Mark Whitfield is a Reader in Substance Use within LJMU's Public Health Institute. He leads the Institute's Intelligence and Surveillance team who are commissioned to provide surveillance systems across England and Wales around their twin specialisms of injury prevention and substance use. In recent years he has overseen the roll-out of the IMS model for reviewing drug and alcohol related deaths to every local authority in the north-west of England along with Birmingham and Solihull.

Mark has a background in the field of drugs and alcohol having worked for 12 years within a local Mental Health NHS Trust, involving face to face work with people who use drugs in a needle exchange setting. Mark is the chair of the National Drug Related Deaths Intelligence Group.

Steve Taylor is Programme Manager for Alcohol & Drugs Treatment & Recovery of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

Pete Burkinshaw is the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Lead in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). He leads on adult and young people’s alcohol and drug treatment, including drug prevention, harm reduction, workforce development and recovery interventions. He joined the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse in 2008 and moved to Public Health England in 2013.

Pete started working in the drug and alcohol treatment and prevention field as a practitioner in 1992 and worked in and managed a variety of services, including young peoples, residential and adult community-based services until 2005. From 2005 to 2008 he worked as a freelance consultant for Local Authorities, treatment providers and the Healthcare Commission.

Rick is Head of Substance Misuse and Vulnerable Populations for Public Health Wales. He is an Honorary Professor in the School of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy at Swansea University, where he teaches as part of the postgraduate programme

Rick has been called ‘a key figure in the emerging field of human rights and drug policy’ and is known for his leading research and teaching on subjects including international drug control law, prisoners' rights, HIV and human rights, capital punishment and harm reduction. He is the former Executive Director of Harm Reduction International (2010-2018) and the Irish Penal Reform Trust (2003-2007). He is also the co-founder and Chair of the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy at the Human Rights Centre, University of Essex.

Elinor is Organisational Lead in the Drugs Team at Public Health Scotland. Elinor leads a programme work across prevention, treatment and surveillance. Elinor is co-author of the Scotland’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards, and oversees the delivery of RADAR – Scotland’s drugs early warning system: Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response.

Elinor has previously specialised in work on the distribution of power as fundamental cause of health inequalities, blood borne virus prevention and was a research lead within Scotland’s minimum unit price for alcohol evaluation portfolio. Elinor has experience of working in the NHS, third sector and UN System. Elinor is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, manufactures and commerce, and a member of the Society for the Study of Addiction.

Ian has been a statistician with the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) for over 10 years. Prior to NISRA, Ian worked as a researcher for the Police Ombudsman, investigator of the Criminal justice inspection, and Ergonomist for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. He has been in his current role with the NISRA Vital statistic Unit for over five years working mainly on death statistics and coding.

Presentation abstract:

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) produces Accredited Official statistics on annual drug-related and drug misuse deaths in Northern Ireland, based on the cause of death recorded on death registrations made available from the NI General Register Office (GRO). The presentation has two main components. The first component provides an overview of trends in registered deaths from 2013-2023, highlighting key demographics, geographic distribution, and mentions of recorded drug types. The second component presents findings from research that linked the NI Census of Population and GRO registration data to explore the association between drug-related deaths and socio-economic factors such as educational attainment, housing tenure and living arrangements, which are not typically captured in routine monitoring systems.

John has over 20 years of experience working as a government statistician and researcher with the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA). He has a background in applied public health research and record linkage across government and academic sectors. His work focusers on analysing linked administrative datasets to generate insights that support policymaking and improve public service delivery. Currently, his research examines socio-demographic, household and area-level factors associated with deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide. Additionally, he uses longitudinal Census data to assess health outcomes and economic inactivity associated with the onset of disability at various life stages.

Presentation abstract:

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) produces Accredited Official statistics on annual drug-related and drug misuse deaths in Northern Ireland, based on the cause of death recorded on death registrations made available from the NI General Register Office (GRO). The presentation has two main components. The first component provides an overview of trends in registered deaths from 2013-2023, highlighting key demographics, geographic distribution, and mentions of recorded drug types. The second component presents findings from research that linked the NI Census of Population and GRO registration data to explore the association between drug-related deaths and socio-economic factors such as educational attainment, housing tenure and living arrangements, which are not typically captured in routine monitoring systems.

Chris is Cranstoun’s Head of Harm Reduction, joining the organisation in 2021. Prior to this Chris worked as a Social Worker for 25 years in Belfast, and in drug treatment and homelessness services. He has a specialist interest and expertise in harm reduction generally and overdose response in particular. Over the span of his career, he has written several practice guides and academic articles, set up harm reduction services and spoken at conferences across the globe. He has developed and delivered specialist training across the UK and Ireland since 2007.

