A new HRB report launched today at an Irish EU presidency event co-hosted by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Health Research Board (HRB) will be used to inform new actions to strengthen drug prevention as part of the National Drugs Strategy.
The report, Review of Prevention Systems (RePS), commissioned by the DOH and authored by the HRB and Professor Ross MacMillan of the University of Limerick, was launched at the European Society for Prevention Research Conference 2026 Dublin.
The first review of its kind to be undertaken in an EU Member State using a research tool developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), RePS provides a snapshot of current drug prevention systems and supports in Ireland.
It assesses interventions against the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention developed by UNODC and examines how prevention is coordinated across relevant policy areas and sectors.
Speaking at the event, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, said:
“I am pleased to announce the publication of an important report that will inform our prevention policy and the actions of our National Drugs Strategy. I want to thank Professor Ross MacMillan from the University of Limerick, the HRB and UNODC for their work on developing this report, along with the HSE and our drug and alcohol task forces for their guidance.”
HRB Chief Executive, Dr Gráinne Gorman, said:
“The Minister’s announcement of six new regional prevention leads shows how research can inform policy and practice and ultimately support better decisions, stronger services and improved health outcomes.
“We are particularly proud that the review is being launched at an important international gathering as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.
“Prepared in close collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the report provides a valuable baseline of Ireland’s prevention capacity and identifies opportunities to strengthen prevention across the system.”
The report found that Ireland’s drug and alcohol prevention system has many strengths, including strong public health legislation around alcohol and drugs, a network of dedicated local practitioners and community-based organisations, and a significant number of high-quality prevention programmes.
The overall assessment indicates that there are many opportunities for improvement and examples of good practice that can be built upon to create a more coherent, coordinated and effective prevention system.
Commenting on the report, Brian Galvin, HRB Programme Manager for Drug and Alcohol Research, said:
“The publication of this report demonstrates the HRB’s ongoing commitment to working with both international and national policy makers to strengthen the evidence base for drug prevention. It provides important insights into how prevention is delivered in Ireland today and will support future efforts to improve health and wellbeing across communities.”
To support implementation of the report’s recommendations, Minister Murnane O’Connor approved the establishment of a drug prevention lead post in each of the six HSE Health Regions. The new posts will help ensure that drug prevention initiatives are delivered in line with international best practice.
ENDS
