Addiction research strategy
- The Strategy
- Addiction research clusters
- Thematic categories for research
- Consultation
- Public Engagement
- Strategy Oversight Group Membership
- Contact
The Strategy
Addiction and substance misuse is a major medical, social and economic problem for the UK. Continued use of illegal psychotropic drugs, the misuse of alcohol and problems caused by gambling, often result in devastating effects on families, lives and individuals. Young people are especially vulnerable.
The pathways into addiction are not well understood and knowledge of the consequences of addiction is lacking, for example the harms arising from drug taking and the longer-term effects of more frequently used drugs, such as ecstasy or cannabis. New interventions to treat or prevent addiction are urgently needed.
The MRC is leading a strategy for addiction and substance misuse research, which is funding cross-discipline research addressing the biological, medical, social and economic aspects of addiction and substance misuse. This novel and exciting multidisciplinary initiative aims to strengthen the translation of research into public health benefit to reduce the harm caused by illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco (nicotine) and gambling.
The strategy is led by the MRC in partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) on behalf of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR). A number of other key stakeholders are engaged in ongoing consultation, including government departments, devolved administrations and research charities.
- The addiction and substance misuse research strategy - this booklet gives an overview of the MRC–led strategy and its aims, achievements and opportunities for stakeholder involvement.
The aims of the strategy are to:
- Make better use of existing resources (expertise and infrastructure).
- Build research capacity in the UK within the addiction field.
- Increase coordination and connectivity.
- Carry out innovative, cross-disciplinary studies that will lead to improved public health.
- Take a frontline position in the cross-Government drive to reduce the harm caused by illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco (nicotine) and problem gambling.
The overall budget for this initiative is £6.5 million made available by the MRC and the ESRC. The strategy has so far involved three calls for funding. Further funds may become available.
Addiction research clusters
To deliver the strategy, the MRC and the ESRC believe that the UK addiction research base needs to increase capacity and improve cross-disciplinary links. In order to address this, a key part of the strategy is to support the development of addiction research clusters; interdisciplinary clusters of experts with excellent track records in their own disciplines (not necessarily addiction) who, when brought together in a critical mass, will be able to make significant impact in this area. These clusters will provide a platform for competitive innovative research proposals.
Thematic categories for research
In consultation with stakeholders and the addiction research community, the MRC identified the following priority areas for research:
- Cause - aetiology and natural life-course
- Harm - biological and social prevalence / incidence data
- Alcohol - harm, new treatments, evaluation
- Treatment - new therapies, interventions
These themes were drawn up in response to ideas from the academic community and in discussion with stakeholders. Research proposals submitted to the MRC are expected to cover one or more of these themes. The MRC would like to thank the many participants who made very helpful contributions.
See Thematic categories for research for further details and the background to the consultations and decisions made.
Consultation
In order for this strategy to deliver real and relevant public health improvement, the MRC is committed to consulting relevant stakeholders and to maintaining that level of engagement throughout the implementation of the strategy.
Consultation has considered the national priorities in the area of addiction, embracing the wider public, societal, health and safety issues, and considered relevant issues that have arisen in recent reports on addiction and drug use. The involvement of stakeholders is seen as crucial, not only to establish research priorities, but to ensure coordination between funders and pull-through of results into policy and practice.
Stakeholders include:
- Academic community
- Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD)
- Department of Health
- Devolved administrations
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
- Home Office
- National Treatment Agency (NTA)
- Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT)
- Various third-sector organisations
The MRC is also a member of the Strategy Group of the Cross Government Research Programme on Drugs which includes among its members the Department of Justice, the Department of Children, Schools and Families, and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Public Engagement
On 21 January 2010, the British Academy hosted a public engagement event in partnership with the MRC. ‘Addiction research: the next steps’, provided a platform for informing the public and engaging with stakeholders. The event was chaired by Sir Michael Marmot, Director of the International Institute for Society and Health at University College London. The panel of speakers, including Professor David Leon, Chair of the strategy oversight group and three addiction research cluster leaders - Dr Tim Millar, Professor Colin Drummond and Professor David Nutt - presented an overview of the strategy and details of recent results and proposed research.
Strategy Oversight Group Membership
Role |
Name |
Organisation |
Chair |
Prof David Leon |
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
Member |
Prof Verity Brown |
University of St Andrew’s |
Member |
Prof John Frank |
University of Edinburgh |
Member |
Prof Hilary Graham |
University of York |
Member |
Prof Jacky Hunter |
GlaxoSmithKline |
Member |
Prof Glyn Lewis |
University of Bristol |
Member |
Prof David Nutt |
Imperial College |
Contact
All enquiries should be directed to
Gavin Malloch
Programme Manager
Neuroscience and Mental Health Board
Email: Gavin.Malloch@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Telephone: 020 7670 5244