Presentation abstract:

In response to nitazenes contaminating various drugs in the UK, a group of National Harm Reduction Leads from drug treatment services collaborated to provide unified messaging and a suite of resources, termed Stayin’ Alive. A key aspect was to encourage PWUD to complete individualised Stayin’ Alive Plans. Overdose messaging is too often a list of ‘dos and don’ts’. This initiative recognised that the person at risk is the only one that is likely to know the circumstances in which they could overdose, therefore it is vital that they imagine and plan for that circumstance to prevent their own death.

Presenters:

Jon Findlay (Waythrough), Peter Furlong (Change, Grow, Live), Deb Hussey (Turning Point), Maddie O’Hare (HIT), and Chris Rintoul (Cranstoun)

Jon Findlay is the National Harm Reduction Lead at Waythrough.

He has worked in and around services for people who use drugs for 24 years. Within Waythrough, Jon is now responsible for overseeing the national charity’s harm reduction services. These include needle syringe provision, clinical alerts, naloxone, safe inhalation, chemsex, and image performance enhancing drugs hormone clinics.

'For me harm reduction is an unconditional act of kindness and love not based on any requirement of compliant behaviour. Its about making today better'

Presentation abstract:

In response to nitazenes contaminating various drugs in the UK, a group of National Harm Reduction Leads from drug treatment services collaborated to provide unified messaging and a suite of resources, termed Stayin’ Alive. A key aspect was to encourage PWUD to complete individualised Stayin’ Alive Plans. Overdose messaging is too often a list of ‘dos and don’ts’. This initiative recognised that the person at risk is the only one that is likely to know the circumstances in which they could overdose, therefore it is vital that they imagine and plan for that circumstance to prevent their own death.

Presenters:

Jon Findlay (Waythrough), Peter Furlong (Change, Grow, Live), Deb Hussey (Turning Point), Maddie O’Hare (HIT), and Chris Rintoul (Cranstoun)

Peter Furlong is the National Harm Reduction lead for Change Grow Live and has been working in Drug services since the late 1990s. Starting as a volunteer in Merseyside, then working across a range of frontline roles including outreach, needle and syringe exchange, drug worker, services manager and North West regional development lead.

He was instrumental in pioneering the development of take-home naloxone in Sefton in 2010, one of the first services in the country to pilot its first provision as a core intervention also leading the introduction of nasal naloxone (nyxoid) for CGL services in 2019 which was independently evaluated by the University of Manchester (2020).

Presentation abstract:

In response to nitazenes contaminating various drugs in the UK, a group of National Harm Reduction Leads from drug treatment services collaborated to provide unified messaging and a suite of resources, termed Stayin’ Alive. A key aspect was to encourage PWUD to complete individualised Stayin’ Alive Plans. Overdose messaging is too often a list of ‘dos and don’ts’. This initiative recognised that the person at risk is the only one that is likely to know the circumstances in which they could overdose, therefore it is vital that they imagine and plan for that circumstance to prevent their own death.

Presenters:

Jon Findlay (Waythrough), Peter Furlong (Change, Grow, Live), Deb Hussey (Turning Point), Maddie O’Hare (HIT), and Chris Rintoul (Cranstoun)

Deb Hussey is Turning Point's National Safer Lives Lead. With personal experience of problem substance use, she is passionate about involving people with lived and living experience in service development and delivery.

Deb recently led a co-production project in Somerset, where she ensured that the lived experience contributors were at the centre of the project. As National Safer Lives Lead, Deb works to support Turning Point's response to the increase in drug-related deaths, with a focus on harm reduction and increasing naloxone awareness, distribution, and carriage across their services.

At Turning Point, Deb believes that lived experience should be included in every aspect of their service, from involving people they support in service design and delivery to having staff use their own experiences to enhance the support they offer.

Presentation abstract:

In response to nitazenes contaminating various drugs in the UK, a group of National Harm Reduction Leads from drug treatment services collaborated to provide unified messaging and a suite of resources, termed Stayin’ Alive. A key aspect was to encourage PWUD to complete individualised Stayin’ Alive Plans. Overdose messaging is too often a list of ‘dos and don’ts’. This initiative recognised that the person at risk is the only one that is likely to know the circumstances in which they could overdose, therefore it is vital that they imagine and plan for that circumstance to prevent their own death.

Presenters:

Jon Findlay (Waythrough), Peter Furlong (Change, Grow, Live), Deb Hussey (Turning Point), Maddie O’Hare (HIT), and Chris Rintoul (Cranstoun)

Maddie is Harm Reduction International’s Conference Director and is based in Liverpool. She is responsible for the organisation of Harm Reduction International’s flagship biennial conference, and working to ensure that it continues its strong history of being relevant and impactful in our field around the world.

Maddie has almost two decades of professional experience across harm reduction and event management. Prior to joining Harm Reduction International in 2016, she was full-time Deputy Director of HIT, a UK-based harm reduction information and training organisation. She remains a Director of HIT.

