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How DAATs can fund directly relevant drug related research and contribute to knowledge
Gary Wallace, DAAT Manager, Plymouth Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Ross Coomber, Reader in Sociology, University of Plymouth

Abstract
A case study of public injecting: how to fund good local research cheaply

ESRC CASE Studentships are fully funded 3 year PhD studentships. Their rationale is to produce collaboration between universities and a partner organisation (public or private sector)to produce research that is directly relevant/useful to the partner organisation but that also produces 'experts' in the area studied and in the methods used. These studentships are highly subsidised and present a small burden of just £4,000 per annum on the partner organisation. This presentation will provide a case study insight into how one such relationship (Plymouth DAAT/University of Plymouth) has produced excellent cost-effective and highly relevant research outcomes for the DAAT; produced a highly qualified drug field researcher, and contributed to academic knowledge. It is our contention that this is an opportunity to expand research on drug use and at the same time make valuable contributions to local situations, policy and practice. The research this case study will focus on looked at t! he effects of place on public injecting in Plymouth. The presentation will outline how local understanding of the types of public injecting and public injecting environments produce particular types of risk and risk behaviour for users and communities. As a result of this research Plymouth changed the way it policed public injecting; managed public injecting sites, and tackled drug related litter. We will inform the audience both what the benefits of this approach to bridging the gap between research and practice and research and local policy making are as well as inform them of how to do this in their local area/s.
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**Stephen Parkin was the CASE student and he will be presenting his research findings at the conference. This paper does not replicate the findings but deals with the way the research was initiated and utilised at a local level and how others might do the same.

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Biographies
Gary Wallace is based in Public Health and has been the DAAT Manager for the last eight years. He has held a variety of positions in the drug and alcohol field since 1985 and has extensive experience of commissioning local policy initiatives.

Ross Coomber has been has been researching and teaching drug related issues for over twenty years. His most recent book is Pusher Myths: Resituating the Drug Dealer and he is currently researching issues around public injecting and contemporary manifestations of 'child doping'