The ReSPect Study - Reducing stigma towards people with issues related to drug use
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Faculty of Health Sciences
Abstract
Background
Stigma is the negative stereotyping of certain groups of people, which leads others to treat them unfairly. Many people who use drugs (PWUD) have health problems and face extreme levels of stigma. They are often treated poorly when they access healthcare and drug treatment services, leading them to delay seeking help in the future. This can make treatment more difficult and expensive, and they are more likely to die. Stigma may also affect policymakers' decisions about how best to manage drug use, forming a barrier to implementing new services that could reduce drug-related harm. Whilst there are campaigns to reduce stigma towards PWUD, at the same time stigma is used as a tool to try and stop people from doing unhealthy things. For example, 'de-normalising' and stigmatising smoking may have led to reduced smoking rates. Whether or not stigmatising PWUD reduces drug use in the wider population, it is necessary to consider if this is justified given the harm it causes.
Aims
1. Develop messaging interventions to reduce public and professional stigma towards PWUD, to improve wellbeing, increase willingness to access support, and facilitate the introduction of harm reduction interventions.
2. Explore how to balance the use of a stigma as a public health tool to discourage drug use with its negative impacts on PWUD.
Methods
1. I will review existing research on messaging intended to reduce stigma towards PWUD.
2. In collaboration with various public health and drug treatment organisations, I will recruit and interview approximately 40 people who work in policy, public health and drug treatment, to explore their attitudes towards PWUD and their views on using stigma to discourage drug use.
3. Two workshops will be organised with academics, policy stakeholders, and PWUD to discuss if and when it is justifiable to use stigma to try and discourage drug use.
4. I will conduct a study exploring the impacts of different types of messaging with 325 members of the public (recruited via a public survey platform), and three groups of professionals - working in policy, public health, and drug treatment (recruited in collaboration with professional organisations and via a public sector newsletter). Participants will be provided either a description of someone who uses drugs without additional information, or one of five descriptions with additional information intended to reduce stigma. They will then answer questions about how they feel about the person, and interventions to keep them safe when they use drugs (harm reduction interventions). A statistical analysis will be performed to see which additional information led to the least stigmatising attitudes, and more support for harm reduction interventions.
5. In collaboration with PWUD, I will develop a series of interventions to reduce stigma for public and professional audiences, including short films, written information, and graphics.
Public involvement
Often, PWUD are not involved enough in research or decisions about them. To make sure this isn't the case for this research, a group of PWUD, recruited via Bristol's drug treatment service will oversee the project; and PWUD will be invited to the workshops and collaborate in the production of outputs and research papers.
Outputs
- The short films, written information, and graphics will contribute to a national anti-stigma campaign being organised by drug treatment charities and the NHS.
- They will also be shared widely amongst the networks of collaborating public health and advocacy organisations and disseminated alongside training materials for healthcare professionals.
- Research findings will be submitted to academic journals and conferences and shared by collaborating organisations on social media and in newsletters.
- Following this project, I will look to undertake further research to evaluate the impacts of the messaging.
Stigma is the negative stereotyping of certain groups of people, which leads others to treat them unfairly. Many people who use drugs (PWUD) have health problems and face extreme levels of stigma. They are often treated poorly when they access healthcare and drug treatment services, leading them to delay seeking help in the future. This can make treatment more difficult and expensive, and they are more likely to die. Stigma may also affect policymakers' decisions about how best to manage drug use, forming a barrier to implementing new services that could reduce drug-related harm. Whilst there are campaigns to reduce stigma towards PWUD, at the same time stigma is used as a tool to try and stop people from doing unhealthy things. For example, 'de-normalising' and stigmatising smoking may have led to reduced smoking rates. Whether or not stigmatising PWUD reduces drug use in the wider population, it is necessary to consider if this is justified given the harm it causes.
Aims
1. Develop messaging interventions to reduce public and professional stigma towards PWUD, to improve wellbeing, increase willingness to access support, and facilitate the introduction of harm reduction interventions.
2. Explore how to balance the use of a stigma as a public health tool to discourage drug use with its negative impacts on PWUD.
Methods
1. I will review existing research on messaging intended to reduce stigma towards PWUD.
2. In collaboration with various public health and drug treatment organisations, I will recruit and interview approximately 40 people who work in policy, public health and drug treatment, to explore their attitudes towards PWUD and their views on using stigma to discourage drug use.
3. Two workshops will be organised with academics, policy stakeholders, and PWUD to discuss if and when it is justifiable to use stigma to try and discourage drug use.
4. I will conduct a study exploring the impacts of different types of messaging with 325 members of the public (recruited via a public survey platform), and three groups of professionals - working in policy, public health, and drug treatment (recruited in collaboration with professional organisations and via a public sector newsletter). Participants will be provided either a description of someone who uses drugs without additional information, or one of five descriptions with additional information intended to reduce stigma. They will then answer questions about how they feel about the person, and interventions to keep them safe when they use drugs (harm reduction interventions). A statistical analysis will be performed to see which additional information led to the least stigmatising attitudes, and more support for harm reduction interventions.
5. In collaboration with PWUD, I will develop a series of interventions to reduce stigma for public and professional audiences, including short films, written information, and graphics.
Public involvement
Often, PWUD are not involved enough in research or decisions about them. To make sure this isn't the case for this research, a group of PWUD, recruited via Bristol's drug treatment service will oversee the project; and PWUD will be invited to the workshops and collaborate in the production of outputs and research papers.
Outputs
- The short films, written information, and graphics will contribute to a national anti-stigma campaign being organised by drug treatment charities and the NHS.
- They will also be shared widely amongst the networks of collaborating public health and advocacy organisations and disseminated alongside training materials for healthcare professionals.
- Research findings will be submitted to academic journals and conferences and shared by collaborating organisations on social media and in newsletters.
