Work, Heroin and Opiate Substitution Treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Mixed Methods Study of the Relationship Between Heroin Use, Opiate Substitution Treatment and Employment
IRAS ID
217177
Contact name
Edward Day
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
This research project aims to explore the reality of the impact of heroin addiction and its treatment on paid work. It will take advantage of a large stable group of employed clients of the Opiate Substitution Treatment (OST) clinic at the Bridge, part of Solihull Integrated Addiction Service. Staff working at SIAS have identified 100 clients receiving OST but also working full-time. This group is under-represented in previous peer-reviewed and grey literature on this topic, which focuses on barriers to work and treatment strategies to improve employment. By studying this group we hope to understand more about what factors promote full-time employment and which factors are associated with unemployment. We wish to explore whether OST is a help or a hindrance to work, and also to collect baseline data that will allow a longer-term study of the stability of employment on OST.
This study will form the basis of an integrated BMedSci project for two students at the University of Birmingham.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0319
Date of REC Opinion
22 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion