National Drugs Strategy 2009 - 2016 - End of Year Progress Report for 2013

Drugs misuse continues to be one of the most significant challenges facing our country.   It is highly destructive and has devastating effects on individuals, relationships, families, communities and society in general. Implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, which sets out Government policy in dealing with the drugs problem, is being pursued across a range of Government Departments and Agencies.  Solid progress is being made across the 63 Actions of the Strategy, which are based around the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. The Oversight Forum on Drugs, which is Chaired by Minister Mr Alex White, meets on a quarterly basis and reviews the implementation of the Strategy. The 2013 Annual Progress Report on the implementation of the actions of the National Drugs Strategy is available here.

National Carers' Strategy Annual Report 2013

The National Carers' Strategy, which was published in 2012, sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers. It is a Cross-Departmental Strategy that sets out; This is the first Annual Report on implementation for the period of September 2012 â?" September 2013.Download the National Carers’ Strategy Annual Report 2013 here

National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018

  This is a generic policy framework for rare diseases. Its scope is broad and it applies to all rare diseases, which can number up to 8,000 diseases affecting millions of EU citizens. This policy framework envisages a combined approach with our EU partners and Northern Ireland to diagnose and treat people with rare diseases. We must deepen links with facilities and institutions in other countries where specialist services are available that may be absent in Ireland. The plan elaborates on Ireland’s participation in European Reference Networks, which is the networking of knowledge and expertise through reference centres and teams of experts. These links are emphasized in the report to address the care of patients with rare diseases at both national and European levels. Download the report here

National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018

National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018 This is a generic policy framework for rare diseases. Its scope is broad and it applies to all rare diseases, which can number up to 8,000 diseases affecting millions of EU citizens. This policy framework envisages a combined approach with our EU partners and Northern Ireland to diagnose and treat people with rare diseases. We must deepen links with facilities and institutions in other countries where specialist services are available that may be absent in Ireland. The plan elaborates on Irelandâ?Ts participation in European Reference Networks, which is the networking of knowledge and expertise through reference centres and teams of experts. These links are emphasized in the report to address the care of patients with rare diseases at both national and European levels. Download the report here  

Report of the Consultation for a National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland

This report presents findings from the National Consultation on Rare Disease overseen by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland on behalf of the Department of Health to inform the development of Irelandâ?Ts first National Rare Disease Plan. In 2009, the Council of the European Union recommended that all member countries develop a national plan for rare diseases with the framework of their health and social systems by the end of 2013. The aim is to ensure that all patients with rare disease in Europe have access to high quality care, including diagnostics, treatments and rehabilitation.  Download the report here

Report of the Review Group on the National Children's Hospital

The Review Group, led by Chairman Dr Frank Dolphin was appointed in March 2012 to advise the Minister for Health on the options for a new childrenâ?Ts hospital, following the refusal by An Bord Pleanála to give planning permission for the proposed National Childrenâ?Ts Hospital at a site on Eccles Street. Read the Report (PDF, 4MB) Read the Appendices Document (PDF, 11MB)

National Fraud Initiative

The Public Health Agency is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. This A4 sheet provides information on the National Fraud Initiative.

Maternal Obesity in the UK: Findings from a national project

In 2008, the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH), now known as the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE), commenced a 3-year UK-wide Obesity in Pregnancy project. The project was initiated in response to a number of factors. At the time, these included: i) growing evidence that obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality for both mother and baby, ii) evidence from the CEMACH 'Saving Mothers' Lives' report showed that women with obesity were over-represented among those who died of direct deaths compared to those who died of indirect deaths, 1 iii) unknown national and regional prevalence rates of maternal obesity, and iv) the need for a national clinical guideline for the care of women with obesity in pregnancy.

Sunbeds campaign poster

The Sunbeds campaign communicates the long term health effects of sunbeds, including skin cancer and pre-mature ageing, to sunbed users and the wider public. Particularly those under the age of 35 who are at an increased risk of developing melanoma skin cancer from sunbed use. For moreinformation on this issuevisit www.careinthesun.orgThe sunbeds campaign poster highlights that using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases your risk of skin cancer by up to 75%.

