time data on social work referrals and alternative care collated through HSE performance management indicators and the ongoing development of the National Child Care Information System;
? Improved resource allocation responsive to changing needs;
? Clearer management and budgetary accountability;
? Better workforce planning, training and induction of new staff.?

The Minister added: ?The Task Force which I established in September 2011 to advise on the new Agency, will present its final report by the end of this month and I look forward to addressing its recommendations relating to vision, governance and scope-of-services, such that the Agency is established and up-and-running next January 2013.?

In the report the authors remark that ?a key issue to be emphasised is the vulnerability of these children?.

The Minister responded stating: ?Many of these individuals had extremely complex needs.  There is no doubt that children in these circumstances sometimes have little to draw on, in terms of their own resilience, and limited positive experiences to allow them to cope with even the ordinary challenges they subsequently had to deal with.

?The role of alcohol and drugs in Irish society plays heavily in the lives and deaths of many of the children and young people in this report, highlighting in the most serious way, our national problems with alcohol and drug abuse. I am committed to working with Minister Roisin Shortall and the relevant agencies on progressing a fresh new approach to identifying and addressing the hidden harm posed by substance misuse.

Responding to the report Minister Fitzgerald also announced a number of other measures.

The Minister accepted the essential criteria set out in the Report on developing an independent child death review structure and confirmed that she will be making an announcement on this in September.

The Minister announced that HIQA will next month publish new National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children which will lay-out a new standards-led approach to enforcing a new culture of quality, effectiveness and accountability in Ireland?s child protection services.
The Minister also commented on the concerns raised on aftercare in this report: ?Young people with a need for aftercare should; and must, receive the support they require when they leave care. I believe the law needs to be strengthened in this regard, and with advice from the Attorney General, I will be proposing legislative change later this year, in the bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency.?

The Minister confirmed that along with Gordon Jeyes she is working to extend access to 24 hour social work assistance: ?Child protection crises arise 24-7. So why should child protections services operate any differently??

The Minister concluded saying: ?today is an especially difficult day for the families of the children in this report. We cannot change things for their children. However, I hope it is clear that already a great many changes have been put in train for other children because of what happened. I hope it is clear that this Government is committed to transparency and honesty about the challenges in getting children?s services right. Child protection remains a high priority on our agenda and changes at every level ? policy, law, structures and individual practitioner - have happened and will continue to happen; and will make a difference for the future.?}
}

@techreport{ndc17589,
            type = {Other},
           title = {My world survey: national study of youth mental health in Ireland.},
          author = {Barbara Dooley and Amanda Fitzgerald},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Headstrong ? The National Centre for Youth Mental Health; UCD School of Psychology},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/17589/},
        abstract = {Large-scale studies that capture the mental health profile of young people help us to understand their experiences and inform service provision. To date, there is a limited body of research on the prevalence of mental health difficulties among young people aged 12-25, particularly in the Irish context.

Most published Irish studies provide data up to age 18, with a primary focus on negative factors. The MWS had two broad aims: to extend the age distribution up to 25 years, and to consider protective factors in conjunction with risk factors. Thus, this is the first national study of youth mental health in Ireland from age 12-25 years.}
}

@techreport{ndc18858,
            type = {Government Publication},
           title = {Growing up in Ireland. Key findings: 13-year-olds. No. 2. Physical activity and obesity among 13-year-olds.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Department of Children and Youth Affairs},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18858/},
        abstract = {This Key Finding reports on data from the second wave of interviews with Growing Up in Ireland?s Child Cohort. The 8,568 children and their families were first interviewed when the children were 9 years old, and then at age 13 years, when 7,400 were reinterviewed between August 2011 and February 2012.

The findings show that boys and young people from more socially advantaged backgrounds were more likely to exercise, and that 13-year-olds who took more exercise (whether hard or light exercise) were less likely to be overweight or obese.

