Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Bristol: Take Drugs Seriously
Wednesday 16th - 6:30pm
A Transform-hosted public event on how Bristol can take a serious, evidence-led approach to drugs.
17-18 September 2026 · Bristol
Programme
Two days, two venues, one question: where does harm reduction go next?
Provisional - subject to change. Sessions, speakers and timings may move as we get closer.
Thursday 17 September - Day 1
M Shed
- 09:00Registration
- 09:30WelcomeLydia & Stuart
- Against the Grain: the impact of Bristol's harm reduction ethosDeb Hussey - Exchange Supplies | Welcome & Scene Setting
- Protecting Progress: Harm Reduction, Hepatitis C Elimination and the UK's Global LeadershipCatherine Cook - Harm Reduction International | Welcome & Scene Setting
- Harm Reduction: The National PictureMonica Desai & Amelia Andrews - UKHSA
- Anyone's ChildCara Lavan · Councillor for St George Central ward, Bristol, Bristol City Council (Green Party)Cara Lavan - The Green Party/Anyone's Child
- Interactive session
- 10:55Morning Break
- Birmingham Harm Reduction VanPhilipe Bonnet - The Hepatitis C Trust | NSP
- Understanding NSP provision in London - findings from a mapping exerciseFarrah Hart & Mark Napier - Greater London Authority & The centre for Pulic Innovation
- Creating Opportunities for Intervention: The Success of the Incentivised WAND InitiativeJohn Cambell - Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership | NSP
- SWERVE NaloxoneReg StrauB - The Hepatitis C Trust | NSP
- Participant and client perspectives on a hypothetical overdose prevention centre in Bristol: Results from qualitative interviews during a local spice overdose crisisChelsea Shover - UCLA | What Works
- The Thistle: The UK's first sanctioned Drug Consumption FacilitySaket Priyadarshi - Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services
- Discussion Chaired by Jenny ScottQuestions & Feedback
- 12:55Lunch
- Session to be confirmedLizzie Mulholland | Maggie's session
- Session to be confirmedJoe Keen - Bloodworks
- LGBTQ+ IntroShayla Schlossenberg - Release
- Project 4TBDP and Dandelion | LGBTQ+
- Pleasure, Platforms and Public Health: Rethinking Harm Reduction in ChemsexClyne Hamilton-Davies - Queen Mary University of London | LGBTQ+
- What can we learn from Queer Community Harm Reduction Practices?Seba - Safe Only CIC | LGBTQ+
- Discussion chaired by ShaylaQuestions & Feedback
- 15:10Afternoon break
- Session to be confirmedMark Roberts - The Hepatitis C Trust
- Working in collaboration to improve health outcomes for people who use crack cocaine: Findings from the Safe inhalation pipe provision study (SIPP)Magdelena Harris - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine | Stimulants
- What can we offer stimulant users as treatment?Mike Kelleher - Lambeth Addictions Consortium & South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust | Stimulants
- Uncracking the legality of paraphernalia laws: the case for reformNiamh Eastwood - Release
- 16:30Close / Networking
Friday 18 September - Day 2
Bristol Beacon
- 09:00Registration
- 09:30Welcome
- Considering HCV ReinfectionMark Gillyon-Powell - NHS England | Welcome & Scene Setting
- The Role of Harm Reduction in Hepatitis C EliminationLousie Hansford - The Hepatitis C Trust & BDP Trustee | Personal Story - Linking to data
- Creating Space: harm reduction & commissioningAlistair Flowers - Birmingham City Council, The Harm Reduction Exchange | Commissioning
- Why we need separate, and separately funded, harm reduction and treatment servicesPeter Furlong & Chris Rintoul - CGL & Cranstoun
- 10:40Morning Break
- Through the Gate: Improving Women's Health Outcomes Through Continuity of CareJulia Sheenan - The Hepatitis C Trust | Women
- We are Fearless Women: Examining the Impact of New Public Management on Women's Access to Harm Reduction Services in England.Vicki Beere - University of Manchester
- Session to be confirmedGrace Sumner | Women
- Women's access to services Panel - Hosted by Rachel HalfordPanel title:Women's access to services Panel - Hosted by Rachel Halford
- 12:25Lunch
- WEDINOS: A market insight from open access drug testingDean Acreman - Public Health Wales
- 'Drugs: It's Complicated' - Co-developing and Evaluating Films Intended to Reduce Stigma Towards People Who Use Criminalised DrugsAdam Holland - University of Bristol
- Looking to the past to create a better future - Bringing Oral Diamorphine Treatment to WalesGareth Jones (HAT) - Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service & Kaleidoscope | What Works
- Drugs Use and Ethnic Minorites in the UK - An ACMD report July 2026Anne Campbell - Queens University Belfast
- Optimising Opioid Medication-Assisted Treatment to Reduce Drug-Related HarmJenny Scott
- Breaking Barriers, Not Building Services Around Them - A Community Approach to Harm ReductionDilesh Popat
- 14:50Afternoon Break
- The Power of Peer ResearchRebecca Bulmer - The Hepatitis C Trust
- Ketamine - from crisis to co-productionMatt Southwell - Coact
- Peer-Led Strategies for Equitable Engagement of People Who Use Drugs in Care and ResearchIsabelle Boisvert - Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) - Quebec Node
- Gen Z & The Future of Harm Reduction - young people's perspectives: a conversation about grassroots community action, harm reduction in youth work, challenging existing systems and the meaningful involvement of young people in research and practice.Cerys Tudor & AJ Erickson - Youth Rise | Future of HR
- 40 Years of BDPLydia Plant - Bristol Drugs Project | Ending
- 16:35Close / Networking Event in Simon's Bar
Side events
NHRS Fringe - More events over the two days
We wanted a conference that went beyond the lecture hall. There's lots more happening over the two days of the conference - see our NHRS fringe program below. Some events are free with your ticket and some require separate booking.
Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Currents for Change
Thursday 17th -3pm & 4pm
Transform's Currents for Change takes you on a boat tour exploring the hidden histories of Bristol's legal and illegal drug markets.
Evening Social
Drop-in Evening Social @ The Watershed
Thursday 17th - 5pm onwards
An opportunity for networking and socialising after the days planned programme. The Watershed has a full bar and does a mixture of small plates and mains. We have reserved some seating for conference attendees. Full menu here - https://www.watershed.co.uk/cafe-bar
Film Screening
Surviving Earth Screening
Thursday 17th - 8:30pm
Join us at the Watershed for a free screening of Thea Gajic's film Surviving Earth that features BDP. Run time 96 minutes. No need to book.