Dr Hannah Carver

Associate Professor

Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology 4T26, RG Bomont Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Hannah Carver

Contact details

About me

I am an Associate Professor in Substance Use in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Co-Director of the Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services and Research (SACASR). My research interests include substance use, vulnerable populations, health inequalities, harm reduction and qualitative methodology. Prior to joining the University of Stirling I completed a PhD at Edinburgh Napier University. My PhD research looked at substance use communication between looked after young people and their formal carers.

My main research and knowledge exchange activities involve (problem) drug and alcohol use; social and health inequalities; children, young people and families; mental health; and homelessness.  My main methodological interests are in qualitative research methods; systematic reviews (including meta-ethnography); and undertaking collaborative research with marginalised groups.

Award

An international and intersectional dialogue on how to reduce harm and promote wellbeing amongst people who have housing, health and substance use challenges: A series of knowledge exchange events
Scottish Universities Insight Institute

http://www.scottishinsight.ac.uk/…827/Default.aspx
People who experience homelessness often have intersecting health problems including poor mental and physical health and problem substance use (Hewett & Halligan 2010). The co-occurrence of these three problems has been termed ‘tri-morbidity’. Problem substance use is often a contributing factor to someone becoming homeless and accounts for over a third of deaths in homeless people (Crisis 2011). Engagement with treatment services, particularly those which expect abstinence, can be extremely challenging (Collins et al. 2016). While harm reduction approaches are recommended for those unlikely to achieve abstinence (Raistrick et al. 2006), there is virtually no specific guidance on how harms from problem substance use can be reduced for homeless people. International models of care and housing provision exist but their relevance to Scotland has not been systematically explored. To address this gap we will create a dialogue on international, national and local best practices in this area and, most critically, on how we can work better together across sectors and disciplines to develop Scottish solutions. We will bring together a diverse group who have substantial knowledge of the issues to develop a nuanced understanding of the current position and how this can better inform policy and practice developments going forward.

Professional membership

Addiction and the Family International Network - Member

British Psychological Society - Member
British Psychological Society

Society for the Study of Addiction - Member

Research projects (21)

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a peer-delivered, relational, harm reduction intervention to improve mental health, quality of life, and related outcomes, for people experiencing homelessness and substance use problems: The ‘SHARPS’ cluster randomised controlled trial.
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: National Institute for Health Research and The Salvation Army
–

Scotland's first Managed Alcohol Programme: Evaluating the impact to inform future service delivery and research
PI: Dr Hannah Carver
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

See Beyond – See the Lives – Scotland: Phase 2
PI: Dr Hannah Carver
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

The Illicit Project UK: Adaption and implementation of an evidence based schools prevention programme for older adolescents
PI: Dr Hannah Carver
Funded by: National Institute for Health Research
–

Intervention development and acceptability/feasibility study of a greenspace programme for mental health and problem substance use
PI: Dr Wendy Masterton
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Edinburgh Drug Consumption Room feasibility study
PI: Dr James Nicholls
Funded by: City of Edinburgh Council
–

Harm reduction intervention for severe drug and/or alcohol dependence among people who are homeless
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: National Institute for Health Research
–

Governing parental opioid use: a relational ethnography
PI: Professor Anne Whittaker
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–

Digital inclusion for the prevention of drug deaths proposal
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

See beyond, see the lives Scotland
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems
–

Drugs Research Network Scotland Phase 2
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Scottish Funding Council
–

Researching and developing key components of a new Scottish Drug Checking service
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: CORRA Foundation
–

Exploring the utility and safety of benzodiazepine prescribing among people receiving Opiate Replacement Therapy in Scotland: a multicentre retrospective cohort study
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

Peer Research in Addiction Services
PI: Dr Hannah Carver
Funded by: East Renfrewshire Council
–

How might the ‘Youth in Iceland Model’ for preventing substance use among young people be developed and adapted for use in Dundee, Scotland?
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Society for the Study of Addiction
–

Assessing the impacts of novel coronavirus outbreaks on people who use drugs, drug-related deaths and the effectiveness of service responses to them; a systematic review to inform practice and drug policy responses to COVID-19 in Scotland
PI: Dr Hannah Carver
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