- Following this project, I will look to undertake further research to evaluate the impacts of the messaging.
Technical Summary
People who use drugs (PWUD) face extreme levels of stigma, negatively impacting their physical and mental health, and limiting support for harm reduction (HR) interventions.
Aims
1. Develop messaging interventions to reduce public/professional stigma towards PWUD, to improve wellbeing, increase willingness to access support, and facilitate the introduction of HR interventions.
2. Explore how to balance the use of a stigma as a public health (PH) tool to deter drug use with its negative impacts on PWUD.
Objectives/methods
1. Systematically review literature on messaging to reduce stigma towards PWUD. Concepts related to: (i) drugs (ii) stigma (iii) messaging. Synthesis to develop theory of change with meta-analysis depending on methodological/statistical heterogeneity.
2. Explore attitudes of professional stakeholders towards PWUD, and their views on using stigma to deter drug use. Critical discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews with ~40 policy/PH/drug treatment stakeholders.
3. Interrogate the ethical dimensions of instrumentalising stigma and anti-stigma messaging in the context of illicit drugs. Critical literature review and 2 workshops with ethicists, policymakers and PWUD, exploring if/when stigma is justified.
4. Analyse the impact of different messaging on professional/public attitudes towards PWUD and HR. Vignette study with public (n=325 to detect medium effect) and three professional (policy/PH/drug treatment) samples. Vignette provided: (i) baseline PWUD description or (ii) baseline description alongside one of five anti-stigma messages (equal random distribution); followed by modified AQ-9 (stigma score) and Likert scale indicating support for HR. Analysis: ANOVA models comparing AQ-9 and HR scores between conditions, and linear regression assessing association between AQ-9 and HR scores.
5. Co-produce, with PWUD, anti-stigma messaging interventions (short films, infographics, written information) in 4 workshops.
Aims
1. Develop messaging interventions to reduce public/professional stigma towards PWUD, to improve wellbeing, increase willingness to access support, and facilitate the introduction of HR interventions.
2. Explore how to balance the use of a stigma as a public health (PH) tool to deter drug use with its negative impacts on PWUD.
Objectives/methods
1. Systematically review literature on messaging to reduce stigma towards PWUD. Concepts related to: (i) drugs (ii) stigma (iii) messaging. Synthesis to develop theory of change with meta-analysis depending on methodological/statistical heterogeneity.
2. Explore attitudes of professional stakeholders towards PWUD, and their views on using stigma to deter drug use. Critical discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews with ~40 policy/PH/drug treatment stakeholders.
3. Interrogate the ethical dimensions of instrumentalising stigma and anti-stigma messaging in the context of illicit drugs. Critical literature review and 2 workshops with ethicists, policymakers and PWUD, exploring if/when stigma is justified.
4. Analyse the impact of different messaging on professional/public attitudes towards PWUD and HR. Vignette study with public (n=325 to detect medium effect) and three professional (policy/PH/drug treatment) samples. Vignette provided: (i) baseline PWUD description or (ii) baseline description alongside one of five anti-stigma messages (equal random distribution); followed by modified AQ-9 (stigma score) and Likert scale indicating support for HR. Analysis: ANOVA models comparing AQ-9 and HR scores between conditions, and linear regression assessing association between AQ-9 and HR scores.
5. Co-produce, with PWUD, anti-stigma messaging interventions (short films, infographics, written information) in 4 workshops.
Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- ESRC (Co-funder)
- Faculty of Public Health (Collaboration)
- Liverpool John Moores University (Collaboration)
- University of Stirling (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- Bristol Drugs Project Ltd (Collaboration)
- Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR) (Collaboration)
- University Of New South Wales (Collaboration)
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) (Collaboration)
- National University of Colombia (Collaboration)
- Exchange Supplies (Collaboration)
- Association for the Safety of Drug Users (Collaboration)
Publications
Acero C
(2023)
Navigating Chemical Toxicity in Coca Production in the Colombian Borderlands of Putumayo.
in Medical anthropology
Copeland CS
(2024)
Broad evidence of xylazine in the UK illicit drug market beyond heroin supplies: Triangulating from toxicology, drug-testing and law enforcement.
in Addiction (Abingdon, England)
Holland A
(2024)
"Safer supply" alternatives to toxic unregulated drug markets.
in BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
Holland A
(2024)
Nitazenes-heralding a second wave for the UK drug-related death crisis?
in The Lancet. Public health
Holland A
(2024)
Making sense of drug use and dependence-A scoping review of mass media interventions intended to reduce stigma towards people who use drugs.
in The International journal on drug policy
Lewer D
(2024)
Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation
in NIHR Open Research
Lewer D
(2024)
Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation.
in NIHR open research
Rhodes T
(2023)
Caring for coca, living with chemicals: Towards ecological harm reduction.
in The International journal on drug policy
Sumnall HR
(2025)
'Zombie drugs': Dehumanising news frames and public stigma towards people who use drugs.
in The International journal on drug policy
Wickremsinhe M
(2024)
Improving hospital care for people who use drugs: deliberative process development of a clinical guideline for opioid withdrawal management.
