Mongan, Deirdre 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3616-4253
(2026)
Research data sources: Ireland.
Dublin:
Health Research Board.
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Microsoft Excel (Research data sources: Ireland. July 2026)
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Please see the Excel spreadsheet (above) to search or make selections within the tables shown below.
For results from many of these sources please see the Key Irish data resource.
Table 1: Information systems
| Information system | Purpose of data/database | EUDA indicator | Description of data | Statistical unit | Geographical coverage | Periodicity | Years data available for | Data holder | |
| National Drug Treatment Rrporting System (NDTRS) |
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Treatment demand | Administrative details, demographic, social and economic characteristics, access to treatment, treatment status, ranked problem substance use, risk behaviours, treatment outcomes. | All people entering treatment for substance use. | National, DATF, county, CHO, ED, small area | Annual | 1995 onwards for drugs; 2004 onwards for alcohol | HRB | |
| National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) | The NDRDI is an epidemiological database which records drug- and alcohol-related deaths, and deaths among people who used drugs and among alcohol dependent persons in Ireland. It aims to provide information on the total burden of mortality related to drug use in Ireland in order to help develop health and social service responses aimed at reducing the drug-related mortality. It does not include deaths caused by the drug or alcohol use of another person if the deceased does not meet NDRDI inclusion criteria. |
Drug-related deaths and mortality | Data is collected from the Coroner Service, HIPE, the Central Treatment List, the GMR and the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service. It includes: history of drug/alcohol dependence or non-dependent abuse of drugs, risk factors e.g. history of injecting, imprisonment, drug and/or alcohol treatment history, and details about the death itself (toxicology and cause of death). | Deaths where drugs/alcohol are implicated and deaths among those with a history of alcohol dependence or drug use. | National, DATF, county, CHO, ED, small area | Annual | 1998 onwards for drugs; 2004 onwards for alcohol | HRB | |
| National Psychiatric In-Patient System (NPIRS) | The NPIRS is a psychiatric inpatient database which provides detailed information on all admissions to and discharges from in-patient psychiatric services in Ireland for service planning and delivery. The database records all admissions to, discharges from and deaths in Irish psychiatric units and hospitals on the register of approved centres under the Mental Health Act 2001. Community mental health settings are not included in coverage. | Treatment demand | Administrative details, sociodemographic characteristics, ICD-10 diagnosis at admission and discharge (up to 4 diagnoses), length of stay. | All people admitted to psychiatric hospitals or units in Ireland. | National, DATF, county, CHO, ED, small area | Annual | 1965 onwards | HRB | |
| Central Treatment List (CTL) | The CTL is an administrative database used to regulate the dispensing of methadone and buprenorphine/Naloxone treatment. It was established under Statutory Instrument No. 225 (Minister for Health and Children 1998) and is a complete register of all patients receiving methadone (as treatment for problems with opiate use) in Ireland. When a person is considered suitable for methadone detoxification, stabilisation or maintenance, a unique number is allocated to the client and a treatment card is issued for clients when dispensed in community pharmacies. | Treatment demand | Age, gender, date commenced on methadone, type of methadone treatment, prescribing doctor, dispensing clinic, date and reason for discontinuation of methadone. | All clients registered for Methadone Maintenance Treatment in Ireland. | National, DED, HSE, LHO, task force area | Annual | 1998 onwards | HSE (NDTC) | |
| Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) scheme | HIPE collects clinical and administrative data on discharges (including deaths) from acute Irish hospitals to measure hospital activity. All acute public hospitals participate in HIPE. Private hospitals are not included. |
Problem drug use | Administrative and clinical data. For each case, up to 30 discharges using ICD-10-AM may be recorded. Includes all fully and partially alcohol attributable conditions and drug dependence, abuse, intoxication, and poisoning cases. | All discharges (including deaths) from acute Irish hospitals. | National, county, CHO | Annual | Commenced in 1971 but more complete data available for 1995 onwards | HSE (Healthcare pricing office) | |
| Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) | The HPSC is part of the HSE and is Ireland's specialist service for the surveillance of communicable diseasesTo protect and improve the health of the Irish population by collating, interpreting and disseminating data to provide the best possible information on infectious disease. | Drug-related infectious diseases | Cases of newly diagnosed HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are notified to the HPSC. Age, gender, risk factor status information is collected. | All new cases of HIV, HBV, HCV. | National, county, HSE area | Annual | HIV - 1982 onwards HBV - 2004 onwards HCV - 2006 onwards | HPSC, HSE | |
| Needle exchange | Needle exchange is provided by: 96 community pharmacies, and static and outreach programmes. | Drug-related infectious diseases | The number of unique individuals who attended needle exchange sites, the number of needle/exchange packs and individual syringes provided, and the number of syringe/packs returned. | Number of individuals who attended needle exchange sites and number of syringe/packs exchanged. | National, RDATF, CHO | Annual | 2011 onwards | HSE | |
| Euroden | Collect data on emergency department presentations with acute drug toxicity. | Euroden collects information on the nature and extent of harm among emergency department presentations associated with drug use including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other opioids, amphetamines, polydrug use with alcohol, as well as non-medical (recreational) use of prescription and over the counter medicines, and NPS. | Cases admitted to emergency departments as a result of drug use. | 2 hospitals - Mater & Drogheda | Annual | 2010 onwards | Mater and Drogheda EDs | ||
|
National Self-Harm Registry |
The NSHRI is a national surveillance system which gathers information on hospital presenting self-harm at Emergency Departments in all hospitals across Ireland. The aims of the NSHRI are: to establish the extent and nature of hospital presenting self-harm in Ireland; to monitor trends over time and by area; to contribute to policy development in the area of suicidal behaviour; to help the progress of research and prevention. All acute public hospitals, both general and paediatric, contribute data to the NSHRI. Private hospitals are not included. |
Collects sociodemographic data, method of self-harm (ICD-10), substance taken, mental health assessment (if taken), and recommended next care step for all persons presenting to hospital emergency departments due to self-harm. | All presentations of self-harm to hospital emergency departments in Ireland. | National, ED, small area, hospital group | Annual | 1995 (at a regional level) 2006 (nationally) |
NSRF | ||
| Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) |
The MBRS has responsibility for chemical testing of intoxicants in driving in Ireland. It aims to provide a high quality national forensic service in alcohol and drug detection in support of the effective operation of the road traffic legislation and contribution to road safety and medical fitness to drive measures. | Collects age, gender, time of day sample was provided. | Blood and urine specimens were analysed for alcohol and/or drugs. | National, county | Annual | 2017 onwards | UCD | ||
| PULSE | PULSE is an operational database that records garda activity in Ireland. A criminal offence is classified at the time it is entered on the PULSE system. | Collects age and gender in relation to: possession of drugs for personal use and for sale or supply, cultivation/manufacture of drugs, importation of drugs, drunkeness, public order offences, and assault. | All offences. | National, Garda region, county | Annual | 2003 onwards | CSO |
Table 2: Repeated surveys
| Repeated surveys | Aim of survey | Description of data | EUDA indictor | Statistical unit | Geographical coverage | Periodicity | First data reading | Data Holder |
| National Drug and Alcohol Survey (NDAS)/General Population Survey (GPS) on drug use | The aims of these surveys were to measure the extent and pattern of drug use among a representative sample of those aged 15 and over in Ireland. The most recent survey was undertaken in 2019/20 and this is survey is no longer being undertaken. Questions on drug use and alcohol prevalence are now incorporated into the Healthy Ireland survey. |
Lifetime, last year, last month drug use prevalence, frequent drug use, drug availability, attitudes to drug use, impact of drug use on respondents' communities. Alcohol - AUDIT-C, alcohol dependence and harms. | Prevalence and patterns of drug use | Persons living in private dwellings in Ireland aged 15 and over. | National, DATF (Drug & Alcohol Task Force) area, EDs | Every 4/5 years | 2002/03 | HRB |
| Prevalence of problem opiate use | To provide an estimate of the number of opiate users in Ireland in 2014, using the multiple indicator method. Estimates produced for: 1996, 2001/02, 2006 with annual estimates available for 2011 onwards. |