Couch Potato to Runner Bean

To coincide with the start of National Obesity Awareness Week, the Public Health Agency is today urging people to take up the challenge 'From Couch Potato to Runner Bean in 10 weeks'.The PHA, in partnership with five local councils in the western area, will roll out a number of community obesity challenges and programmes between now and March.The challenges and programmes focus on building up physical activity in a gradual and healthy way. At the end of the ten week programme, participants will be encouraged to take part in a five kilometre or 10 kilometre walk, jog or run.Colette Brolly, the PHA Lead on Physical Activity, said: "It is hoped the programmes will influence behaviour changes in those who don't currently take part in physical activity. The beginning of a new year is a great time for a new start and a new challenge, and the resolution to get fit and healthy is a fantastic way to start 2014."She added: "Being physically active helps maintain a healthy weight and can reduce the risk of many diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and colon cancer. Being active is also good for your mental health and can lift mood, reduce anxiety and help to protect against depression. If you introduce changes in your life to increase physical activity, you will see big differences to your health and wellbeing."'Couch Potato to Runner Bean in Ten Weeks' supports the work of the PHA's Choose to Live Better campaign which aims to tackle obesity. PHA Health Improvement staff and council staff will also be encouraged to participate in the new obesity challenge.In addition to the new programmes being rolled out in the western area, the PHA currently supports a number of running initiatives that are available in other council areas in Northern Ireland.To find out more about getting involved in running see www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/get-running-with-couch-to-5k.aspx

National Health and Lifestyle Surveys

Results of the National Health and Lifestyle Surveys: SLaN [Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition] and HBSC [Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children] Two baseline surveys of health related behaviours among adults and schoolgoing young people were carried out across the Republic of Ireland in 1998 and again in 2002. The main aims of these surveys are to: - Produce reliable data of a representative cross-section of the Irish population in order to inform the Department of Health and Children's policy and programme planning. - Maintain a survey protocol which will enable lifestyle factors to be remeasured so that trends can be identified and changes monitored to assist national and regional setting of priorities in health promotion activities. In keeping with the health and lifestyle surveillance system of many European countries a number of related factors were measured in both surveys. These include general health, smoking, use of alcohol and other substances, food and nutrition, exercise and accidents. This work was commissioned by the Health Promotion Unit, Department of Health and Children and carried out at the Centre for Health Promotion Studies, National University of Ireland, Galway.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

National Health and Lifestyle Surveys. Regional Summary Report (2003)

Two baseline surveys of health related behaviours among adults and school-going young people were carried out across the Republic of Ireland in 1998 and again in 2002. The main aims of these surveys are to: - Produce reliable data of a nationally representative cross-section of the Irish population in order to inform the Department of health and Children's policy and programme planning. - Maintain a survey protocol which will enable lifestyle factors to be re-measured so that trends can be identified and changes monitored to assist national and regional setting of priorities in health promotion activities. This report focuses on these two cross-sectional studies, SLaN (Survey of Lifestyles, Attitudes and Nutrition) adults aged 18+ years and HBSC (health Behaviour in School-aged Children) school-going children aged 10-17 years. In keeping with the health and lifestyle surveillance system of many European countries a number of related factors were measured in both surveys. These include general health, smoking, use of alcohol and other substances, food and nutrition, exercise and accidents. This report presents the findings for the same topics at a regional level with some demographic analysis. It must be noted that the aim of the survey was to establish patterns in health and lifestyle at a national level. The significance therefore of findings at the regional level is to identify potential variations that may merit further investigation. This work was commissioned by the health Promotion Unit, Department of health and Children and carried out at the Centre for health Promotion Studies, national University of Ireland, Galway, and at the Department of Public health Medicine and Epidemiology, Woodview House, Belfield, national University of Ireland, Dublin.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

2004 National report to the EMCDDA by the Reitox National Focal Point: Norway: New developments, trends and in-depth information on selected issues.

This is the fourth annual report to the EMCDDA from the Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research (SIRUS) on the drugs situation in Norway. The report has been drawn up in accordance with the new reporting guidelines introduced by the EMCDDA this year. We have endeavoured to follow these as consistently as possible, with the main focus on “new developments” and substantial changes in epidemiology, legislation and organisation. To allow readers to obtain more background information the report contains a number of references to the national report for 2003, and occasional references to the report for 2002.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

2006 National Drug Control Strategy launched in US

The Bush administration announced its 2006 National Drug Control Strategy in the first city to legalize marijuana, a decision that wasn't entirely coincidental. John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who selected a youth drug treatment center here as the site for the announcement, said Denver represented 'a model of what we see and what we're trying to face'. The 2006 strategy calls for a continuation of the Bush administration's balance of reducing demand through, among other things, drug-prevention campaigns, and reducing supply by securing the Mexican border. Mr. Walters described the strategy, implemented in 2001, as a success, pointing to studies showing that overall teenage drug use has dropped since then by 19 per cent. Use of methamphetamine, LSD and steroids also have declined, he said.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

2006 National report (2005 data) to the EMCDDA by the Reitox National Focal Point: Norway: New developments, trends and in-depth information on selected issues.

This is a 2006 national report to the EMCDDA, using 2005 data. It is compiled by the Reitox national focal point and covers epidemiology, policing, strategy, drugs markets, drug-related infectious diseases, drug-related death and problem drug use in Norway.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.