Managed alcohol programmes: Implementation of a novel intervention to help prevent infection (Covid-19) for people experiencing alcohol dependency and homelessness
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Stress and mental health challenges experienced by third sector homelessness services workers during the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland
PI: Dr Hannah Carver
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Learning lessons from rapid changes to a UK homeless service in response to Covid-19.
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: The Salvation Army
–

Evidence review on homelessness, substance use and metal health
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Health Research Board
–

Scoping the feasibility and acceptability of Managed Alcohol Programmes for people who are homeless in community-based, third sector services in Scotland.
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Outputs (60)

Article

The implementation of safer drug consumption facilities in Scotland: a mixed methods needs assessment and feasibility study for the city of Edinburgh

Nicholls J, Masterton W, Falzon D, McAuley A, Carver H, Skivington K, Dumbrell J, Perkins A, Steele S, Trayner K & Parkes T (2025) The implementation of safer drug consumption facilities in Scotland: a mixed methods needs assessment and feasibility study for the city of Edinburgh. Harm Reduction Journal, 22, Art. No.: 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01144-1

Article

Understanding the health and well-being impacts and implementation barriers and facilitators of legally-mandated non-custodial drug and alcohol treatment for justice-involved adults: a qualitative evidence synthesis

France EF, Hoyle L, Campbell P, Bissozo Hernandez H, Cowie J, Fenton C, Carver H, Connell C, Dumbrell J, Hill R, Blacklaw F, NESSIE NESSI & Davis B (2025) Understanding the health and well-being impacts and implementation barriers and facilitators of legally-mandated non-custodial drug and alcohol treatment for justice-involved adults: a qualitative evidence synthesis. France E (Project Leader) Health & Justice, 13 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-025-00361-5

Review

"You are helping from the heart not just from the head": a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis of the experiences of peer workers working with people experiencing homelessness and substance use

Carver H, Miler JA, Greenhalgh J, Pauly B, Ring N, Booth H, Dumbrell J & Parkes T (2025) "You are helping from the heart not just from the head": a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis of the experiences of peer workers working with people experiencing homelessness and substance use. BMC Public Health, 25 (1714). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23006-6

Article

Applying Normalisation Process Theory to a peer-delivered complex health intervention for people experiencing homelessness and problem substance use

Foster R, Carver H, Matheson C, Pauly B, Wallace J, MacLennan G, Budd J & Parkes T (2025) Applying Normalisation Process Theory to a peer-delivered complex health intervention for people experiencing homelessness and problem substance use. Communications Medicine, 5, Art. No.: 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00721-6

Article

Navigating transitions into, through, and beyond peer worker roles: insider insights from the Supporting Harm Reduction through Peer Support (SHARPS) study

Dumbrell J, Carver H, Foster R, Pauly B, Steele W, Roy M & Parkes T (2024) Navigating transitions into, through, and beyond peer worker roles: insider insights from the Supporting Harm Reduction through Peer Support (SHARPS) study. Harm Reduction Journal, 21, Art. No.: 191. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01109-4

Review

Effectiveness of web-based personalised feedback interventions for reducing alcohol consumption among university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pueyo-Garrigues M, Carver H, Parr A, Lavilla-Gracia M, Alfaro-Díaz C, Esandi-Larramendi N & Canga-Armayor N (2024) Effectiveness of web-based personalised feedback interventions for reducing alcohol consumption among university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Drug and Alcohol Review. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13848

Article

A qualitative exploration of the relevance of training provision in planning for implementation of managed alcohol programs within a third sector setting

Masterton W, Carver H, Booth H, McCulloch P, Ball L, Mitchell L, Murdoch H, Pauly B & Parkes T (2024) A qualitative exploration of the relevance of training provision in planning for implementation of managed alcohol programs within a third sector setting. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2024.2311835

Article

Planning and implementing community-based drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration using the consolidated framework for implementation research

Falzon D, Carver H, Masterton W, Wallace B, Sumnall H, Measham F, Craik V, Gittins R, Aston EV, Watson K, Hunter C, Priyadarshi S & Parkes T (2024) Planning and implementing community-based drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration using the consolidated framework for implementation research. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19, Art. No.: 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00590-7

Article

“It would really support the wider harm reduction agenda across the board”: A qualitative study of the potential impacts of drug checking service delivery in Scotland

