ISSUP UK will be based within the Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (DARC) at Middlesex University (http://drugandalcoholresearchcentre.org ). Although research is at the heart of DARC, the Centre promotes the ‘golden circle’ of linked research, teaching and knowledge exchange. DARC has established and expanding relationships with a wide network of practitioners nationally and internationally, which ensures that the research and DARC activities are relevant to policy and practice. Setting up an ISSUP UK chapter will enable us to explore new ways of collaboration and co-production with different groups of practitioners, experts by experience and academics working in the field of substance use and problem use.
ISSUP UK aims to:
- Foster knowledge exchange across professional groups, experts by experience, different academic disciplines and different countries/ cultures
- Build capacity and develop professional competency in alcohol and drug prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery approaches
- Encourage co-produced research through practitioner and expert by experience involvement, and build research capacity in the drugs/ alcohol field
- Contribute to workforce development by provision of UTC and UPC courses as well as programmes at master and doctoral levels
- Promote production and dissemination of the evidence base for policy and practice
- Provide a platform for discussion of current issues in drug and alcohol research and the implications for policy and practice
- Offer opportunities to lead or participate in ISSUP UK webinars, workshops or other events
Governance of ISSUP UK will be the responsibility of DARC staff assisted by an advisory group consisting of relevant practitioners, experts by experience, consultants and academics. They will assist DARC staff to formulate further the aims and strategy for the Chapter and will advise on the programme of activities. The advisory group will meet three times a year in the first instance.