The Addiction Healthcare Goals programme, led by the Office for Life Sciences, worked with the James Lind Alliance to enable healthcare professionals, people with experience of addictions or who use alcohol or drugs problematically, carers and families, to work together to identify and prioritise the questions for future research that will make the most difference to people. The aim was to identify important questions for future research regarding harm reduction, treatment of, and recovery from addictions from the perspective of those who are expert by experience, and professionals.

The priorities for future research identified are available for a range of organisations which fund research, to inform their research funding strategies. There are numerous terms used for those people experiencing addictions.  For the purpose of this PSP we used the term people with experience of/or experiencing addiction or people with experience of drug and alcohol problems. The Addiction Healthcare Goals PSP Top 10 was published in May 2025.

Top 10 priorities
The most important questions

1. What are the best approaches to reducing drug related deaths?
2. What are the best ways to treat trauma alongside treatment for addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?
3. How can stigma and discrimination against people with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol be addressed within health services to improve care?
4. What are the best approaches to harm reduction for people with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol (e.g. providing safe community spaces to inject)?
5. What are the best ways to treat people with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol and a mental health problem?
6. What are the best ways to support children affected by people with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?
7. How can treatment for addiction to drugs and/or alcohol be tailored to the needs of each individual, for example reflecting their cultural background?
8. How can addiction services and mental health services work better together to improve outcomes for people who have a mental health condition and addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?
9. What are the best psychological therapies for people with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?
10. What are the best ways to prevent a relapse during recovery for addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?

The following questions were also discussed and put in order of priority at the workshop:

• What are the best ways to treat and support people who are neurodivergent (e.g. with attention deficit disorder) with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?
• What long-term care do people need after treatment for addiction to drugs and/or alcohol to help them stay in recovery?
• What are the best approaches to providing housing for homeless people with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?
• What are the best ways to support families and friends affected by people with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?
• What are the best approaches to psychosocial support (that help people with their emotional, social and spiritual needs) for people with addiction to drugs and/or alcohol?
• How can families and friends best support a person through all stages of addiction to drugs and/or alcohol? What information and support would help them in this role?
• What are the best ways to support people at all stages of addiction to drugs and/or alcohol e.g. with work, relationships and community life?
• Is there a link between trauma, as a child or adult, and addiction to drugs and/or alcohol

These documents set out the aims, objectives and commitments of the PSP.

• Addiction Healthcare Goals PSP protocol
• Addiction Healthcare Goals PSP Steering Group terms of reference
• Addiction Healthcare Goals PSP engagement summary