in Harm reduction journal
| Description | Advisory Group for NIHR funded study on Overdose Prevention Centres |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The key output of the project was a list of key performance metrics for the evaluation of overdose prevention centres. This was taken into consideration for subsequent discussions and plans for the evaluation of the overdose prevention centre, which has recently opened in Glasgow. |
| Description | Advisory group for research on long acting buprenorphine |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | This research informed the approach taken in Blackpool to providing long acting buprenorphine in drugs services. |
| Description | Co-Chairing FPH Drugs SIG |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | In this role I have played a part in the organisation of numerous public statements, academic outputs, policy outputs, letters to Government, and presentations detailed in the other ResearchFish sections, as well as taking part in high level conversations with policy makers, and professional colleagues, including providing advice to other medical and public health organisations. |
| URL | https://www.fph.org.uk/policy-advocacy/special-interest-groups/drugs-sig/ |
| Description | Public Health Lead for Scientific Advisory Group for National Programme on Substance Use Mortality |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | NPSUM regularly publishes academic outputs on emerging drugs and drug-related deaths, providing a key source of data for Government departments and drugs services. |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/the-national-programme-on-substance-use-mortality |
| Description | iHOST policy development |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Impact | An adapted version of the policy has been introduced in Leeds and Staffordshire hospitals, informing the clinical management of opioid dependence in those hospitals. |
| URL | https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/ihost |
| Description | University of Bristol Participatory Research Fund: Making Change Together - "Nothing about us without us": meaningful co-production of materials to destigmatize the experience of community pharmacies for people who use drugs & opioid agonist treatment |
| Amount | £9,811 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 10/2024 |
| Description | Alcohol harm reduction project University of Bristol |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project led by Dr Claire Garnett, and funded by the NIHR (NIHR302923) seeks to develop interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm. I have played a small role contributing to the development of research plans for this project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Garnett, with other partners, is leading all aspects of the project. |
| Impact | No outputs yet related to my contributions. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Drugs and (dis)order Project |
| Organisation | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Drugs and (dis)order was a large research project funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund, led by SOAS in London, and including partners in Colombia, Afghanistan, and Myanmar. I collaborated in a sub-element of this larger project, exploring how small holder farmers in Colombia use chemicals to cultivate coca and produce cocaine, and the health harms related to these practices. My contributions comprised contributing to the research plans, and writing sections of the articles / editing the outputs. Most of this work was undertaken prior to my Fellowship commencing, but I was still contributing to writing the research outputs during the period of my Fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The National University of Colombia led fieldwork for this project, supported by academics in LSHTM. |
| Impact | Two academic outputs: • Acero C, Ordóñez L, Harris M, Holland A, Rhodes T, Gutiérrez Sanín F. Navigating chemical toxicity in coca production in the Colombian borderlands of Putumayo. Medical Anthropology 2023;42(7). https://doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2023.2249202. • Rhodes T, Sofía Ordoñez L, Acero C, Harris M, Holland A, Gutiérrez Sanín F. Caring for coca, living with chemicals: Towards ecological harm reduction. International Journal of Drug Policy 2023;120(104179). http://doi.org/10/1016/j.drugpo.2023.104179. One conference presentation: • Coca, chemicals, livelihoods: An ecological approach to harm reduction. Oral presentation; Melbourne; International Harm Reduction Conference 2023 (international); fifth author. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Drugs and (dis)order Project |
| Organisation | National University of Colombia |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Drugs and (dis)order was a large research project funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund, led by SOAS in London, and including partners in Colombia, Afghanistan, and Myanmar. I collaborated in a sub-element of this larger project, exploring how small holder farmers in Colombia use chemicals to cultivate coca and produce cocaine, and the health harms related to these practices. My contributions comprised contributing to the research plans, and writing sections of the articles / editing the outputs. Most of this work was undertaken prior to my Fellowship commencing, but I was still contributing to writing the research outputs during the period of my Fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The National University of Colombia led fieldwork for this project, supported by academics in LSHTM. |
| Impact | Two academic outputs: • Acero C, Ordóñez L, Harris M, Holland A, Rhodes T, Gutiérrez Sanín F. Navigating chemical toxicity in coca production in the Colombian borderlands of Putumayo. Medical Anthropology 2023;42(7). https://doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2023.2249202. • Rhodes T, Sofía Ordoñez L, Acero C, Harris M, Holland A, Gutiérrez Sanín F. Caring for coca, living with chemicals: Towards ecological harm reduction. International Journal of Drug Policy 2023;120(104179). http://doi.org/10/1016/j.drugpo.2023.104179. One conference presentation: • Coca, chemicals, livelihoods: An ecological approach to harm reduction. Oral presentation; Melbourne; International Harm Reduction Conference 2023 (international); fifth author. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Faculty of Public Health Drugs Special Interest Group |
| Organisation | Faculty of Public Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | During the allotted clinical time for my Clinical Research Training Fellowship, I do work related to Co-Chairing the Faculty of Public Health Drugs Special Interest Group, including academic outputs, policy documents, training activities, media engagement, and supervision. I am one of the Co-Chairs of this group and have been since 2021. I take a leading role in the direction of the group, and undertake much of the high level engagement related to the policy and academic work we do. I formally supervise a Public Health Specialty Registrar who is doing work for the group. I have led or contributed to numerous projects and outputs in this role (included in the output section below). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Faculty of Public Health oversee the administration of this group, providing template terms of reference and work plans, managing our membership list, and coordinating public engagement events. They also provide support when doing comms with media outlets. There are around 50 members of the Drugs SIG who are from a range of different academic institutions, local government, national public health agencies, and NHS services. |
