The National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention (NCCDP)

The National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention (NCCDP) was originally established as a research partnership between the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University. It has strong links with the National Young People Government Departments responsible for drugs and maintains a broad network of local, national and international experts in drug misuse theory and practice.

The NCCDP helps build the evidence base for drug prevention focusing including the contributions of drug prevention to wider public health issues; in particular reducing inequalities in health. By identifying the most effective characteristics of programmes and interventions, which have the most impact upon preventing drug misuse, the NCCDP aims to inform national and local policy and practice on drug misuse prevention and provide guidance for those delivering front line drug prevention services.

The NCCDP has already conducted reviews of non-traditional evidence and scholarly articles, developed guidance on putting evidence into practice, assisted with the development and evaluation of prevention programmes and continues to provide a national information service. We welcome enquiries from individuals and organisations that are looking to develop drug prevention work and wish to learn more about evidence, research, evaluation, and implementation.

The NCCDP and its members have been invited to speak at international conferences, and currently serve on many local, regional, national and international advisory boards.

Contact: Dr Harry Sumnall - Reader

The NCCDP's findings are reported through annual and ad hoc reports, briefings, conferences, and internet resources. The Centre also provides targeted resources and bespoke reports for practitioners such as GPs, youth workers, nurses, teachers, commissioners, Primary Care Trusts and a range of other professionals, helping them to put evidence into practice. 

NCCDP Information service

Who is the service aimed at?

If you're involved in designing, planning or working on drug prevention initiatives and need factual information, the NCCDP's Information Service is aimed at you. From youth workers, teachers, GP's and health service managers to government officials, the service aims to help those working directly on drug prevention initiatives make informed decisions about the most effective methods available.

How is the service delivered?

Answers are provided in association with a network of drug, health, policy and criminal justice specialists and will be evidence based. Information requests can be made via a dedicated telephone number, email, or by fax.

All responses will be made within 14 working days of the original request, by letter, email or fax. We will need full details of the question you wish researching and also some details of why you require it.

What can the service provide?

The NCCDP provides information on aspects of drug use prevention: including the reasons why people take drugs, effective school and community based interventions currently employed in the UK and abroad, and how to turn evidence into practice.