While most of the young people in Growing Up in Ireland maintained a healthy weight over time, one in four was either overweight or obese, a finding similar to that at 9 years. Girls were also more likely to be classified as overweight or obese than boys. The majority of 13-year-olds were quite positive about their physical appearance, although a quarter rated themselves as below average in this respect, and girls tended to be less positive about their body image than boys. Dieting behaviours had also become evident at 13.

To understand more fully the origins and course of overweight and obesity, the descriptive data in this Key Finding can be used in more complex analyses drawing on the rich data available on the child, family and other important contextual variables.}
}

@article{ndc18451,
          volume = {105},
          number = {5},
          author = {Clea Machold and G Judge and A Mavrinac and Joe Elliott and Anne Marie Murphy and Edna Roche},
           title = {Social networking patterns/hazards among Irish teenagers.},
       publisher = {Irish Medical Organisation},
         journal = {Irish Medical Journal},
           pages = {151--152},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18451/},
        abstract = {Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have grown substantially, posing new hazards to teenagers. This study aimed to determine general patterns of Internet usage among Irish teenagers aged 11-16 years, and to identify potential hazards, including; bullying, inappropriate contact, overuse, addiction and invasion of users? privacy. A cross-sectional study design was employed to survey students at three Irish secondary schools, with a sample of 474 completing a questionnaire. 202(44\%) (n=460) accessed the Internet using a shared home computer. Two hours or less were spent online daily by 285(62\%), of whom 450(98\%) were unsupervised. 306(72\%) (n=425) reported frequent usage of SNSs, 403(95\%) of whom were Facebook users. 42(10\%) males and 51(12\%) females experienced bullying online, while 114(27\%) reported inappropriate contact from others. Concerning overuse and the risk of addiction, 140(33\%) felt they accessed SNSs too often. These patterns among Irish teenagers suggest that SNS usage poses significant dangers, which are going largely unaddressed.}
}

@article{ndc20809,
          volume = {5},
          number = {2},
          author = {Michael O? hAodain},
           title = {?Coffee houses? and ?Crime prevention': Some thoughts on youth caf{\'e}s and Garda youth diversion projects in the context of youth work in Ireland.},
       publisher = {Irish Youth Work Press},
         journal = {Youth Studies Ireland},
           pages = {1--16},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/20809/},
        abstract = {There has been a significant increase in the number of youth caf{\'e}s and Garda Youth Diversion Projects in Ireland. It could be argued that they represent two differing approaches to youth work; that youth caf{\'e}s generally represent the ?universal? approach, while Garda Youth Diversion Projects are more representative of the ?targeted? approach. This paper will consider both initiatives in the context of youth work in Ireland, setting their emergence and development against the backdrop of youth work?s traditions and values, while also acknowledging the changing nature of the field and questioning the current direction of youth work. It will question the extent to which these developments reflect the core traditions and values of youth work and will go on to suggest that youth caf{\'e}s, if properly funded and truly grounded in the traditions and values of youth work, have great potential to engage young people as critical and active participants in their communities and society.}
}

@article{ndc17919,
          volume = {35},
          number = {2},
          author = {Oliver Perra and Adam Fletcher and Chris Bonell and Kathryn Higgins and Patrick McCrystal},
           title = {School-related predictors of smoking, drinking and drug use: evidence from the Belfast Youth Development Study.},
       publisher = {Elsevier},
         journal = {Journal of Adolescence},
           pages = {315--324},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/17919/},
        abstract = {Objective:
To examine whether students? school engagement, relationships with teachers, educational aspirations and involvement in fights at school are associated with various measures of subsequent substance use.

Methods:
Data were drawn from the Belfast Youth Development Study (n = 2968). Multivariate logistic models examined associations between school-related factors (age 13/14) and substance use (age 15/16).

