6th Annual Conference of the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol Problems (INEBRIA). 8 - 9 October 2009, UK.

The 6th Annual Conference of INEBRIA will take place at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, UK on 8th-9th October, 2009. The conference aims to break new ground in the theory, research and implementation of screening and brief intervention (SBI) for alcohol use disorders. The effectiveness of SBI in primary health care is well established and evidence for its effectiveness in other medical settings is promising. At the same time, significant advances in the practical implementation of SBI are being made in various parts of the world. However, other essential aspects of SBI have received less attention and importatn potential applications remain unexplored. Some of these outstanding issues, which will receive special attention at the conference, are as follows:

- Theory of brief interventions - the essential mechanisms of succesful response to SBI and the necessary and/or sufficient conditions under which brief interventions are effective;

- Methodological issues on research on SBI;

- Optimal forms of screening in various medical and non-medical settings;

- Development and applications of SBI in the criminal justice setting;

- Brief interventions and the Internet;

- Development, evaluation and implementation of brief interventions tailored to the needs and requirements of young people;

- Application of SBI to black and minority ethnic groups;

- Innovative ways of encouraging health professionals to incorporate SBI in their routine work;

- Effective strategies for achieving integration of SBI in government policies;

- A global perspective on SBI – applications in parts of the world where SBI has yet to make much impact.

These and other ground-breaking topics will receive special attention at the conference, in addition to updates on research and applications regarding SBI in general and progress in meeting the aims of INEBRIA.

In addition to the main conference, there will be a special preconference symposium on 7th October on the Screening and Intervention Programme for Sensible Drinking (SIPS) project (also known as the “Trailblazer Project”). This is a research project funded by the Department of Health in the UK to pilot the implementation of SBI in primary health care, accident and emergency departments and criminal justice services. The symposium will provide an update on the progress of this major piece of research in the SBI field.

A call for papers and a list of invited speakers and topics are forthcoming. A conference banquet is planned for the evening of 8th October and details of a social programme will be announced in due course. The 6th INEBRIA conference is sponsored by the World Health Organisation, Alcohol Education & Research Council, NHS South of Tyne & Wear, Newcastle University, Northumbria University and the Department of Health.

If you would like to register your interest please follow the link:http://www.inebria2009.co.uk

For more information about the 6th Inebria Conference contact:

Janice Armstrong
Secretariat INEBRIA 09
Institute of Health & Society
Newcastle University
Tel: 44(0)191 222 7213
Fax: 44(0)191 222 6043
Email:Inebria2009@newcastle.ac.uk