Ketamine use in Ireland: What the latest data reveals, and why it matters for drug testing

The HSE has stated that ketamine use in Ireland is “experiencing its largest and most sustained increase on record”, shifting from a niche club drug to one now used widely across nightlife and festival settings.   New wastewater analysis from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) shows that ketamine detections at Dublin’s Ringsend treatment plant […]

The importance of expert interpretation in hair testing

Hair testing is an established tool in family proceedings, providing a retrospective view of drug and alcohol exposure over several months and is particularly useful when combined with tests for recent use, using samples such as blood, oral fluid, or urine. However, laboratory analysis is only part of the process. Here, we look at why […]

International Overdose Awareness Day 2026: Understanding and Preventing Overdose

Every year, on 31 August, communities across more than 40 countries come together to mark International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), the world’s largest campaign dedicated to ending overdose. Led since 2012 by the Penington Institute, a public health non-profit, IOAD began as a single event and has since grown into a global day of action. […]

Continuity you can count on: Why choosing a reliable testing laboratory matters

Drug, alcohol and DNA testing plays a critical role across family law and child welfare, informing safeguarding decisions, care proceedings, and the arrangements that shape a family’s future. Whether the results are being used to support a court case, safeguarding assessment, or decision made in a child’s best interests, the reliability of the testing laboratory […]

Hallucinogen drug testing for legal matters: what you need to know

Hallucinogens, sometimes referred to as psychedelics, are a group of substances that alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes, often producing intense sensory experiences that can be unpredictable and, in some cases, psychologically distressing. While often perceived as less harmful than other controlled drugs, hallucinogens are a persistent feature of the drug landscape across Europe. According […]

Hair drug testing: Patterns of use, single events and limitations

Hair drug testing occupies a unique position in forensic toxicology. Unlike urine or oral fluid (saliva) – which detect only recent consumption – hair analysis provides a retrospective record of drug exposure spanning weeks or months. This makes it a particularly powerful tool in family court proceedings, where establishing patterns of behaviour is often central […]

Non-invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing: testing options explained

Finding out you’re expecting a baby can bring a mixture of emotions. For some, that includes uncertainty about paternity; a situation that’s far more common than many people realise, and one that can bring significant emotional strain. In the past, establishing paternity meant waiting until after the baby was born. Today, advances in genetic science […]