It will utilise a range of quantitative measures to assess psychological well-being, functional ability, familial and social relationships at base line and at six junctures throughout the project time frame.   

The project will also examine the individual lived experiences of a sample of patients who will be resident within the in-patient treatment programme.  It will also elucidate the experiences of family members who have lived and /or cared for those who have availed of the service. In addition, it will consider the views of health care and social care staff who provide care within the in-patient ARBI unit and through community-based services. 

Dr Anne Campbell & Dr Sharon Millen 

As well as issues covered in earlier waves, the follow-up study is also looking at traumatic experiences people may have had as a child or adult. This will allow us to pilot new measures such as trauma and intergenerational trauma and run preliminary analyses on the trauma model we have developed. We will be seeking consent from participants for data linkage with existing health databases, allowing the investigation of possible causal links with physical and mental health problems.

The study used a mixed methods design, involving secondary data analysis of the Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS) and qualitative analysis via narrative interviews of participants, sampled from BYDS, drug and alcohol service settings and the prison estate, to explore trajectories of NPS use.

Like the Belfast Youth Development Study in Northern Ireland, the Adolescents Lifestyles in Contemporary Europe, and Peers and Levels of Stress studies collected information on health outcomes and behaviours among post-primary school children in the West of Scotland.  All these studies also collected information on friendships within the schools.  We can use this information to look at how factors like friendship groups may influence health behaviour and mental wellbeing.

This Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA), funded by Alco, aims to:

1. identify the models of practice currently used in the UK and internatinally to address the complex issues of co-current mental health and aclohol use disorders, and
2. examines the effectiveness of psychosocial and pharmacological interventions for adults (18+) with co morbid alcohol use and mental health problems.