Results:
The two factors which were consistently and independently associated with regular substance use among both males and females were student?teacher relationships and fighting at school: positive teacher-relationships reduced the risk of daily smoking by 48\%, weekly drunkenness by 25\%, and weekly cannabis use by 52\%; being in a fight increased the risk of daily smoking by 54\%, weekly drunkenness by 31\%, and weekly cannabis use by 43\%. School disengagement increased the likelihood of smoking and cannabis use among females only.

Conclusion:
Further research should focus on public health interventions promoting positive relationships and safety at school.}
}

@article{ndc16026,
          volume = {169},
          number = {1},
          author = {Sophia Schneider and Jan Peters and Uli Bromberg and Stephanie Brassen and Stephan Miedl and Tobias Banaschewski and Gareth J Barker and Patricia Conrod and Herta Flor and Hugh Garavan and Andreas Heinz and Bernd Ittermann and Mark Lathrop and Eva Loth and Karl Mann and Jean-Luc Martinot and Frauke Nees and Tomas Paus and Marcella Rietschel and Trevor W Robbins and Michael N Smolka and Rainer Spanagel and Andreas Str{\"o}hle and Maren Struve and Gunter Schumann and Christian B{\"u}chel},
           title = {Risk taking and the adolescent reward system: a potential common link to substance abuse.},
       publisher = {American Psychiatric Association},
         journal = {The American Journal of Psychiatry},
           pages = {39--46},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/16026/},
        abstract = {Objective: Increased risk-taking behavior has been associated with addiction, a disorder also linked to abnormalities in reward processing. Specifically, an attenuated response of reward-related areas (e.g., the ventral striatum) to nondrug reward cues has been reported in addiction. One unanswered question is whether risk-taking preference is associated with striatal reward processing in the absence of substance abuse. 

Method: Functional and structural MRI was performed in 266 healthy young adolescents and in 31 adolescents reporting potentially problematic substance use. Activation during reward anticipation (using the monetary incentive delay task) and to gray matter density were measured. Risk-taking bias was assessed by the Cambridge Gamble Task. 

Results: With increasing risk-taking bias, the ventral striatum showed decreased activation bilaterally during reward anticipation. Voxel-based morphometry showed that greater risk-taking bias was also associated with and partially mediated by lower gray matter density in the same structure. The decreased activation was also observed when participants with virtually any substance use were excluded. The group with potentially problematic substance use showed greater risk taking as well as lower striatal activation relative to matched comparison subjects from the main sample. 

Conclusions: Risk taking and functional and structural properties of the reward system in adolescents are strongly linked prior to a possible onset of substance abuse, emphasizing their potential role in the predisposition to drug abuse.}
}

@techreport{ndc17888,
            type = {Annual Report},
           title = {Youth Advocates Programme. Annual report 2011.},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Youth Advocates Programme},
            year = {2012},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/17888/},
        abstract = {The YAP Model is a unique way of providing intensive, focused support to children, young people and families with a range of needs and who are often cause for concern to not only the Social Work services in the HSE but to Education, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Youth Justice, their families and communities. The HSE invested in bringing the model to Ireland in 2002 because of the proven effectiveness in the US and the model has adapted to the Irish context very well.}
}

@inproceedings{ndc16685,
       booktitle = {Excellence in Paediatrics 2011},
           month = {December},
           title = {Substance abuse amongst adolescents in modern suburban ireland.},
          author = {Colin Halbgewachs and Hazwani Ismail and Kaverveer Purewal and Sarah Culkin and Vicki Sandys and ZakariyahAl Hadad and Elizabeth Barrett and Anne Marie Murphy and Edna Roche},
            year = {2011},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/16685/},
        abstract = {The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) defines drug abuse as a pattern of substance use leading to significant impairment in functioning. One of the following must be present within a 12 month period:

Recurrent use resulting in a failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home Recurrent use in physically hazardous situations (e.g., driving while intoxicated) Legal problems resulting from recurrent use Continued use despite significant social or interpersonal problems caused by the substance use. 

Risk Factors The presence of risk factors can have a major influence on an adolescent's potential for substance abuse3. 