| Impact | Key projects / outputs / outcomes are listed here, which have taken place since starting my Fellowship in June 2023. - I have led the development and organisation of two private cross-agency letters to Government about issues related to drug use and policy. - I wrote the response to the Scottish Affairs Committee on Problem Drug Use re: drug consumption rooms from FPH. - I first authored an academic output about nitazenes. - I co-organised three webinars (and spoke at two of these), about nitazenes, chemsex, and online drug markets. - I gave a presentation to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Drugs, Alcohol, and Justice, about nitazenes. - I have given numerous other presentations about nitazenes and other topics (listed below), including in Strasbourg at the Annual Law Enforcement Conference for the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe (where I also discussed work on stigma). - I have supervised a Registrar who developed a resource on nitazenes for a conference of the Royal College of GPs. - I am now supervising this Registrar to conduct a review of different drug service commissioning projects, in collaboration with the English Substance Use Commissioners Group, and Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. - I have contributed to the development of a survey on LGBTQ+ specific drug services in the UK (in progress), and an academic output about the relationship between drug-related harm and attitudes towards people who are trans and non-binary (under consideration). - I have been interviewed numerous times formally about nitazenes and other issues, and informally advised journalists developing documentaries and other media outputs. - I have led the writing of a position paper about nitazenes being presented to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. Academic outputs with this affiliation: • Holland A, Copeland CS, Shorter GW, Connolly DJ, Wiseman A, Mooney J, Fenton K, Harris M. Nitazenes - heralding a second wave for the UK drug-related death crisis? Lancet Public Health 2024;9(2);E71-E72. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00001-X. Conferences / workshops / presentations: • Nitazenes: what are they, where are they, and how should we respond? Invited oral presentation; Birmingham; Turning Point Safer Lives Conference 2024 (national); sole author / presenter. • Understanding and responding to nitazene opioids. Invited oral presentation; Strasbourg, France; Annual Law Enforcement Conference of Drug Control Networks, Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe 2024 (international); sole author / presenter. • Understanding and responding to nitazene opioids. Oral presentation; Bristol; University of Bristol Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group meeting November 2024 (local); sole author / presenter. • Nitazenes - context and questions for response. Invited oral presentation; online; Barod Nitazenes Seminar 2024 (national); co-presenter. • Nitazenes: what are they, where are they, and how should we respond? Oral presentation; online; Faculty of Public Health webinars 2024 (national); co-presenter / organiser. • Nitazenes - context and questions for responses. Invited oral presentation; Cardiff; Developing local and national contingency plans for synthetic opioids in Wales (organised by Barod and sponsored by the Welsh Government 2024 (national); sole author / presenter. • Responding to drug adulteration in the UK. Invited oral presentation; London; All Party Parliamentary Group on Drugs, Alcohol and Justice 2024 (national); sole author / presenter. • Decriminalising People, Places and Spaces to Prevent Opioid Deaths: Deaths, Policy and Stigma. Invited oral presentation; London; Street Medicine Symposium 2023 (international); sole author and presenter. • Promoting a Public Health Approach to Drugs. Invited oral presentation; London; Faculty of Public Health Annual Board Meeting 2023 (national); sole author and presenter. • Evidence (and ethics) based drugs policy. Invited oral presentation; Magistrate's Association Derbyshire Branch AGM 2023 (regional): sole author and presenter. • Understanding and responding to nitazene opioids. Resource for conference delegates; Royal College of General Practitioners and Addiction Professionals Managing Addictions in Primary Care Conference 2025 (national); second author. • Online access to drugs: Implications for policy and practice. Online: Faculty of Public Health webinars (national). 2024. Co-organised and chaired. • Chemsex: An overview for public health professionals. Online: Faculty of Public Health webinars (national). 2024. Co-organised. Press outputs: • Pharmaceutical Journal, 2024 - Everything you need to know about xylazine. • The Guardian, 2024 - Animal tranquiliser found in cannabis vapes and illicit sedatives in UK (same quote used in Telegraph and Metro with over 300 associated news stories). • The Independent, 2024 - 'Profound' threat of lethal synthetic opioids is growing in Europe, officials warn. • The Guardian, 2024 - People buying opioids and sedatives online face deadly fakes, expert warns. • The Independent, 2024 - Synthetic opioids could fuel 'second wave' of UK drug death crisis, experts warn. • The Times Radio, 2025 - Live interview with Hugo Rifkind about legislative amendment scheduling generic nitazenes under the Misuse of Drugs Act. • The Naked Scientists, 2024 - Nitazenes move the needle for drug death distress. • BBC East Sussex recorded interview, 2023 - segment on increasing drug-related deaths. • I have acted as an informal consultant for journalists from the BBC, Sky News, Postimees (Estonia), and Nieuwsuur (the Netherlands), providing advice on news stories and documentaries. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | National Programme on Substance Use Mortality |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am the Public Health Lead for the Scientific Advisory Group of the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM) based in Kings College London. I attend quarterly meetings in this role and contribute to planning for future studies led by the group. The group - led by Dr Caroline Copeland - collates drug-related death data from coroners nationally, to report on emerging trends in drug-related harm. I have contributed to two papers in this role - the first, about the emergence of xylazine in the UK, which is published (contributing to interpretation and the writing of the discussion), and the second, about nitazene-related deaths, which is under consideration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Copeland leads all aspects of NPSUM, collaborating with numerous academics to write different specific academic outputs related to the data it collates. |
| Impact | Published paper: • Copeland CS, Rice K, Rock KL, Hudson S, Streete P, Lawson AJ, Couchman L, Holland A, Morley S. Broad evidence of xylazine in the UK illicit drug market beyond heroin supplies: triangulating from toxicology, drug testing, and law enforcement. Addiction 2024:119(7):1301-1309. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16466. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | National Programme on Substance Use Mortality |
| Organisation | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am the Public Health Lead for the Scientific Advisory Group of the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM) based in Kings College London. I attend quarterly meetings in this role and contribute to planning for future studies led by the group. The group - led by Dr Caroline Copeland - collates drug-related death data from coroners nationally, to report on emerging trends in drug-related harm. I have contributed to two papers in this role - the first, about the emergence of xylazine in the UK, which is published (contributing to interpretation and the writing of the discussion), and the second, about nitazene-related deaths, which is under consideration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Copeland leads all aspects of NPSUM, collaborating with numerous academics to write different specific academic outputs related to the data it collates. |