The number of people with problem opiate use, using the CTL and Irish Probation Service and stratified by age, gender and area. | Problem drug use | People with problem opiate use. | National, RHA, RDATF, CHO, county | Annual data published every 3 years | 1996 | HRB |
| European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) | ESPAD is a collaborative effort of independent research teams in more than 40 European countries. It aims to repeatedly collect comparable data on substance use among 15-16 year old students across Europe, to monitor trends, and to compare trends between countries. | Lifetime, last year, last month drug use prevalence, drug availability, attitudes to drug use. Alcohol - beverage specific frequency, quantity, and drunkenness; alcohol-related harms. | Prevalence and patterns of drug use | Schoolchildren aged 15-16 years. | National, county, | Every 4 years | 1999 | TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland |
| Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) | HBSC is a World Health Organization collaborative cross-national study of adolescent health and well-being. It aims to collect information on the key indicators of health behaviour and health outcomes as well as the context of health for young people. | Alcohol: frequency, age first use and drunkeness, type of alcohol. Cannabis: frequency, age of first use. 2026 survey - last year use of cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, nitrous oxide. |
Prevalence and patterns of drug use | Schoolchildren aged 10-17 years. | National, county, | Every 4 years | 1998 | NUIG |
| Growing up in Ireland (GUI) - 1998 child cohort | The GUI study aims to chart the development of children over time, to examine the progress and wellbeing of children at critical periods from birth to adulthood. It also aims to explore the many and varied factors that contribute to or undermine the wellbeing of children currently living here. This cohort started in 2008 with 8,500 children aged 9 years. Information was collected from parents, teachers, Principals and the children themselves. This cohort was revisited at age 13, 17/18, 20 and 25 years. | Longitudinal survey 13 years - lifetime cannabis, solvent, other illicit drug use, alcohol use, drunkeness. 17/18yrs - lifetime and current cannabis use, solvents, past year drug use by drug, non-medical use of licit drugs, alcohol AUDIT. 20y - lifetime and last year drug use by drug type, CAGE screening, alcohol AUDIT; parents - FAST alcohol screen, current illicit drug use. 25y - lifetime and last year drug use by drug type, CAGE screening, alcohol AUDIT; Also contains questions on general health, health issues, depression, mental/behavioural disorders, self-esteem. Waves 2, 3, 4 parental use: alcohol frequency, quantity, binge drinking and FAST screen; cannabis and other drug use. |
Prevalence and patterns of drug use | Children born in 1998. | National, CHO, county, small areas | ~ Every 4 years | 2007 | CSO |
| Growing up in Ireland - 2008 infant cohort | This cohort started in 2008 with 11,000 children aged 9 months. The sample was generated randomly through the child benefit register, and were interviewed when they were 9 months old (2008/2009), 3 years old (2010/2011), 5 years old (2013), 7/8 years old (2016), 9 years old (2017/2018) and 13 years old (2021/2022). | Contains questions on mothers' use of alcohol and drugs during pregnancy. | Prevalence and patterns of drug use | Children born in 2008. | National, CHO, county, small areas | ~ Every 4 years | 2008 | CSO |
| Healthy Ireland | The Healthy Ireland Survey is an annual survey, conducted with a representative sample of the population aged 15 and older living in Ireland. Data are used to underpin policy development and implementation, to monitor, measure and evaluate progress in implementing various elements of the Healthy Ireland Framework. |
A core set of alcohol questions included each year including alcohol frequency, quantity, binge drinking, AUDIT-C. Drug use prevalence questions included every 4 years since 2023. Other data includes mental health, smoking, physical health | Prevalence and patterns of drug use | Persons aged 15 and over living in priate dwellings | National, CHO, county, RHA | Every year | 2015 - Alcohol 2023 - drugs |
DOH |
| The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) | TILDA aims to collect information on all aspects of health, economic and social circumstances from people aged 50 and over. This cohort started in 2009/10 with over 8,000 aged 50 and over. This cohort was revisited in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021. | Longitudinal survey. Alcohol frequency, quantity and CAGE screen. Some very general questions on substance use. | None - alcohol only | Persons living in private dwellings in Ireland aged 50 and over. | National, CHO, county, small areas | Every 2 years | 2009 | CSO |
| Planet Youth | Planet Youth Ireland is an initiative to promote wellbeing among children and adolescents. Planet Youth is a primary prevention model which originated in Iceland and aims to reduce substance use amongst young people. Six Irish regions have participated in Planet Youth: Western, North Dublin, Cavan/Monaghan, Midlands, Wicklow, Tipperary. In each region, data were collected to identify current youth alcohol and drug use and risk and protective factors. | Lifetime and last month alcohol use; drunkeness; drinking context; perceived parental attitudes towards alcohol consumption. Cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamine use. Data on mental health also collected | Prevalence and patterns of drug use | Teenagers in 4th year of secondary school aged 15/16. | County | 2018 | Link to participating regions at Plant Youth | |
| European web survey on drugs | The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) developed the European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD) to collect data from a wide range of people who use drugs, from those just experimenting or occasional users to those who use drugs in a more intensive way. | Frequency of drug use by drug type, and the amount consumed on a typical day; drug use patterns according to sex and age; the reasons why people use drugs, by drug type; and an overview of the main sources used to obtain drugs. | Prevalence and patterns of drug use | Persons aged 18 and over who have used drugs in the last year. | National | Every 3-4 years | 2021 | HRB |
Table 3: Data by drug type
| Data source | All drug use | Cannabis | Cocaine | MDMA/Ecstasy | Heroin/opiates | Other stimulants | Ketamine | NPS | Prescribable drugs | Other drugs | Alcohol |
| Information systems | |||||||||||
| NDTRS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | z-drugs, volatile inhalants; nitrous oxide | Yes |
| NDRDI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| NPIRS | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Volatile solvents, hallucinogens | Yes |
| CTL | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| HIPE | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Volatile solvents, hallucinogens | Yes |
| HPSC | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Needle exchange | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Euroden | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | GHB/GBL | ||
| National Self-Harm Registry | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Medical Bureau of Road Safety | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| PULSE | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Repeated surveys | |||||||||||
| NDAS/GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Steroids, solvents, poppers, magic mushrooms | Yes |
| Prevalence of problem opiate use | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Growing up in Ireland - 1998 child cohort | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Steroids, solvents, poppers, magic mushrooms | Yes |
| Growing up in Ireland - 2008 infant cohort | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| HBSC | No | Yes | Yes - since 2026 | Yes - since 2026 | No | No | Yes - since 2026 | No | No | Nitrous oxide - since 2026 | Yes |
| ESPAD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Steroids, magic mushrooms, GHB, inhalants | Yes |
| TILDA | Very general substance abuse questions | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Healthy Ireland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Planet Youth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Magic mushrooms, nitrous oxide, inhalants | Yes |
| European web survey on drugs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | LSD; Magic mushrooms, GHB, Tuci, nitrous oxide | No |
Table 4: Data by population
| Data source | Young people | Early school leavers | Children | Older people | Women | Homeless | Travellers | Prisoners | LBGT | Ethnicity |
| Information systems | ||||||||||
| NDTRS | Yes | Yes | Yes; Number of clients' dependent children also recorded | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NDRDI | Yes | Yes | Yes; Number of person's dependent children also recorded | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CTL | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| HIPE | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| HPSC | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Needle exchange | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Euroden | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| National Self-Harm Registry | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Please see the Excel spreadsheet for full Table 4.
Item Type
Report
Publication Type
Irish-related
Drug Type
All substances
Intervention Type
General / Comprehensive
Date
2026
Publisher
Health Research Board
Place of Publication
Dublin
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