Drug and Alcohol HIT 2023-24

The Drug and Alcohol Health Integration Team (HIT) is a team of public health experts, academics, doctors and other professionals, working together to reduce the harm that can be caused by alcohol and substance use. Here are some of the highlights from the HIT in 2023-24.

5th July 2024

Generating evidence to support healthier behaviours

Members of the Drug and Alcohol HIT were part of a study covered in The Times, Daily Mail and BBC news, which found that making alcohol-free beer more widely available on draught in pubs and bars may help people switch from alcoholic to alcohol-free beer.

In partnership with Bristol City Council, University of Bristol researchers recruited 14 pubs and bars across the city that were willing to change the drinks that they offered on draught for a limited period. Pubs and bars taking part saw an increase in sales of healthier non-alcoholic draught beer.

The HIT provided a collaborative platform for researchers to work with the Council’s public health and night-time economy teams, which was pivotal in getting the study underway.

Supporting safer drug use, involving people with lived experience

A new drug checking service run by The Loop launched in Bristol in partnership with Bristol City Council and Bristol Drugs Project, and with input from several HIT members.

Dr Tom May from the HIT has been awarded NIHR Research Capability funding to co-develop drug warnings, alerts and messages with people who use drugs across the region, alongside We Are With You from North Somerset. This work will help in responding to the increased emergence of contaminated and adulterated substances circulating on the drug market.

Encouraging system and cross-HIT working

The HIT continues to collaborate with organisations in the region to support funding applications and generating research questions that will benefit people and the system locally.

The HIT has inputted into resources to inform young people about the dangers of nitrous oxide misuse, alongside members of the Inner City and East Bristol Locality Partnership Board.

Tom May is working with the Sexual Health Improvement HIT on a co-produced project aiming to reduce harms from chem sex. The HIT is also exploring a project with the Bladder and Bowel Confidence HIT around young people’s ketamine use and impacts on continence.

Funding enabled in 2023-24

The Drug & Alcohol HIT helped secure £19,140 in 2023-24 for projects to generate research evidence, improve outcomes and address health inequalities.