| Impact | Published paper: • Copeland CS, Rice K, Rock KL, Hudson S, Streete P, Lawson AJ, Couchman L, Holland A, Morley S. Broad evidence of xylazine in the UK illicit drug market beyond heroin supplies: triangulating from toxicology, drug testing, and law enforcement. Addiction 2024:119(7):1301-1309. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16466. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | RESPECT Study Co-Researcher Group |
| Organisation | Association for the Safety of Drug Users |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | As part of the core research in my PhD I formed an international group of co-researchers, working to reduce stigma, and representing communities of people who use banned drugs. I have overseen the organisation of this group, meetings, and outputs. This group has led the co-production of a theory of change for my PhD project, and is contributing to the development of the primary output (a series of short films intended to reduce stigma). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The co-researchers in this group have attended meetings when able to contribute to discussions, and to the development of outputs. |
| Impact | Ongoing work contributing to the development of PhD outputs. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | RESPECT Study Co-Researcher Group |
| Organisation | Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | As part of the core research in my PhD I formed an international group of co-researchers, working to reduce stigma, and representing communities of people who use banned drugs. I have overseen the organisation of this group, meetings, and outputs. This group has led the co-production of a theory of change for my PhD project, and is contributing to the development of the primary output (a series of short films intended to reduce stigma). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The co-researchers in this group have attended meetings when able to contribute to discussions, and to the development of outputs. |
| Impact | Ongoing work contributing to the development of PhD outputs. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Structural stigma in healthcare services |
| Organisation | University of New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project, led by Professor Carla Treloar in Australia, explored structural stigma in healthcare settings for people with blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infection. I contributed to interpreting the interview findings and writing up the academic paper, which is under consideration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Treloar led all aspects of this project. |
| Impact | An academic paper is under consideration. Public health, medical sociology. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | The effect of 'zombie' terminology on views of people who use drugs |
| Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This was a project led by Professor Harry Sumnall in Liverpool John Moores University. We did a study looking at how reporting that refers to drugs or the people who use them as 'zombies' influences markers of stigma. I contributed to planning the study, and commenting on the protocol. I also contributed to editing of the paper prior to publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The study was led by Professor Harry Sumnall in Liverpool John Moores, who led on all aspects. Dr James Nicholls from Stirling played a similar role to me commenting on plans and the paper. |
| Impact | Academic paper: Sumnall H, Holland A, Atkinson A, Montgomery C, Nicholls J, Maynard O. 'Zombie drugs': Dehumanising news frames and public stigma towards people who use drugs. International Journal of Drug Policy 2025;136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104714. Professor Sumnall has been doing engagement work related to this project, including with the Home Office. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | The effect of 'zombie' terminology on views of people who use drugs |
| Organisation | University of Stirling |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This was a project led by Professor Harry Sumnall in Liverpool John Moores University. We did a study looking at how reporting that refers to drugs or the people who use them as 'zombies' influences markers of stigma. I contributed to planning the study, and commenting on the protocol. I also contributed to editing of the paper prior to publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The study was led by Professor Harry Sumnall in Liverpool John Moores, who led on all aspects. Dr James Nicholls from Stirling played a similar role to me commenting on plans and the paper. |
| Impact | Academic paper: Sumnall H, Holland A, Atkinson A, Montgomery C, Nicholls J, Maynard O. 'Zombie drugs': Dehumanising news frames and public stigma towards people who use drugs. International Journal of Drug Policy 2025;136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104714. Professor Sumnall has been doing engagement work related to this project, including with the Home Office. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | The iHOST (Improving Hospital Opioid Substitution Therapy) Project |
| Organisation | Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The iHOST study is led by Professor Magdalena Harris at LSHTM, and is funded by the NIHR [HSDR NIHR133022]. I am a collaborator in this project, which aims to improve the provision of medications for people experiencing opioid dependence in acute NHS hospitals. Most of the work I contributed was prior to starting my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship, however I continue to play a limited role. I contributed to the funding bid, co-led the first paper (a review of existing hospital opioid dependence policies), contributed to the co-development of a new policy for University College London Hospital, a systematic review of literature on the subject, and attend monthly meetings guiding the implementation of the intervention in wider hospitals, and its evaluation. I am an Honorary Research Fellow at LSHTM to fulfil this role. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LSHTM leads this project, with various other organisations involved, including UCL, Liverpool John Moores University, another academic in the University of Bristol, and Release. |
| Impact | The primary outcome of this project is an intervention suite, that has been piloted in UCLH, and is now being evaluated in Staffordshire and Leeds Hospitals. It includes a new policy, helpline, staff training, a staff champion role and an advocacy card. So far, the project has led to three academic publications (two published during my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship), a further publication is under consideration, and there will be several more in the next 1-2 years. Psychology / medical sociology • Wickremsinhe M, Holland A, Scott J, Gittins R, Brown M, Noctor A, Lewer D, Hope V, Eastwood N, Harris M. Improving hospital opioid withdrawal management through development of a patient-centred clinical guideline. Harm Reduction Journal 2024:21(201). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01127-2. • Lewer D, Brown M*, Burns A*, Eastwood N*, Gittens R*, Holland A*, Hope V*, Ko A*, Lewthwaite P*, Morris A-M*, Noctor A*, Preston A*, Scott J*, Smith E*, Sweeney S*, Tilouche N*, Wickremsinhe M*, Harris M (*alphabetical order). Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation. NIHR Open Research 2024;4:10. https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13534.1. Various conference presentations have been delivered - during my Fellowship I was an author on one of these: Transforming hospital care for people who use opioids: • Implementing NHS policy change. Oral presentation; Melbourne; International Harm Reduction Conference 2023 (international); fourth author. Public health, clinical medicine, medical sociology. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | The iHOST (Improving Hospital Opioid Substitution Therapy) Project |
