Dear Colleagues
This is a brief reminder that the fourth seminar in the Bridging the Gaps
research seminar series is scheduled for Wednesday, 8th May. The seminar is
the last in the series for this semester and we are hoping to finish on a
high note. Professor Uchtenhagen was one of the pioneers of therapeutic
comunities for the treatment of drug users in Europe. More recently, he was
invited by the EC to chair its prestigious working group (COST A6) to
develop pan-European methods for evaluating treatment services.
Professor Uchtenhagen's presentation on the evaluation of treatment services
looks set to be one of the highlights of the series. He has a breadth and
depth of knowledge almost unique within Europe and is a respected authority
on diagnosis and treatment appraisal.
Further details of the COST A6 programme can be found at:
http://www.infoset.ch/inst/costa6/
As usual, the seminar is FREE and there is no need to book in advance. All
those working in the drug and alcohol field (whether as practitioners,
researchers and/or students) are welcome. A number of contacts have asked
whether this seminar might be video-conferenced. I'm afraid that this will,
not be possible at this stage. Video-conferencing requires a good deal of
forward planning and only certain lecture theatres are appropriately
equipped. Moreover, as many of you will know, the Bridging the Gaps series
is being offered on a very limited budget and there is little room for the
additional expenditure that this would involve. However, we are currently
seeking a sponsor for the series in 2003 and I will ensure that
video-conferencing is built into our estimates for next year. You should
note that all the presentations in the series will be made available on the
internet through the EWODOR pages and the SDTP On-line library.
Full details of the upcoming presentation is available on-line at:
http://www.stir.ac.uk/sdtp/bridge4.htm
Details of the full programme are available on-line at:
http://www.stir.ac.uk/sdtp/bridges.htm
Details of the seminar are as follows:
Bridging the Gaps 2002
Residential drug-free treatment of substance dependence was confronted with
major problems over the last decades. Changes in client's characteristics,
especially increasing polydrug dependence, high selectivity of services and
high drop-out rates, expansion of substitution treatment and elevated costs
are some of the key issues. The need to adapt services to those challenges
and to evidence effectivity called for intensified and more systematic
research on treatment process and treatment outcome. The presentation gives an updated overview of research topics and findings.
It describes the process, the problems and the consequences of a systematic
client documentation and treatment evaluation, exemplified with the Swiss
experience. The impact on therapeutic practice, on treatment policy and on
quality improvement are documented and discussed. The presentation also
shows how shortcomings and pitfalls can be avoided and how research can meet
the needs of those involved in therapeutic practice. Ambros Uchtenhagen is psychiatrist and psychotherapist. He has founded
out-patient and residential services for drug users in the framework of
developing social psychiatry in Zurich. He held the chair for Social
Psychiatry at the University there and worked for many organisations, e.g.
World Health Organisation, the European Commission, the Swiss Government. He
chaired the COST A-6 project on, Evaluation of action against drug abuse in
Europe" and the joint WHO/EU project on, "Adequacy of drug abuse treatment
and care in Europe". Since 1994 he has been president of the Addiction
Research Foundation at Zurich University. Bridging the Gaps is funded by PPP Healthcare Medical Trust and is organised
by Scottish Drugs Training Project, University of Stirling in association
with European Working Group on Drugs Oriented Research (EWODOR). The central theme of Bridging the Gaps is to present research material in
ways which ensure that it is understandable and therefore appropriate for
implementation in the addiction treatment field. The series will concentrate
upon work which bridges the gaps between the treatment and the research
communities in two ways: firstly in terms of its practical application in
the field and secondly, by bringing to the UK treatment community
presentations from other European countries and from other traditions.
We are currently working on a programme of speakers for next semester
commencing with a presentation by Jane Fountain of University of Central
Lancashire on drugs alcohol problems and homelessness (19th September 2002).
We will send you further details of the Autumn programme as soon as they are
confirmed.
Best Wishes
Rowdy Yates
Senior Lecturer in Addiction Studies
Scottish Addiction Studies
Dept. of Applied Social Science
University of Stirling
Tel: +44 (0) 1786 - 467695 (office)
+44 (0) 1786 - 467737 (direct line)
Fax: +44 (0) 1786 - 466299
Mobile 07960 - 403 - 395
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Home Page:
http://www.stir.ac.uk/Departments/HumanSciences/AppSocSci/DRUGS/
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