Individual: poor social skills, physical/sexual abuse, poor school performance and having a positive perception of substances. Environmental: poor/absent parenting skills, family violence, parental use, poor enforcement/laws, lack of recreational activities, poor socioeconomic status and substance accessibility. 

ESPAD 2007 The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs(1) (ESPAD) collects comparable data on substance use among 15?16 year-old European students in order to monitor trends within as well as between countries.

Social Context Despite the punitive measures imposed by Irish legislation, pervasive cultural norms take a more lax perspective. 

43\% of Irish teenagers disapprove of peers who get drunk on a regular basis, compared to 80\% of their counterparts in Italy, and 74\% in Greece(4). 57\% of teenagers stated that it would be easy for them to get cocaine, and 61\% reporting a high rate of access to ecstasy, alcohol and tobacco(5).}
}

@techreport{ndc15849,
            type = {Other},
           title = {One on every corner: the relationship between off-licence density and alcohol harms in young people.},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {Alcohol Concern},
            year = {2011},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/15849/},
        abstract = {Alcohol Concern?s Youth Policy project commissioned Dr Nikki Coghill, Senior Research Fellow at the University of the West of England, to conduct some statistical analysis into the density of off-licensed premises and alcohol harms in young people in selected areas of England. As far as we are aware, this is the first study of its kind in this country to focus on the links between off-licence density and harms in under-18s. 

The analysis uncovered a moderate but statistically significant relationship between the density of off-licensed premises and alcohol specific hospital admissions in young people under-18-years-old per 100,000 of population. Our findings suggest that the greater the availability of alcohol, the greater the risk of young people suffering alcohol harm. Therefore, the changing nature of where we buy and consume alcohol may have an impact on the risk of harms to young people. 

Limitations in the recording of alcohol-related conditions in hospitals and A\&E departments means that the results from this study are likely to be an under-representation of the true picture of harms impacting on young people. Effective harm prevention therefore not only requires targeting education, information and support at an individual level among young people, but control of the concentration of alcohol outlets at a community level.}
}

@techreport{ndc15327,
            type = {Other},
           title = {Young people, alcohol and influences.},
          author = {Pamela Bremnar and Jamie Burnett and Fay Nunney and Mohammed Ravat and Willm Mistral},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {Joseph Rowntree Foundation},
            year = {2011},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/15327/},
        abstract = {This report presents the findings from a major study of young people and their relationship with alcohol, and explores the wide range of influences on their drinking.

This study differs from other research: it develops evidence of how different domains of influence work together, understanding their relative importance in tackling different patterns of drinking among different groups.

The study involved a survey of 5,700 teenagers aged 13?14 (Year 9) and 15?16 (Year 11) in schools in England and data was statistically modelled to highlight the strongest influences on and predictors of young people?s drinking.

The report examines circumstances surrounding young people's first time drinking, their current drinking patterns (including levels of consumption), and their experiences of drunkenness; and develops our understanding of what really influences young people's drinking patterns by identifying the domains and indicators that have the strongest relationship with their behaviour.}
}

@misc{ndc14881,
           title = {Intervening to improve outcomes for vulnerable young people: a review of the evidence.},
          author = {Janet Walker and Cam Donaldson},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {Department of Education},
            year = {2011},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/14881/},
        abstract = {Concerns about the number of young people who fail to reach their potential at school, or get into trouble, or are not in education, employment or training (NEET), underpin the continuing commitment to end child poverty in the UK by 2020, and the Coalition Government?s pledge to increase the focus on supporting the neediest families and those with multiple problems. A strong policy commitment to improving the life chances of vulnerable young people has in recent years led to the testing of a number of initiatives.

This review sought to identify: the common barriers to the effective implementation of new initiatives; elements of effective practice in the delivery of multi-agency services for vulnerable young people and their families; the costs associated with integrated service delivery; the outcomes that can be achieved; and whether fewer and more targeted initiatives might offer better value for money, particularly during a period of fiscal reform.

