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The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD has opened the European Society for Prevention Research conference 2026 andpublished a new report assessing Ireland’s approach to drug prevention.

The Minister has approved the establishment of a drug prevention lead post in each of the six HSE Health Regions and highlighted the importance of research in guiding more effective approaches to preventing non-communicable diseases and ill health. She also emphasised the value of the conference in supporting prevention efforts in Ireland and across Europe.

The conference is an official event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU and is co-hosted by the Department of Health and the Health Research Board (HRB), strengthening collaboration between prevention research, policy and practice.

The conference theme, “Innovation in Prevention to Support Health Equity”, recognises that evidence-based prevention interventions are critical to ensure that people have fair opportunities and the support they need to live healthy lives. The theme also highlights scientific advances, including technologies such as AI and personalised prevention, as well as conceptual innovation, including links between climate and health, to support equitable prevention for all.

Speaking at the event, Minister Murnane O’Connor said:

“I am a strong believer in the value of evidence-based prevention and early intervention. We know from the evidence that investment in quality prevention can significantly reduce the burden of ill health, crime and addiction in our communities. This can also deliver long-term savings to the Exchequer.”

The Minister highlighted the value of holding the conference as an official Presidency event and its role in sharing best practice and new evidence on effective prevention.

“I believe this is the first time the EUSPR conference has been held as an official EU Presidency event. This will help underline the value of prevention at a political level.”

“This conference plays an important role in developing and supporting a network of people working in prevention. It is encouraging to see so many Irish experts and practitioners here today and represented on the conference programme.

"I am sure there will be valuable learning over the next three days, and I hope that learning will be translated into action here in Ireland, across Europe and further afield.”

The Minister also announced the publication of a report titled ‘Review of Prevention Systems in Ireland’. Commissioned by the Department of Health and the HRB, the report uses a tool developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to assess prevention interventions against the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention. It also examines how prevention is coordinated across relevant policy areas and sectors.

Minister Murnane O’Connor said:

“I am committed to increasing investment in interventions and programmes that can improve health and help move people away from unhealthy behaviours. 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.”

“To support the implementation of the recommendations of this report, I have approved the establishment of a drug prevention lead post in each of the six HSE Health Regions to drive this work forward and ensure that drug prevention is delivered in line with best practice.”

Commenting on the event and report launch, HRB Chief Executive, Dr Gráinne Gorman, said:

“I’m delighted that the Health Research Board and the Department of Health are hosting this important international research conference as part of the Irish Presidency of the EU. Prevention is vital to the policy response to substance use, and this conference, which presents the most recent evidence in this field, will be a major boost to this in Ireland.

“We are particularly proud that HRB’s review of prevention services in Ireland will be published here today. Prepared in close collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, it will establish a solid baseline for our prevention capacity in the new National Drugs Strategy.”

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime congratulated Ireland on the publication of the report and said effective prevention depends on the application of science, breaking down silos and working together as a system. It said Ireland has set an important model within the European Union by analysing its prevention system and laying a forward-looking foundation to help ensure that every child and young person can grow up safe, supported and empowered, while helping to prevent drug use, violence, crime and exploitation by criminal groups.

European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR) Conference

The 17th EUSPR Conference and Members’ Meeting is taking place in Dublin, Ireland from 16–18 September 2026. Workshops and project meetings took place on the pre-conference day, 15 September 2026.

The EUSPR promotes the development and application of prevention science to advance human health and wellbeing through high‑quality research, evidence‑based interventions, policies, and practices.

The EUSPR annual conference brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community stakeholders to share evidence, strengthen prevention systems, and build international collaboration.

This conference is a continuation of this tradition, building on insights from previous years while addressing contemporary European prevention priorities.

The multi-day conference format includes poster and early career dedicated sessions, keynote presentations and parallel sessions, and opportunities to engage and network with fellow EUSPR members.

The EUSPR 2026 conference is taking place at theHotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin.

In the second half of 2026, Ireland holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union and, for six months, Ireland is guiding negotiations, brokering agreement between Member States, and helping to deliver EU laws and policies that affect the daily lives of more than 450 million people. The 17th EUSPR Conference and Members’ Meeting is part of that period and supports networking in the field of prevention across Europe.

This year, the event is co-hosted by the Irish Department of Health and the Irish Health Research Board, strengthening collaboration between prevention research, policy and practice. The 2026 conference theme is ‘Prevention, Innovation & Health Equity’, focusing on best practice, innovation and the latest research on drug prevention and other health prevention strategies and interventions for children and young people.

The objectives of the conference are to:

UNODC ‘Review of Prevention Systems’

Improving the quality of drug prevention interventions and systems internationally is a focus of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Building on its International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, the UNODC has developed a tool for countries to assess their drug prevention systems and interventions in line with the standards. In 2018, the UNODC in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) published the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention. The standards present an overview of the international evidence for prevention interventions and policies that promote the health and well-being of children, young people, adults, families, and communities. They also identify the characteristics of an effective national drug prevention system, which has the overarching goal to support the healthy and safe development of individuals.

The authors of the standards describe such a system as delivering ‘an integrated range of interventions and policies based on scientific evidence, taking place in multiple settings and targeting relevant ages and levels of risk’. It would have strategies that have ‘a mix of environmental and developmental components, with a minor component focusing on information’. To be effective, the system needs to be underpinned by strong structural foundations.

Grounded in these standards, the Review of Prevention Systems (RePS) is a tool developed by the UNODC to assess ‘the extent to which the drug prevention system of a country or sub-national entity (e.g. a municipality) is in line with the Standards on Drug Use Prevention with a view to identifying areas of strength and weakness to allow improvement’.