Vaping can cause health-damaging chemical reactions, a new study from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland warns.

Ground-breaking gene therapy has been used for the first time to treat a person with severe haemophilia in Ireland.

Methadone patients are four times more likely to overdose in the month after their treatment ends, according to a new study.

Victims of cyberbullying can become consumed by spiralling negative thoughts and can feel there is "no escape" from it, according to new research based on the views of young people here.

A change of mindset among Garda top brass is key if the force is to become a more community-focussed police service, better protecting areas ravaged by drugs and crime, write Security Correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe

The National Family Support Network said more needs to be done to stop the “devastating and preventable” deaths caused by drugs, which have continued to increase to new heights.

Teenagers are now budgeting for cocaine along with a dress or suit for their debs, a leading addiction therapist has claimed.

Last week’s grotesque discoveries, a casual murder at a student party and several crime-related shootings, must finally disabuse Ireland of the of the notion that this is an idyllic backwater immune to drug-related crime or violence.

A new pilot study of doctor visits has shown that the average duration of a consultation was 14.1 minutes, and that patients had an average time between consultations of 99 days.

According to data from the Health Research Board, there were 786 drug related deaths in 2017, which is a figure continuously rising since 2010.

Deaths linked to drug use reached a new high in 2017, with increases in cocaine fatalities and suicides contributing to the rise.

If anyone in Ireland sustains an illusion that we do not have an alcohol abuse problem in this country, the latest report from the Health Research Board (HRB) offers a sobering reminder of a grim reality.

There has been a massive increase in people who have already developed a severe drinking problem by the time they seek help, new figures show.

The Health Research Board says there were 7,464 treated cases last year, with men making up almost two-thirds of the figures.

In this week's podcast we spoke to Michael Guerin, a senior therapist with the Cuan Mhuire treatment group.

There has been a 50% surge in the number of people seeking treatment for cocaine — marking the largest annual increase in what is a growing trend over the last seven years.

Cork city is in the grips of an epidemic. Heroin use is rampant on the streets, with users taking the drug in the open, not caring who can see them. However, many are trying to get out of the habit, writes Liz Dunphy

The “greatest risk” facing Ireland is accepting high levels of homelessness and addiction “as normality”, according to a leading charity.

Binge drinking among low to moderate risk drinkers is responsible for most of the alcohol-related harm that occurs in Ireland.

Long-awaited minimum unit pricing will help reduce the risk of fire deaths, says Alcohol Action Ireland.

Escalating cannabis-related health problems among young people has coincided with the arrival of a more potent form of the illegal drug, medical experts have shown.

The uptake of the flu vaccine among healthcare staff is “still not nearly high enough”, according to Health Minister Simon Harris.

Social media companies can do more than delete accounts spreading false information – they could “badge” those that are reputable sources of information, said Health Minister, Simon Harris.

257 people were treated in the health service last year, with the figures likely to be matched this year.

An expert group has submitted its report on changing the State’s response to drug possession. The Cabinet is due to discuss proposals based on the report tomorrow. Security Correspondent Cormac O'Keefe has obtained a copy and examines its findings.

Cocaine is the third most-used illegal drug in Ireland after opiates and cannabis.

The doubling in the potency of cannabis over the last ten years could be behind the growth in people seeking treatment for the drug, the European drugs agency has said.

The EU drugs agency said there were 104,000 seizures of cocaine in the EU in 2017, compared to 98,000 seizures in 2016.

There is a direct link between wannabe “little generals” shooting each other on Irish streets and the “record” levels of cocaine being trafficked into Europe, a top drug enforcer has said

The European Drug Report details the latest trends across the main drugs.

THE celebration tomorrow of World Oceans Day underlines the major role they play as the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe.

More people who have cancer are asking about medical trials at a time when cutbacks are reducing the availability of potentially breakthrough treatments.

Their schoolmates may not welcome the outcome but the science is behind their finding: Pupils of a Cork primary school have shown that watching TV while doing written homework is a no-no.

Almost 9,000 people were treated for problem drug use in 2017.

Problem cocaine use is on the rise, with the number of cases of cocaine addiction jumping by 32% between 2016 and 2017.

Hospital emergencies involving children aged 14-15 show a “high frequency” of intoxication and psychiatric issues, including intentional overdoses and deliberate self-harm, a new study shows.

Growing numbers of people have developed a “severe” alcohol problem by the time they seek treatment, an official report shows.

The number of people treated for alcohol dependency in Ireland in 2017, decreased slightly with a total of 7,653 cases.

A child psychiatrist and drug addiction expert has warned the State against decriminalising the possession of cannabis, or any drugs, for personal use