Maddie lived in Thailand from 2002 to 2008, where she worked at various NGOs focused on harm reduction and HIV. Her experience during this time fomented her belief in the importance of the meaningful involvement of people who use drugs at all levels in harm reduction responses and drug policy discussions.

Presentation abstract:

In response to nitazenes contaminating various drugs in the UK, a group of National Harm Reduction Leads from drug treatment services collaborated to provide unified messaging and a suite of resources, termed Stayin’ Alive. A key aspect was to encourage PWUD to complete individualised Stayin’ Alive Plans. Overdose messaging is too often a list of ‘dos and don’ts’. This initiative recognised that the person at risk is the only one that is likely to know the circumstances in which they could overdose, therefore it is vital that they imagine and plan for that circumstance to prevent their own death.

Presenters:

Jon Findlay (Waythrough), Peter Furlong (Change, Grow, Live), Deb Hussey (Turning Point), Maddie O’Hare (HIT), and Chris Rintoul (Cranstoun)

Lynn MacDonald is service manager for 'The Thistle', Glasgow's safer drug consumption facility.

As a mental health nurse, Lynn has worked in Alcohol and Drugs Services for over 25 years, in a range of settings and roles. She is a passionate advocate of person centred care and prides herself in working in services designed in partnership with people with lived and living experience. She is a strong advocate for harm reduction, recognising the importance of this being key to any element of care delivery, no matter the service being provided.

Presentation:

The Thistle, development and first few months.

Dan is the operational manager for 'The Thistle' safer drug consumption facility, and enhanced drug treatment service in Glasgow.

He has a commitment to deliver high quality, person-centred care to all and is a strong advocate for harm reduction, reducing stigma and providing equal access to services - maintaining evidence-based practice throughout.

Presentation:

The Thistle, development and first few months.

Alex is Acting Director, Centre for Criminological Research at the University of Sheffield. He teaches on the overlap between drugs, crime and public health. He is particularly interested in how policies in these areas are made, and how we can improve them through research and collaboration with policy makers, practitioners and directly affected communities.

Alex is a trustee of Harm Reduction International and the Criminal Justice Alliance. He was previously a member of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, and President of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy.

Aileen is a Professor of Substance Use and Social Policy at the University of the West of Scotland with over 25 years experience in drugs research, education and advocacy in the UK, Ireland, and internationally. Her research focuses on the intersection of social inequalities with drug-related harms, and the impact of drug and social policies on communities of place. She conducts work collaboratively with people who use drugs, civil society organisations, policy makers, practitioners and service providers to deliver inclusive research for social change.

Presentation abstract:

Drug-related deaths cluster in areas of deprivation and are contextualised by high levels of precarity and inequality. Based on two research studies conducted in Scotland, which has the highest rate of drug deaths in the UK and Europe, this presentation draws on a Social Determinants of Health analysis to understand the complex interconnected social, structural and systemic factors that underpin drug deaths. This analysis attends to the need for DRD prevention policies to move beyond neo-liberal tropes of individualisation and responsibilisation and address the role of policy in the production and reproduction of risk environments for drug deaths.

Dr Caroline Copeland is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology & Toxicology at King’s College London, and the Director of the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM) (formerly known as the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths - NPSAD).

Dr Copeland heads a research group at King’s whose projects have the broad collective aim of improving healthcare strategies for people who use drugs. Current projects derived from the NPSUM range from the development of a wearable skin sensor to protect against opioid overdose, to the identification of drug-drug interactions between licensed medicines and illicit substances to prevent adverse effects. She has published over 30 research articles and successfully supervised 3 PhD students and over 40 MSc, MPharm and BSc student research projects.

Dr Copeland also sits on the Home Office’s Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs Novel Psychoactive Substances (ACMD NPS) Sub-Committee, and the Welsh National Implementation Board for Drug Poisoning Prevention (NIBDPP). In these roles Dr Copeland examines how national and international drug policy influences drug-related death trends.

Sue McCutcheon is an advanced nurse practitioner with Cranstoun's DEMO Team - Dynamic Evolving Model of Outreach.

Presentation abstract:

The Dynamic Evolving Model of Outreach (DEMO) is a nurse-led street-based project for those experiencing homelessness, substance dependence and have complex health and social needs. DEMO serves individuals who traditionally delivered services have failed to reach.

On-street, same day prescribing of OST with access to intensive on-street support tailors treatment initiation and dose-optimisation to the individual's needs. Episodes of ‘falling off’ script evoke a rapid response to restarting OST.

DEMO provides the opportunity to access OST, alongside management and treatment of health concerns and intense harm reduction interventions and thereby contribute to reducing DRDs in an otherwise unseen cohort.

Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta is a street drug scientist at the University of North Carolina (USA) with 2 decades of experience in harm reduction, focused on overdose epidemiology and prevention. His passion is telling true stories about health, with numbers. His multidisciplinary approach draws on large database analytics, qualitative field studies, analytical chemistry, randomised message trials, and community-based interventions.

At UNC he works at the Opioid Data Lab (OpioidData.org), a team of scientists exploring difficult questions in overdose prevention. He is a co-founder of Remedy Alliance For The People (remedyallianceftp.org), a groundbreaking non-profit distributor that makes bulk naloxone purchases easy. He also co-founded the UNC Street Drug Analysis Lab (streetsafe.supply), which provides mail-in drug checking services to 160+ programs in 35+ states.

In 2023 Dr. Dasgupta was named in the TIME 100 Next list of emerging global leaders: “Few Americans have done more to prevent drug–overdose deaths than Nabarun Dasgupta.”

Jon has been working in the drug and alcohol field since 1996 in various roles including health promotion, delivery of front-line drug and alcohol work, operational delivery, system leadership and in central government with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). He is now employed by Midlands Partnership Foundation NHS Trust but acts independently as the convenor of ITSPOON

He is particularly active in trying to develop approaches and research that reduce drug (and alcohol) related deaths and has developed two research collaborations with a focus on the utilisation of technology; one focussed on alert responses for people using alone and another to improve in-time naloxone responses. He has also been instrumental in bringing an evidence-based stigma indicator to the UK from University of New South Wales Australia, targeted at reducing organisational stigma for people who use drugs and alcohol. He currently leads a drug and alcohol partnership in Staffordshire which is delivered through an innovative S75 agreement, and he is the convenor of ITSPOON (International Technology Solutions to Prevent Opiate Overdose Network) which he established in 2022

Professor Anne Campbell is a Professor in Substance Use at Queen's University Belfast, a member of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), and Co-director of the Drugs And Alcohol Research Network (DARN), Queen’s University Belfast.

Over the last number of years her research has impacted on UK Government drug policy and practice reform. She is currently working on ‘wearables technology ’ to detect opioid overdose deaths, augmented reality to inform interventions in drug use and drug related deaths in Northern Ireland.

Dr Paul Royall is a Senior Lecture in Pharmaceutics at King’s College London, he is also the Cofounder of DroneMatLab Ltd.

Paul heads a research group working at the interface of materials science, drug delivery & drone medical logistics. The group’s expertise has led to the creation of novel freeze-dried formulations allowing, for example, the emergency delivery of opioid antagonists to patients suffering overdose. The group has made a significant contribution to the fields of thermal analysis, drug formulation & medicines delivery by drone. Paul also cofounded DroneMatLab Ltd in 2019

Professor Catriona Matheson, Professor in Substance Use, University of Stirling and Independent Review Consultant in Substance Related Deaths, Aberdeen City Alcohol and Drug Partnership.

Catriona Matheson is a part time Professor in Substance Use at the University of Stirling, and independent Consultant Reviewer of Substance related Deaths in Aberdeen City. She Chaired the Drug Death Taskforce for Scotland (July 2019-December 2021).

Her research, spanning 30 years, is in the delivery of care to people who use drugs. She has over 80 peer reviewed publications and has contributed to and written several educational materials around managing drug use and drug harms.

Current interests include effective interventions for people who use street benzodiazepines, non-fatal overdose pathways and exploring digital solutions to prevent drug related harm.

Presentation:

Here4U Scotland is an innovative mobile app developed by Brave Technology Cooperative in Canada and localised for Aberdeen, Scotland. The app was designed to offer remote supervision and support to individuals using drugs alone. The Scottish Government’s Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS) program funded the piloting of the app in Aberdeen, hosted by Alcohol and Drugs Action, a local harm reduction service.

Rhys Ash is the non-fatal opiate overdose pathway practitioner for the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).

Rhys' role as 'Non-fatal Overdose Pathway Practitioner was created through a partnership with local authority partners in the Northwest of England, Blackpool Council (Lead commissioner) and The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). NWAS' Non-fatal overdose pathway is designed to increase referrals into allocated drug services. Any patient that has overdosed in the Northwest (specifically, with a strong indication of illicit opiates in their system) and had a clinical staff member attend the incident, will be referred into their local drug and alcohol service connected to the pathway.

There is internal development planned within NWAS to increase the strength and effectiveness of the pathway to ensure clinical staff are making these referrals. The pathway is unique to the England and Wales, so we aim to share our model and pathway from a national perspective, once the pathway is more established.

Dr Judith Yates worked as a GP in Birmingham for thirty years. Since retiring from clinical work in 2015 she continued to work with Birmingham Coroner’s Office to monitor drug related deaths, and to look for ways to prevent future deaths.

Judith is a member of Doctors for Drug Policy Reform (D4DPR) and supports the development of evidence-based drug policy, locally, nationally, and internationally.