Includes:
?Introduction to the Review 
?Identifying and Assessing Vulnerable Young People 
?Multi-Agency Working: Innovations in the Delivery of Support Services 
?Delivering Interventions and Improving Outcomes for Young People 
?Assessing Value for Money in Interventions To Improve Outcomes for Young People
?Looking to the Future: Defining Elements of Effective Practice}
}

@article{ndc20807,
          volume = {6},
          number = {2},
          author = {Trutz Haase and Jonathan Pratschke},
           title = {Risk and protection factors for substance use among young people. A comparative study of early school-leavers and school-attending students.},
       publisher = {Irish Youth Work Press},
         journal = {Youth Studies Ireland},
           pages = {1--9},
            year = {2011},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/20807/},
        abstract = {Summary of a report commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs.}
}

@article{ndc14702,
          volume = {Issue 36, Winter 2010},
           title = {Commentary on NACD study on risk and protective factors for substance use.},
          author = {Martin Keane},
       publisher = {Health Research Board},
            year = {2011},
           pages = {19},
         journal = {Drugnet Ireland},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/14702/}
}

@article{ndc14701,
          volume = {Issue 36, Winter 2010},
           title = {NACD study on risk and protective factors for substance use among young people.},
          author = {Jean Long and Martin Keane},
       publisher = {Health Research Board},
            year = {2011},
           pages = {16--18},
         journal = {Drugnet Ireland},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/14701/}
}

@article{ndc21127,
          volume = {20},
          number = {10},
          author = {Nicola Madge and Keith Hawton and Elaine M McMahon and Paul Corcoran and Diego De Leo and Erik Jan de Wilde and Sandor Fekete and Kees van Heeringen and Mette Ystgaard and Ella Arensman},
           title = {Psychological characteristics, stressful life events and deliberate self-harm: findings from the Child \& Adolescent Self-harm in Europe (CASE) study.},
       publisher = {Springer},
         journal = {European Child \& Adolescent Psychiatry},
           pages = {499--508},
            year = {2011},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21127/},
        abstract = {There is evidence to suggest that both psychological characteristics and stressful life events are contributory factors in deliberate self-harm among young people. These links, and the possibility of a dose?response relationship between self-harm and both psychological health and life events, were investigated in the context of a seven-country school-based study. Over 30,000, mainly 15 and 16 year olds, completed anonymous questionnaires at secondary schools in Belgium, England, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Australia. Pupils were asked to report on thoughts and episodes of self-harm, complete scales on depression and anxiety symptoms, impulsivity and self-esteem and indicate stressful events in their lives.

Level and frequency of self-harm was judged according to whether they had thought about harming themselves or reported single or multiple self-harm episodes. Multinomial logistic regression assessed the extent to which psychological characteristics and stressful life events distinguished between adolescents with different self-harm histories. Increased severity of self-harm history was associated with greater depression, anxiety and impulsivity and lower self-esteem and an increased prevalence of all ten life event categories. 

Female gender, higher impulsivity and experiencing the suicide or self-harm of others, physical or sexual abuse and worries about sexual orientation independently differentiated single-episode self-harmers from adolescents with self-harm thoughts only. Female gender, higher depression, lower self-esteem, experiencing the suicide or self-harm of others, and trouble with the police independently distinguished multiple- from single-episode self-harmers. The findings reinforce the importance of psychological characteristics and stressful life events in adolescent self-harm but nonetheless suggest that some factors are more likely than others to be implicated.}
}

@article{ndc14410,
          volume = {18},
          number = {3},
          author = {Michael T McKay and Harry Sumnall and Andrew J Goudie and Matt Field and Jon C Cole},
           title = {What differentiates adolescent problematic drinkers from their peers? Results from a cross-sectional study in Northern Irish school children.},
       publisher = {Informa healthcare},
         journal = {Drugs: Education Prevention and Policy},
           pages = {187--199},
            year = {2011},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/14410/},
        abstract = {Aim: To investigate whether or not a range of factors were associated with problematic drinking, as assessed using the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (AAIS) in a sample of 11?16-year olds in Northern Ireland.