| Organisation | Exchange Supplies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The iHOST study is led by Professor Magdalena Harris at LSHTM, and is funded by the NIHR [HSDR NIHR133022]. I am a collaborator in this project, which aims to improve the provision of medications for people experiencing opioid dependence in acute NHS hospitals. Most of the work I contributed was prior to starting my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship, however I continue to play a limited role. I contributed to the funding bid, co-led the first paper (a review of existing hospital opioid dependence policies), contributed to the co-development of a new policy for University College London Hospital, a systematic review of literature on the subject, and attend monthly meetings guiding the implementation of the intervention in wider hospitals, and its evaluation. I am an Honorary Research Fellow at LSHTM to fulfil this role. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LSHTM leads this project, with various other organisations involved, including UCL, Liverpool John Moores University, another academic in the University of Bristol, and Release. |
| Impact | The primary outcome of this project is an intervention suite, that has been piloted in UCLH, and is now being evaluated in Staffordshire and Leeds Hospitals. It includes a new policy, helpline, staff training, a staff champion role and an advocacy card. So far, the project has led to three academic publications (two published during my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship), a further publication is under consideration, and there will be several more in the next 1-2 years. Psychology / medical sociology • Wickremsinhe M, Holland A, Scott J, Gittins R, Brown M, Noctor A, Lewer D, Hope V, Eastwood N, Harris M. Improving hospital opioid withdrawal management through development of a patient-centred clinical guideline. Harm Reduction Journal 2024:21(201). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01127-2. • Lewer D, Brown M*, Burns A*, Eastwood N*, Gittens R*, Holland A*, Hope V*, Ko A*, Lewthwaite P*, Morris A-M*, Noctor A*, Preston A*, Scott J*, Smith E*, Sweeney S*, Tilouche N*, Wickremsinhe M*, Harris M (*alphabetical order). Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation. NIHR Open Research 2024;4:10. https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13534.1. Various conference presentations have been delivered - during my Fellowship I was an author on one of these: Transforming hospital care for people who use opioids: • Implementing NHS policy change. Oral presentation; Melbourne; International Harm Reduction Conference 2023 (international); fourth author. Public health, clinical medicine, medical sociology. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | The iHOST (Improving Hospital Opioid Substitution Therapy) Project |
| Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The iHOST study is led by Professor Magdalena Harris at LSHTM, and is funded by the NIHR [HSDR NIHR133022]. I am a collaborator in this project, which aims to improve the provision of medications for people experiencing opioid dependence in acute NHS hospitals. Most of the work I contributed was prior to starting my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship, however I continue to play a limited role. I contributed to the funding bid, co-led the first paper (a review of existing hospital opioid dependence policies), contributed to the co-development of a new policy for University College London Hospital, a systematic review of literature on the subject, and attend monthly meetings guiding the implementation of the intervention in wider hospitals, and its evaluation. I am an Honorary Research Fellow at LSHTM to fulfil this role. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LSHTM leads this project, with various other organisations involved, including UCL, Liverpool John Moores University, another academic in the University of Bristol, and Release. |
| Impact | The primary outcome of this project is an intervention suite, that has been piloted in UCLH, and is now being evaluated in Staffordshire and Leeds Hospitals. It includes a new policy, helpline, staff training, a staff champion role and an advocacy card. So far, the project has led to three academic publications (two published during my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship), a further publication is under consideration, and there will be several more in the next 1-2 years. Psychology / medical sociology • Wickremsinhe M, Holland A, Scott J, Gittins R, Brown M, Noctor A, Lewer D, Hope V, Eastwood N, Harris M. Improving hospital opioid withdrawal management through development of a patient-centred clinical guideline. Harm Reduction Journal 2024:21(201). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01127-2. • Lewer D, Brown M*, Burns A*, Eastwood N*, Gittens R*, Holland A*, Hope V*, Ko A*, Lewthwaite P*, Morris A-M*, Noctor A*, Preston A*, Scott J*, Smith E*, Sweeney S*, Tilouche N*, Wickremsinhe M*, Harris M (*alphabetical order). Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation. NIHR Open Research 2024;4:10. https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13534.1. Various conference presentations have been delivered - during my Fellowship I was an author on one of these: Transforming hospital care for people who use opioids: • Implementing NHS policy change. Oral presentation; Melbourne; International Harm Reduction Conference 2023 (international); fourth author. Public health, clinical medicine, medical sociology. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | The iHOST (Improving Hospital Opioid Substitution Therapy) Project |
| Organisation | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The iHOST study is led by Professor Magdalena Harris at LSHTM, and is funded by the NIHR [HSDR NIHR133022]. I am a collaborator in this project, which aims to improve the provision of medications for people experiencing opioid dependence in acute NHS hospitals. Most of the work I contributed was prior to starting my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship, however I continue to play a limited role. I contributed to the funding bid, co-led the first paper (a review of existing hospital opioid dependence policies), contributed to the co-development of a new policy for University College London Hospital, a systematic review of literature on the subject, and attend monthly meetings guiding the implementation of the intervention in wider hospitals, and its evaluation. I am an Honorary Research Fellow at LSHTM to fulfil this role. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LSHTM leads this project, with various other organisations involved, including UCL, Liverpool John Moores University, another academic in the University of Bristol, and Release. |
| Impact | The primary outcome of this project is an intervention suite, that has been piloted in UCLH, and is now being evaluated in Staffordshire and Leeds Hospitals. It includes a new policy, helpline, staff training, a staff champion role and an advocacy card. So far, the project has led to three academic publications (two published during my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship), a further publication is under consideration, and there will be several more in the next 1-2 years. Psychology / medical sociology • Wickremsinhe M, Holland A, Scott J, Gittins R, Brown M, Noctor A, Lewer D, Hope V, Eastwood N, Harris M. Improving hospital opioid withdrawal management through development of a patient-centred clinical guideline. Harm Reduction Journal 2024:21(201). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01127-2. • Lewer D, Brown M*, Burns A*, Eastwood N*, Gittens R*, Holland A*, Hope V*, Ko A*, Lewthwaite P*, Morris A-M*, Noctor A*, Preston A*, Scott J*, Smith E*, Sweeney S*, Tilouche N*, Wickremsinhe M*, Harris M (*alphabetical order). Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation. NIHR Open Research 2024;4:10. https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13534.1. Various conference presentations have been delivered - during my Fellowship I was an author on one of these: Transforming hospital care for people who use opioids: • Implementing NHS policy change. Oral presentation; Melbourne; International Harm Reduction Conference 2023 (international); fourth author. Public health, clinical medicine, medical sociology. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | The iHOST (Improving Hospital Opioid Substitution Therapy) Project |
| Organisation | University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The iHOST study is led by Professor Magdalena Harris at LSHTM, and is funded by the NIHR [HSDR NIHR133022]. I am a collaborator in this project, which aims to improve the provision of medications for people experiencing opioid dependence in acute NHS hospitals. Most of the work I contributed was prior to starting my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship, however I continue to play a limited role. I contributed to the funding bid, co-led the first paper (a review of existing hospital opioid dependence policies), contributed to the co-development of a new policy for University College London Hospital, a systematic review of literature on the subject, and attend monthly meetings guiding the implementation of the intervention in wider hospitals, and its evaluation. I am an Honorary Research Fellow at LSHTM to fulfil this role. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LSHTM leads this project, with various other organisations involved, including UCL, Liverpool John Moores University, another academic in the University of Bristol, and Release. |
| Impact | The primary outcome of this project is an intervention suite, that has been piloted in UCLH, and is now being evaluated in Staffordshire and Leeds Hospitals. It includes a new policy, helpline, staff training, a staff champion role and an advocacy card. So far, the project has led to three academic publications (two published during my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship), a further publication is under consideration, and there will be several more in the next 1-2 years. Psychology / medical sociology • Wickremsinhe M, Holland A, Scott J, Gittins R, Brown M, Noctor A, Lewer D, Hope V, Eastwood N, Harris M. Improving hospital opioid withdrawal management through development of a patient-centred clinical guideline. Harm Reduction Journal 2024:21(201). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01127-2. • Lewer D, Brown M*, Burns A*, Eastwood N*, Gittens R*, Holland A*, Hope V*, Ko A*, Lewthwaite P*, Morris A-M*, Noctor A*, Preston A*, Scott J*, Smith E*, Sweeney S*, Tilouche N*, Wickremsinhe M*, Harris M (*alphabetical order). Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation. NIHR Open Research 2024;4:10. https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13534.1. Various conference presentations have been delivered - during my Fellowship I was an author on one of these: Transforming hospital care for people who use opioids: • Implementing NHS policy change. Oral presentation; Melbourne; International Harm Reduction Conference 2023 (international); fourth author. Public health, clinical medicine, medical sociology. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | The iHOST (Improving Hospital Opioid Substitution Therapy) Project |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The iHOST study is led by Professor Magdalena Harris at LSHTM, and is funded by the NIHR [HSDR NIHR133022]. I am a collaborator in this project, which aims to improve the provision of medications for people experiencing opioid dependence in acute NHS hospitals. Most of the work I contributed was prior to starting my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship, however I continue to play a limited role. I contributed to the funding bid, co-led the first paper (a review of existing hospital opioid dependence policies), contributed to the co-development of a new policy for University College London Hospital, a systematic review of literature on the subject, and attend monthly meetings guiding the implementation of the intervention in wider hospitals, and its evaluation. I am an Honorary Research Fellow at LSHTM to fulfil this role. |
| Collaborator Contribution | LSHTM leads this project, with various other organisations involved, including UCL, Liverpool John Moores University, another academic in the University of Bristol, and Release. |
| Impact | The primary outcome of this project is an intervention suite, that has been piloted in UCLH, and is now being evaluated in Staffordshire and Leeds Hospitals. It includes a new policy, helpline, staff training, a staff champion role and an advocacy card. So far, the project has led to three academic publications (two published during my MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship), a further publication is under consideration, and there will be several more in the next 1-2 years. Psychology / medical sociology • Wickremsinhe M, Holland A, Scott J, Gittins R, Brown M, Noctor A, Lewer D, Hope V, Eastwood N, Harris M. Improving hospital opioid withdrawal management through development of a patient-centred clinical guideline. Harm Reduction Journal 2024:21(201). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01127-2. • Lewer D, Brown M*, Burns A*, Eastwood N*, Gittens R*, Holland A*, Hope V*, Ko A*, Lewthwaite P*, Morris A-M*, Noctor A*, Preston A*, Scott J*, Smith E*, Sweeney S*, Tilouche N*, Wickremsinhe M*, Harris M (*alphabetical order). Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation. NIHR Open Research 2024;4:10. https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13534.1. Various conference presentations have been delivered - during my Fellowship I was an author on one of these: Transforming hospital care for people who use opioids: • Implementing NHS policy change. Oral presentation; Melbourne; International Harm Reduction Conference 2023 (international); fourth author. Public health, clinical medicine, medical sociology. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Voice of the Voiceless |
| Organisation | Bristol Drugs Project Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This project, led by Dr Vicky Carlisle in the University of Bristol aimed to co-produce some resources for pharmacies intended to reduce stigma towards people who use opioids using the services. I attended a workshop, contributed to the development of the intervention, and will contribute to the academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project was led by Dr Vicky Carlisle who coordinated the project and led all elements. |
| Impact | Dr Carlisle has led engagement on this project. The outputs include a booklet for pharmacies, which is being disseminated to pharmacies in Bristol and nationally. In preparation are a conference presentation, blog, and academic paper. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Voice of the Voiceless |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This project, led by Dr Vicky Carlisle in the University of Bristol aimed to co-produce some resources for pharmacies intended to reduce stigma towards people who use opioids using the services. I attended a workshop, contributed to the development of the intervention, and will contribute to the academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project was led by Dr Vicky Carlisle who coordinated the project and led all elements. |
| Impact | Dr Carlisle has led engagement on this project. The outputs include a booklet for pharmacies, which is being disseminated to pharmacies in Bristol and nationally. In preparation are a conference presentation, blog, and academic paper. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | APPG Drugs, Alcohol, and Justice presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present to the APPG about adulteration of drugs / nitazenes. In attendance were Members of Parliament, and professionals working in the field. I received positive feedback and MPs reported receiving new knowledge. It was reported in an article for Drink and Drug News (the magazine for drugs workers in the UK). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Blog - responding to Nitazenes in the UK Drugs Market |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog - requested by Transform Drug Policy Foundation re: nitazenes (written in capacity as Co-Chair of FPH Drugs SIG - clinical time during Fellowship) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://transformdrugs.org/blog/responding-to-nitazenes-in-the-uk-drugs-market |
