Research service to report drug prevalence, health correlates of drug use, consequences of drug use and prison data to the EMCDDA - 2021-23, and update of Estimation of Problem Drug Use

Tender description

The Health Research Board (HRB) is a state agency that supports research and provides evidence to prevent illness, improve health and transform patient care. The HRB has 65 staff. Our annual budget is in excess of €45m and we manage a research investment portfolio of approximately €200m. The agency is funded mainly by the Department of Health, and Board members are appointed by the Minister for Health. The Irish focal point needs to contract a research service with strong epidemiology and biostatistical capacity to support work on drug prevalence, health correlates and consequences data. This work is required to fulfill contracts with the EMCDDA and other international organisations for the period 2021-23 and to update Irish Problem Drug Use estimates. The EMCDDA coordinates a network of some 29 national monitoring centres, or focal points, (the Reitox network) to gather and analyse country data according to common data-collection standards and tools. The results of this national monitoring process are supplied to the Centre for analysis, from which the Centre produces its annual European Drugs Report and other outputs. The HRB is the designated Irish focal point to the EMCDDA. Under the HRB’s annual grant agreement with the EMCDDA the national focal point is responsible for collecting, harmonising and analysing national information according to agreed standards and providing it to the EMCDDA. These tasks require the focal point to: • Monitor and analyse national scientific, legal and policy documents • Coordinate national information networks • Disseminate the NFP and EMCDDA outputs nationally Each year the NFP must provide: • An annual national report • Statistical standard tables and structured questionnaires • Data related to the epidemiological indicators • Information relating to European Council decision on the information exchange, risk-assessment and control of new psychoactive substances; early warnings to the EMCDDA