Methods: The study used a cross-sectional experimental design. Post-primary schools in the Eastern Health Board Area of Northern Ireland were targeted and 1137 participants were recruited of whom 1057 (93\%) successfully completed a battery of questionnaires. These measured parent and peer Attachment, self-efficacy, self-esteem, academic motivation, alcohol outcome expectancies, parental rules on alcohol use and alcohol use (if any).

Findings: Multinomial logistic regression revealed that more problematic alcohol use was predicted by being in higher school year, higher reported positive outcome expectancies and lower negative outcome expectancies, less strict and/or clear parental rules on alcohol consumption, lower academic self-efficacy, higher social self-efficacy and less trust of parents.

Conclusions: Preventative and/or harm reduction initiatives with this age group need to be aware of these as factors which differentiate adolescent drinkers. In particular, the findings suggest the potential need for age and gender specific interventions which challenge social norms about alcohol consumption, and the potential viability of family/school relationship-building interventions}
}

@article{ndc16779,
          volume = {36},
          number = {5},
          author = {SM O'Cathail and OJ O'Connell and N Long and Mark Morgan and JA Eustace and BJ Plant and JO Hourihane},
            note = {PMID: 21315520},
           title = {Association of cigarette smoking with drug use and risk taking behaviour in Irish teenagers.},
       publisher = {Elsevier Science},
            year = {2011},
         journal = {Addictive Behaviors},
           pages = {547--550},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/16779/},
        abstract = {BACKGROUND: 
Cigarette smoking has been shown to act as a 'gateway' to cannabis use and further risk taking behaviours. This study aims to (1) establish the prevalence of cigarette smoking and cannabis use in Irish teenagers, (2) to quantify the strength and significance of the association of cigarette smoking and cannabis use and other high risk behaviours and (3) examine whether the above associations are independent of the extent of social networking.

METHODS: 
Adolescent students across five urban, non-fee paying schools completed an abridged European schools survey project on alcohol and other drugs (ESPAD) questionnaire.

RESULTS: 
370/417 (88.7\%) students completed the questionnaire. 228 (61.6\%) were female, 349 (94.3\%) were aged 15-16 years. 48.4\% of those surveyed had smoked tobacco at some stage in their lifetime, 18.1\% in the last 30 days. 15.1\% have used cannabis with 5.7\% using it in the last 30 days. 29.6\% of cigarette smokers have used cannabis in comparison to 1.6\% of non-smokers. On multivariate analysis lifetime cigarette smoking status was independently associated with hard drug use, adjusted OR=6.0, p{\ensuremath{<}}0.01; soft drug use, adjusted OR=4.6, p{\ensuremath{<}}0.01 and high risk sex practises, adjusted OR=10.6, p{\ensuremath{<}}0.05.

CONCLUSIONS: 
Cigarette smoking prevalence remains high in Irish teenagers and is significantly associated with drug use and other risk taking behaviours. Specific teenage smoking cessation strategies need to be developed targeting these combined high risk health behaviours.}
}

@misc{ndc16582,
          number = {10},
           title = {Impact of tobacco advertising and promotion on increasing adolescent smoking behaviours.},
          author = {Chris Lovato and Alison Watts and Lindsay F Stead},
         address = {London},
       publisher = {John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd},
            year = {2011},
         journal = {Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/16582/},
        abstract = {To assess the effects of tobacco advertising and promotion on nonsmoking adolescents' future smoking behaviour.

