Annual Conference 2024
On the 5th June 2024, DRNS hosted its annual conference at University of Edinburgh. The day focussed on knowledge exchange and provided an opportunity for academic researchers, practitioners and clinicians, third sector representatives, and people with living/lived experience to hear and share research.
The event starting with a welcome from Professor Peter Mathieson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, followed by an update on Drug Policy by Maggie Page and the Scottish Government.
Keynote presentations on the day included:
- Co-existing Serious Mental Health and Substance Use: Drug-related Harm and Treatment, Professor Elizabeth Hughes, Glasgow Caledonian University
- Scottish Drug Policy Constellations: Explaining the Scottish Policy Response to Drug-related Deaths., Professor Alex Stevens, University of Kent
- Stimulants: An update on Epidemiology and Treatment, . Dr Jonathan Brett, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney and University of Edinburgh
The event also incorporated four parallel sessions themed as the following:
- Insights and Strategies to Addressing Substance Use chaired by Peter Hillen
- Exploring New Avenues for Recovery and Support chaired by Anna Ross
- Navigating Drug Policy and Societal Impact chaired by Jonathan Brett
- Utilising Data and Technology for Public Health Solutions chaired by Margaret Whoriskey
During each parallel session presenters had an opportunity to share current research on each topic. A full list of presentation titles can be found here.
The event also included a panel discussion, chaired by Wez Steele from Scottish Drugs Forum, entitled “Perspectives on Drug Use and Treatment in Scotland from Service Users and Providers” with presentations on:
- Addiction Services in Scotland: Exploring the Experiences of Addiction Treatment Providers, Beata Ciesluk, University of the West of Scotland
- An Observational Evaluation of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT): The experiences of People Who Receive MAT, Scottish Drugs Forum
- People Who Use Drugs’ (PWUD) Preference Towards Service Design of a Safer Drug Consumption Facility (SDCF) in Scotland, Yuejiao Duan, University of Glasgow
- “If ye want tae live smoke foil”: Experiences of Smoking Heroin and its Potential to Reduce Injecting-Related Harms, Laura Roe, University of Dundee
Our next annual conference will be held on the 5th of June 2025 at the University of Dundee, with support from Dundee ADP. Please save the date!
Attendees voted for the best poster and Danilo Falzon was our winner!