Falzon D, Parkes T, Carver H, Masterton W, Wallace B, Craik V, Measham F, Sumnall H, Gittins R, Hunter C, Watson K, Mooney JD & Aston EV (2023) “It would really support the wider harm reduction agenda across the board”: A qualitative study of the potential impacts of drug checking service delivery in Scotland. Ray M (Editor) PLOS ONE, 18 (12), Art. No.: e0292812. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292812

Article

Substance use disorders and COVID-19: reflections on international research and practice changes during the “poly-crisis”

Carver H, Ciolompea T, Conway A, Kilian C, McDonald R & Wojnar M (2023) Substance use disorders and COVID-19: reflections on international research and practice changes during the “poly-crisis”. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, Art. No.: 1201967. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1201967/full; https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1201967

Article

'It’s not going to be a one size fits all': a qualitative exploration of the potential utility of three drug checking service models in Scotland

Carver H, Falzon D, Masterton W, Wallace B, Aston EV, Measham F, Hunter C, Sumnall H, Gittins R, Raeburn F, Craik V, Priyadarshi S, Rothney L, Weir K & Parkes T (2023) 'It’s not going to be a one size fits all': a qualitative exploration of the potential utility of three drug checking service models in Scotland. Harm Reduction Journal, 20, Art. No.: 94. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00830-w

Research Report

Evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland Programme

Matheson C, Daneshvar H, Carver H, Strachan G, Greenhalgh J & Schofield J (2023) Evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland Programme. dy Scottish Government. Edinburgh. https://digitallifelines.scot/media/1217/digital-lifelines-scotland-evaluation-march-2023.pdf

Article

Assessing the feasibility, acceptability and accessibility of a peer-delivered intervention to reduce harm and improve the well-being of people who experience homelessness with problem substance use: the SHARPS study

Parkes T, Matheson C, Carver H, Foster R, Budd J, Liddell D, Wallace J, Pauly B, Fotopoulou M, Burley A, Anderson I, Price T, Schofield J & MacLennan G (2022) Assessing the feasibility, acceptability and accessibility of a peer-delivered intervention to reduce harm and improve the well-being of people who experience homelessness with problem substance use: the SHARPS study. Harm Reduction Journal, 19 (1), Art. No.: 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00582-5

Article

The Potential for Managed Alcohol Programmes in Scotland during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Exploration of Key Areas for Implementation Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research

Carver H, Parkes T, Masterton W, Booth H, Ball L, Murdoch H, Falzon D & Pauly BM (2022) The Potential for Managed Alcohol Programmes in Scotland during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Exploration of Key Areas for Implementation Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (22), Art. No.: 15207. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215207

Review

A Realist Review of How Community-Based Drug Checking Services Could Be Designed and Implemented to Promote Engagement of People Who Use Drugs

Masterton W, Falzon D, Burton G, Carver H, Wallace B, Aston EV, Sumnall H, Measham F, Gittins R, Craik V, Schofield J, Little S & Parkes T (2022) A Realist Review of How Community-Based Drug Checking Services Could Be Designed and Implemented to Promote Engagement of People Who Use Drugs. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (19), Art. No.: 11960. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911960

Article

Stress and Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Frontline Homelessness Services Staff Experiences in Scotland

Carver H, Price T, Falzon D, McCulloch P & Parkes T (2022) Stress and Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Frontline Homelessness Services Staff Experiences in Scotland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (6), Art. No.: 3659. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063659

Article

A peer-delivered intervention to reduce harm and improve the well-being of homeless people with problem substance use: the SHARPS feasibility mixed-methods study

Parkes T, Matheson C, Carver H, Foster R, Budd J, Liddell D, Wallace J, Pauly B, Fotopoulou M, Burley A, Anderson I & MacLennan G (2022) A peer-delivered intervention to reduce harm and improve the well-being of homeless people with problem substance use: the SHARPS feasibility mixed-methods study. Health Technology Assessment, 26 (14), pp. 1-128. https://doi.org/10.3310/wvvl4786

Research Report

Digital Inclusion to Prevent Drug Related Deaths: Scoping user needs

Matheson C, Carver H, Parkes T, Daneshvar H, Schofield J, Dumbrell J, Connell C, Price T & Hnizdilova K (2022) Digital Inclusion to Prevent Drug Related Deaths: Scoping user needs. Scottish Government. Edinburgh. https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fdigitallifelines.scot%2Fmedia%2F1111%2Fdigital-lifelines-user-needs-slide-deck-drns-jan-2022.pptx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