Conclusions: Longitudinal studies consistently suggest that exposure to tobacco advertising and promotion is associated with the likelihood that adolescents will start to smoke. Based on the strength and specificity of this association, evidence of a dose-response relationship, the consistency of findings across numerous observational studies, temporality of exposure and smoking behaviours observed, as well as the theoretical plausibility regarding the impact of advertising, we conclude that tobacco advertising and promotion increases the likelihood that adolescents will start to smoke.}
}

@article{ndc23448,
          volume = {34},
          number = {7},
           month = {July},
          author = {Alan Carr and Barbara Dooley and Mark Fitzpatrick and Edel Flanagan and Roisin Flanagan-Howard and Kevin Tierney and Megan White and Margaret Daly and Jonathan Egan},
           title = {Adult adjustment of survivors of institutional child abuse in Ireland.},
       publisher = {Elsevier},
            year = {2010},
         journal = {Child Abuse \& Neglect},
           pages = {477--89},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/23448/},
        abstract = {OBJECTIVE
To document the adult adjustment of survivors of childhood institutional abuse.

METHOD
Two hundred and forty-seven adult survivors of institutional abuse with a mean age of 60 were interviewed with a protocol that included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, modules from the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders of DSM IV and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Personality Disorders, the Trauma Symptom Inventory, and the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory.

RESULTS
The prevalence of psychological disorders among adult survivors of institutional abuse was over 80\% and far higher than in the normal population, with anxiety, mood and substance use disorders being the most prevalent diagnoses. Survivors also had high rates of trauma symptoms and insecure adult attachment styles, and these were higher for those who had experienced both institutional and intrafamilial abuse.

CONCLUSIONS
There was an association between the experience of institutional abuse in childhood and the prevalence of adult mental health problems, particularly anxiety, mood and substance use disorders.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Policies, practices and procedures should be regularly reviewed and revised to maximize protection of young people in institutional care. Evidence-based psychological treatment should be made available to adult survivors of institutional abuse.}
}

@article{ndc13061,
          volume = {17},
          number = {4},
           month = {April},
          author = {Kareena McAloney and Patrick McCrystal and Andrew Percy},
           title = {Sex, drugs and STDs: Preliminary findings from the Belfast Youth Development Study},
         journal = {Drugs: Education, Prevention, and Policy},
           pages = {443--453},
            year = {2010},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/13061/}
}

@article{ndc18638,
          volume = {Autumn/Winter},
           title = {Tracing and tracking special care in Ireland.},
          author = {Mark Brierley},
       publisher = {Feantsa},
            year = {2010},
           pages = {7--8},
         journal = {Homeless in Europe},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/18638/},
        abstract = {Children?s social care services in Ireland are the responsibility of the national Health Services Executive(HSE), having until 2005 been the responsibility of 10 regional Health Boards. In 2001, Ireland developed a Youth Homeless Strategy and responsibility for the implementation of the Strategy resides with the HSE.}
}

@techreport{ndc14100,
            type = {Government Publication},
           title = {Risk and protection factors for substance use among young  people: a comparative study of early school-leavers and school-attending students.},
          author = {Trutz Haase and Jonathan Pratschke},
         address = {Dublin},
       publisher = {Stationery Office},
            year = {2010},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/14100/},
        abstract = {This report presents the results of a study of substance use among young people in Ireland based on information collected in 2008 during face-to-face interviews with 991 people, aged between 15 and 18. The target population comprised school-attending students and young people who, having left school, were attending either a Youthreach centre for education or F{\'A}S Community Training Centre. This latter population is described in this study as ?early school-leavers? and represents approximately 12\% of the full annual cohort of early school-leavers.}
}

@techreport{ndc14344,
            type = {Other},
           title = {If they're getting loaded, why can't I?},
       publisher = {Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children},
            year = {2010},
             url = {http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/14344/},
        abstract = {The ISPCC consulted with just under 10,000 12-18 year olds in Ireland, the focus of which was attitudes towards alcohol use.  

The report shows that 1 in 10 Irish children feel that their life is significantly affected by their parents alcohol use, and that 45\% of 12-18 year olds are regularly drinking to excess.  In their own words, Irish children relay the stark reality of alcohol mis-use in the home.}
}