Drug use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2010/11 Drug Prevalence Survey: Polydrug Use Results: Bulletin 5

This bulletin presents key findings regarding polydrug use (the use of more than one substance within a specific time period) in Ireland. These are based on the drug prevalence survey of households in Ireland and Northern Ireland. A representative sample of adults aged between 15 and 64 years was sampled during late 2010 and early 2011. The bulletin presents prevalence rates for combinations of both legal and illegal drug use for the Republic of Ireland and also examines gender and age differences and the relationship between the use of a particular substance and the use of another substance. The survey was carried out according to standards set by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). View the report here.

Age Discrimination in Mental Health Services

The UK government is considering the introduction of legislation to outlaw age discrimination in the provision of public services. The Department of Health commissioned a short piece of research to explore the extent of age discrimination in mental health services. �� Three broad issues are addressed in this report: inequalities between adult and older people�۪s mental health services; inequalities between adults and older people with mental health problems in their use of health and social care services;and knowledge about the likely single equalities legislation in current services and the possible costs of implementation. The report does not examine differences in outcomes.