NDSAG Conference 2007

2007 Conference Alcohol: the elephant in the room
evidence, ignorance and ignoring the evidence

University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

The 31st Annual New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group Conference

Thursday 14th June 2007 – Sunday 17th June 2007
The New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group has provided a safe environment where alcohol practitioners, researchers & service managers have explored and debated contemporary challenges in the field since the mid 1970s.

NDSAG CONFERENCE PROGRAMME (as per March 2007)
14th – 17th JUNE 2007


Thursday 14 June 2007

13.30 ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION
14.00 NDSAG Chair’s Welcome & Introduction: Trevor McCarthy
14.05 Introduction to the Conference: Matthew Plunkett

Conference Opening Session: Chair: Welcome to Scotland

14.15 Scotland and Drinking: A Right Guid-Willie Waught Ron McKechnie
A personal view of the Scottish relationship to alcohol
15.00 Scotland & alcohol today Maggie Watts
Similarities and differences with the rest of these islands (& beyond)

15.45 Tea & Biscuits Break

16.15 Myths & the media Alasdair Forsyth
17.00 Giving it a rest: is refraining better than abstaining? Bill Reading
17.45 Women social deprivation and drinking Mary Hepburn

18.30 Close

18.45 Conference Reception University of Strathclyde
The first evening reception is a traditional feature of the New Directions annual conference.
The event is designed to welcome all delegates, including those who have been regular members of New Directions and particularly those attending for the first time. Complementary pre-dinner drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are available. The emphasis is on meeting informally with as many of the other delegates, including established members, committee members and speakers, early in the conference. New Directions has always sought to promote active participation, because this improves our experience of the conference and helps develop personal, professional networks.

19.30 Dinner


Friday 15 June 2007

9.00 Murderous Fantasies Brian Stephenson
Thinking aloud about our clients?
9.40 Guilty Lorna Templeton
When good evidence doesn’t change convictions
10.20 Not Proven Alasdair Ross
Evidence gathering – how you seek determines what you find

11.00 Coffee & Biscuits Break

11.30 We know the evidence we like Derek Heim
From the disease model to the J-shaped curve
12.15 Health Behaviour Change After Major Personal Trauma Robin Davidson
Further perspective on change decisions and processes

13.00 Lunch

Friday Afternoon Session

14.00 Group Exercise – plenary followed by groups
Making sense of the day so far

15.30 Tea & Biscuits Break

16.00 12 Step next steps Tim Leighton
Variations and developments on a maligned theme

16.40 Controlled drinking – where next Doug Cameron

17.20 An inside job - how alcohol producers could redress harm Charlie Bower (unable to attend)
An original take on a social investment alternatives to tax

18.00 Close

18.15 NDSAG AGM

19.30 Dinner


Saturday 16th June 2007

Saturday Morning Session

9.00 Conspiracy & paranoia John Booth Davies
The secret thoughts of a suspicious man
9.45 Good Money After Bad Christine Godfrey
Cost effectiveness and value for our money
10.30 Alcohol – a prison health perspective Andrew Fraser

11.00 Coffee & Biscuits Break

11.30 New Directions Papers
The New Directions Papers slot offers opportunities for delegates to deliver a brief presentation. Papers are invited on issues relating to practice or research in the alcohol field. Delegates wishing to submit a New Directions Paper should approach the organisers in advance. Presentations may be delivered in parallel sessions. Details will be included in the final conference programme.

11.30 Anthony Hewitt
12.00 Mandi Hodges
12.30 Adrian Brown

13.00 Lunch

14.15 Saturday Afternoon - Self Directed Learning Opportunities
Conference delegates identify and pursue individual learning objectives in collaboration with colleagues with facilitation and support from the conference organisers as required.

19.30 Dinner

21.00 Quiz 2007 Doug Cameron &
A Team Event For All Delegates Trevor McCarthy


Sunday 17th June 2007

Sunday Morning Session:

9.15 Addiction and choice: how can they be reconciled? Nick Heather
10.00 The Way Backwards: Where Did It All Go Wrong? Jack Law
10.45 And another thing … that’s been getting on my nerves Trevor McCarthy

11.30 Coffee & Biscuits Break

12.00 Commentary Matthew Plunkett

12.30 Planning the New Directions Conference 2008
Traditional end to a NDSAG conference: a planning session and wish list to inform the organisation of the next conference, which in 2008 will be held in the Salisbury area.


13.00 Conference Closes