The Sheffield Alcohol Research Group (SARG) has changed its name to the Sheffield Addictions Research Group to reflect its expanding research portfolio.
The group was founded in 2008 with a focus on alcohol research, but has since expanded to include tobacco, gambling, and other addictive substances and behaviours.
The name change is also intended to better communicate the group’s commitment to public health and its interdisciplinary approach to addiction research. SARG’s researchers come from a variety of disciplines including epidemiology, economics, psychology and sociology. They work together to develop and evaluate interventions to reduce the harms associated with addiction.
The group’s research has had a significant impact on policy and practice. For example, SARG’s research on minimum unit pricing for alcohol was instrumental in the decision to implement this policy in Scotland. SARG’s research on tobacco has also been used to inform policy and practice in the UK and other countries.
SARG Director Professor John Holmes said: “SARG has been a leading centre for alcohol research for many years, but in recent years we have expanded our research to include other addictive substances and behaviours. The new name reflects this expansion and our commitment to working across the addictions.”
Sheffield Addictions Research Group sits within the University of Sheffield’s School of Medicine and Population Health which undertakes world-leading research into many conditions including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders and public health whilst also training the next generation of doctors.
SARG was recently announced as a collaborator in the new NIHR-funded Addictions Policy Research Unit which aims to support the Department of Health and Social Care to identify policy research needs and develop research programmes that provide evidence for current and emerging research priorities.
Following the name change the SARG website will be refreshed in the coming months to better reflect the breadth of research going on across the group.