| Description | Developing local and national contingency plans for synthetic opioids in Wales |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This event was organised by a drugs service (Barod) and funded by the Welsh Government. I was asked to present on nitazene opioids. The audience included commissioners, drugs workers, and policy makers. I received positive feedback for the presentation and it prompted requests for further presentations and engagement activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | FPH webinar on chemsex |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I contributed to the organisation of this webinar on chemsex, attended primarily by people working in the drugs service space. It was followed by questions and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | FPH webinar on nitazenes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Around 150-200 people from a range of disciplines and professions attended this webinar, which I organised, chaired, and presented at, about the proliferation of nitazenes in the UK. I received positive feedback, and this was associated with lots of further work on nitazenes, with numerous meetings, and outputs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Faculty of Public Health Annual Board Meeting presentation / paper |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I prepared a paper on drug control policies for the Faculty of Public Health board, and presented it at their AGM. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Faculty of Public Health webinar on online drug markets |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I co-led the organisation and chaired this event for the Faculty of Public Health, which was attended primarily by professionals working in the drug service space. It sparked debate, led to lots of questions, and prompted plans for future collaboration with one of the speakers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Interview for Pharmaceutical Journal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed for an article about xylazine for the pharmaceutical journal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | NHS Addiction Providers Alliance presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present at the annual anti-stigma conference organised by the NHS Addiction Providers Alliance. The audience was primarily people working in drugs services, also patients and members of the public and academics. I received positive feedback and requests for further information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation for Barod (drugs service) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk for a drug service about nitazenes. There were between 100-200 people in attendance. I received positive feedback and thanks for the presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation for regional Magistrates group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present to a regional group of Magistrates about drug policies and punitive approaches to drug control. I received positive feedback on this talk, and it sparked much debate, and questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation for the Annual Law Enforcement Conference of Drug Control Networks, Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to speak (and to be one of the three UK delegates) to this law enforcement and customs conference, hosted by the Pompidou Group at the Council of Europe. I discussed nitazenes, as well as general considerations about drug control policies, and the influence of stigma - related to my primary PhD project. I received positive feedback about my talk from multiple individuals, and received follow up requests for information, a request to write a piece for the Magazine of the World Customs Organisation, and people contacting me to share information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation on stigma for Bristol Drug and Alcohol Health Integration Team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk for the Bristol Drug and Alcohol Health Integration Team, which includes people working in drugs services, policing, and academia. I discussed my PhD research - specifically a review of anti-stigma mass media campaigns. I received positive feedback, and requests for further information and meetings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Press engagement re: nitazenes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I have provided quotes or been interviewed numerous times about nitazene opioids. I have been quoted in written articles, including in the Independent and Guardian, interviewed live on Times Radio, and a pre-recorded interview was included in a segment for BBC East Sussex. Other articles are in progress, and I have acted as an informal consultant for journalists for the BBC, Sky News, Postimees (Estonia), Nieuwsuur (the Netherlands), and journalism students providing advice on news stories and documentaries. • The Independent, 2024 - 'Profound' threat of lethal synthetic opioids is growing in Europe, officials warn. • The Guardian, 2024 - People buying opioids and sedatives online face deadly fakes, expert warns. • The Independent, 2024 - Synthetic opioids could fuel 'second wave' of UK drug death crisis, experts warn. • The Times Radio, 2025 - Live interview with Hugo Rifkind about legislative amendment scheduling generic nitazenes under the Misuse of Drugs Act. • BBC East Sussex recorded interview, 2023 - segment on increasing drug-related deaths. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/17/opioids-sedatives-online-deadly-fakes-nitazenes#:~:t... |
| Description | Press release pertaining to xylazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was quoted in a press release about the paper I contributed to about xylazine. This paper was reported in more than 300 news stories internationally, an unknown number of which included my quote (I know of my quote being included in pieces for the Guardian, Telegraph and Metro). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/10/animal-tranquilliser-xylazine-found-in-cannabis-vape... |
| Description | Southbank University Stigma Researcher Networking Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a workshop hosted by London Southbank University to discuss ongoing work related to stigma associated with drug use and dependence. I received positive feedback on my presentation about my ongoing research for my PhD, and made plans for subsequent collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Street Medicine Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk at the International Street Medicine Symposium, being hosted in London. I presented about overdose prevention centres. I received positive feedback on my talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Turning Point conference (drugs service) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to be a keynote at this conference organised by a national drugs and alcohol service. The audience included drug workers, and various academics and policymakers working in the field. I presented on nitazenes, and took part in a panel discussion, prompting numerous questions and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | UKHSA Lunch and Learn session on stigma |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk for UKHSA 'Lunch and Learn' session. Between 100-200 UKHSA staff attended this talk where I discussed the problem of stigma, and conceptual issues in its measurement and characterisation, this sparked questions and discussion, and I received favourable feedback from several individuals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |