Research

Research has been at the heart of The Loop’s activities since it was founded and is embedded in our mission to be both an evidence-based and evidence-making health service. The Loop is a university action research project and impact case study, initially in partnership with Durham University and subsequently with the University of Liverpool. Research and evaluation are co-ordinated by the in-house research action group and conducted in collaboration with staff across all four action groups. The research team is made up of a broad range of junior and senior academic and industry researchers who work together with a rich pool of Loop volunteer researchers each year across a wide range of academic disciplines, facilitating experience of action research and cross-disciplinary fertilisation. The Loop’s research strategy is overseen by a senior team composed of academics and professionals in relevant areas of the social, natural, health and data sciences. This team manages the research strategy, ethical practices, data access and training of volunteers.

A key aspect of The Loop’s research involves collecting, analysing and triangulating data from across the drug checking service, including laboratory results, healthcare outcomes and the broader context to the service. Another of the Loop’s core research activities is the English Festival Study which includes the UK’s largest survey of festival drug use, policing and more, conducted annually since 2010 (barring 2020 due to Covid festival closures). Core data are also collected and compared with The Loop’s sister organisation, The Loop Australia.

Peer reviewed publications and reports to date have focused on advancing our understanding of user engagement with drug checking; evaluating laboratory methods for testing and analysis; establishing a robust evidence base to guide our practice; and contributing to the emerging international evidence base including with TEDI partners. The Loop’s research also explores broader trends in drug use, drug markets and the regulation and management of the night time economy.

Research from The Loop aims to be open access where possible and where this is not the case the research action group is happy to share research on an individual basis, by written request.