Funder: Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO)
Collaborators: Co PIs Prof Lawrie Elliott & Prof Carol Emslie (GCU). CIs Dr Elena Dimova (GCU), Prof Sarah Johnsen (Heriot Watt University), Prof Anne Whittaker (University of Stirling), Prof Tim Stockwell (Uni of Victoria, Canada), Dr Iain Smith (NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde), Robert Rush. Partners Homeless Network Scotland. Lead researcher: Dr Martin Whiteford
AIM: To assess the impact and experiences of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) among homeless drinkers and street drinkers, and implications for those providing services to these groups using qualitative research.
- How does MUP affect the health of homeless and street drinkers including their mental health, physical health, and alcohol and drug use?
- What, if any, are the social, financial and legal consequences of MUP for homeless and street drinkers?
- How are health and social services for homeless and street drinkers affected by MUP?
Funder: Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO)
Collaborators: PI Dr Andrew McAuley (Glasgow Caledonian University), Dr Mathew Smith (Glasgow Caledonian University), Professor Lawrie Elliott (Glasgow Caledonian University), Professor Paul Flowers (University of Glasgow), Professor Sir John Strang (Kings College London), Professor Joanne Neale (Kings College London), Dr Saket Priyadarshi (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde), Professor Sharon Hutchinson (Glasgow Caledonian University).
SUMMARY: Heroin assisted treatment (HAT) is the provision of prescribed heroin under medical supervision. Clinical trials have shown that HAT is effective in reducing illicit drug use, criminal activity, and improving the health and well-being of patients who have not responded well to traditional treatments such as opioid pharmacotherapy (OPT), for example, methadone. Little is known about how best to implement HAT in the real world, out with a clinical trial setting. Furthermore, no HAT services currently exist in Scotland or the UK, despite being recommended in clinical guidelines. We will conduct a mixed methods study to understand the barriers and facilitators to implementing Scotland’s first HAT service, exploring the views and experiences of service users and providers, and other key stakeholders. These findings will be used, along with expert views gathered from those delivering HAT services in other countries, to develop a service manual that will guide the establishment, development and maintenance of HAT services across the UK and beyond.
Final summary: https://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/HIPS1919report.pdf
Full recommendations: Read a report of the full recommendations from the project
Funder: Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems
Collaborators: Prof Carol Emslie (PI), Dr Elena Dimova (CI), Dr Jamie Frankis (CI) & Prof Lawrie Elliott (CI)
AIM Through qualitative interviews, our study will explore the experiences of LGBT+ people who have used alcohol services in Scotland and the views and experiences of alcohol and health service providers, to identify facilitators and barriers to improving alcohol services for LGBT+ people.
Funder: Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)- £761, 470
Collaborators: PI: Prof Niamh Shortt (Uni of Edinburgh), with CIs Prof Jamie Pearce & Dr Tom Clemens (Uni of Edinburgh), Prof Carol Emslie (GCU) and Prof Richard Mitchell (MRC SPHSU, University of Glasgow)
More information here https://cresh.org.uk/2019/08/27/new-esrc-funded-study-on-tobacco-and-alcohol/