Health Research Board: Current research

Through its research activities the Alcohol and Drug Research Unit (ADRU) aims to inform policy and practice, and contribute to the academic understanding of alcohol and drug misuse.

The ADRU also provides support to researchers through the activities of the National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

The social consequences of problem alcohol use in Ireland

Objectives: The aims of the research are:

to examine the nature and extent of social harm arising from problem alcohol use in Ireland using existing data sources
to describe the social harms of alcohol experienced by both the drinker and people other than the drinker
to identify gaps in the current knowledge so as to inform future research needs in the area
to provide policy makers with recommendations that will be effective in reducing alcohol-related social harm

Research methods:

Secondary data analysis of existing datasets
Extensive review of published Irish literature

Estimated completion date: February 2009

Researcher(s):

Deirdre Mongan

A portrait of a community drugs problem in Ireland

Objectives: The research will achieve a number of key objectives:

Establish the extent and nature of drug use in four communities in one Regional Drugs Task Force area.
Explore the perception of and response to ‘community drugs problems’ within the identified communities.
Identify factors contributing to the drug related issues at a community level within the identified areas.
Describe the current drug service provision (and identify gaps in service delivery) in the identified areas.
Employ the research findings to ‘inform the establishment of a Drug Action Group in each major town in the region and to assist each group in developing Action Plans based on the issues relevant to their geographical area.'

Research methods: A rapid assessment technique will be employed to gather information from multiple data sources within a defined time frame, using different data collection techniques and methods.