How can we support meaningful engagement with community stakeholders in substance use research?

On 29th January 2025 we organised an event around meaningful engagement in research. The aim was to explore experiences and practices of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in research in Scotland.

This report is a summary of discussions among 37 people representing lived/living experience, academia, public and third sector who attended the event. They told us about their experiences and thoughts on PPIE in drugs research. We hope this document will be informative for those planning to engage with PPIE for future drugs research projects. We thank each person who was in attendance for their contribution.

Click here to read the full report

“The welcoming and relaxed atmosphere created by the DRNS team provided a platform for open and honest discussion. The wealth of experience in the room highlighted how the real value of lived/living experience is often overlooked, and participation is seen as a “tick-box exercise”. I hope to see more events like this – spaces that not only support honest dialogue, but actively elevate lived experience in the co-creation of research, policy, and practice.”

-Robert Izat, Scottish Recovery Consortium