HRB National Drugs Library
Emerging trends
Staff of the Health Research Board have a role in the EU Early Warning System
You can access items in the library collection in relation to emerging trends through the following links:
Key resources include:
The EU early warning system webpage and the UNODC early warning advisory on new psychoactive substances webpage.
Scottish Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) dashboard
Key documents include:
- (2023) HSE emerging drug trend monitoring. Year 2 results from the Syringe Analysis Programme 2022. The identification of injecting trends in the Dublin and Midland Region through the application of syringe analysis methodology. Dublin: Health Service Executive.
- (2023) The HSE ‘Safer Nightlife’ Programme 2022. Volunteer feedback on the provision of harm reduction outreach in Irish festival settings. Dublin: Health Service Executive.
- (2024) Community pharmacy needle exchange programme: what can analysis of the data tell us about the changing drug market in Ireland? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- (2024) Forensic Science Ireland annual report 2023. Dublin: Forensic Science Ireland.
- (2024) The State Laboratory annual report 2023. Dublin: The State Laboratory
New (novel) psychoactive substances
A new psychoactive substance (NPS) is defined as 'a new narcotic or psychotropic drug, in pure form or in preparation, that is not controlled by the United Nations drug conventions, but which may pose a public health threat comparable to that posed by substances listed in these conventions'.
