Addiction research centres and the nurturing of creativity: The Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems. Past, present and future

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to offer an account of the history, the current status and the future of substance use research at the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems (SIPA). Although founded originally by the temperance movement in 1901, its policy has shifted over time towards one which accepts an alcohol-consuming culture made up of self-determined but well-informed consumers, while still supporting those who choose to live an abstinent life. In the beginning, SIPA was involved primarily in collecting alcohol-related information and making it available to professionals and the general public. From the late 1960s SIPA began conducting its own research projects; by the mid-1970s it had set up its own in-house research department. In 2001, SIPA was appointed a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Substance Abuse, Research, Prevention and Documentation. As a private non-governmental organization, most of its funding comes from external research commissions. SIPA participates in a variety of international projects [e.g. Gender Alcohol and Culture: An International Study (GenACIS), European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs (ESPAD) and Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC)] and contributes to numerous national research projects dealing with substance use. It has also forged close links with more than 50 other research institutions in Switzerland and world-wide. Thanks to its work over the last 30 years, SIPA has become a chief port of call for alcohol use research in Switzerland. In the future, SIPA will continue to monitor substance use, while stepping up its prevention research activities and ensuring that it is able to react more promptly to emerging phenomena.

Academic practice–policy partnerships for health promotion research: Experiences from three research programs

“…There have been different approaches to closing the practice-research gap. One has been to develop topic-based research units, such as addiction research centers [20–23]. However, although a common element in the missions of these centers is to monitor substance use in the population, and its causes and courses, prevention research is not high on their agenda.…”

A Research Strategy Case Study of Alcohol and Drug Prevention by Non-Governmental Organizations in Sweden 2003-2009

“…The Swiss institute is primarily involved in collecting alcohol-related information and making it available to professionals and the general public. The Swiss Institute will continue to monitor substance use, while stepping up its prevention research activities and ensuring that it is able to react promptly to emerging phenomena [ 25 ]. Our small research team is attempting to fill a gap in knowledge about the NGO alcohol and drug prevention efforts as these offer unique opportunities [ 82 ].…”

Addiction research centres and the nurturing of creativity

“…The journal is grateful to researchers who have very kindly agreed to contribute to the new research series, and to Emmanuel Kuntsche and his colleagues for giving it a good start [7]. If there are other research centres anywhere in the world that would like to be added to the list, please be sure to let Addiction know.…”