Article

Exploring the Potential of Implementing Managed Alcohol Programmes to Reduce Risk of COVID-19 Infection and Transmission, and Wider Harms, for People Experiencing Alcohol Dependency and Homelessness in Scotland

Parkes T, Carver H, Masterton W, Booth H, Ball L, Murdoch H, Falzon D, Pauly BM & Matheson C (2021) Exploring the Potential of Implementing Managed Alcohol Programmes to Reduce Risk of COVID-19 Infection and Transmission, and Wider Harms, for People Experiencing Alcohol Dependency and Homelessness in Scotland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (23), Art. No.: 12523. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312523

Article

"You know, we can change the services to suit the circumstances of what is happening in the world": a rapid case study of the COVID-19 response across city centre homelessness and health services in Edinburgh, Scotland

Parkes T, Carver H, Masterton W, Falzon D, Dumbrell J, Grant S & Wilson I (2021) "You know, we can change the services to suit the circumstances of what is happening in the world": a rapid case study of the COVID-19 response across city centre homelessness and health services in Edinburgh, Scotland. Harm Reduction Journal, 18, Art. No.: 64. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00508-1

Article

'They already operated like it was a crisis, because it always has been a crisis': a qualitative exploration of the response of one homeless service in Scotland to the COVID-19 pandemic

Parkes T, Carver H, Masterton W, Falzon D, Dumbrell J, Grant S & Wilson I (2021) 'They already operated like it was a crisis, because it always has been a crisis': a qualitative exploration of the response of one homeless service in Scotland to the COVID-19 pandemic. Harm Reduction Journal, 18, Art. No.: 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00472-w

Commentary

"PPI? That sounds like Payment Protection Insurance": Reflections and learning from a substance use and homelessness study Experts by Experience group

Foster R, Carver H, Wallace J, Dunedin A, Burridge S, Foley P, Pauly B & Parkes T (2021) "PPI? That sounds like Payment Protection Insurance": Reflections and learning from a substance use and homelessness study Experts by Experience group. Research Involvement and Engagement, 7 (1), Art. No.: 82. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-021-00324-8

Project Report

Managed alcohol programmes: Scoping the potential of a novel intervention to help prevent infection (COVID-19) for people experiencing alcohol dependency and homelessness - Clients

Parkes T, Carver H, Matheson C, Pauly B, McCulloch P, Browne T, Masterton W & Booth H (2021) Managed alcohol programmes: Scoping the potential of a novel intervention to help prevent infection (COVID-19) for people experiencing alcohol dependency and homelessness - Clients [COVID-19 MAPs Study Briefing - Clients]. Chief Scientist Office. University of Stirling.

Article

How might the 'Icelandic model' for preventing substance use among young people be developed and adapted for use in Scotland? Utilising the consolidated framework for implementation research in a qualitative exploratory study

Carver H, McCulloch P & Parkes T (2021) How might the 'Icelandic model' for preventing substance use among young people be developed and adapted for use in Scotland? Utilising the consolidated framework for implementation research in a qualitative exploratory study. BMC Public Health, 21, Art. No.: 1742. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11828-z

Project Report

Managed alcohol programmes: Scoping the potential of a novel intervention to help prevent infection (COVID-19) for people experiencing alcohol dependency and homelessness - Staff

Parkes T, Carver H, Matheson C, Pauly B, McCulloch P, Browne T, Masterton W & Booth H (2021) Managed alcohol programmes: Scoping the potential of a novel intervention to help prevent infection (COVID-19) for people experiencing alcohol dependency and homelessness - Staff [COVID-19 MAPs Study Briefing - Staff]. Chief Scientist Office. University of Stirling.

Article

Supporting Harm Reduction through Peer Support (SHARPS): testing the feasibility and acceptability of a peer-delivered, relational intervention for people with problem substance use who are homeless, to improve health outcomes, quality of life and social functioning and reduce harms: study protocol

Parkes T, Matheson C, Carver H, Budd J, Liddell D, Wallace J, Pauly B, Fotopoulou M, Burley A, Anderson I, MacLennan G & Foster R (2019) Supporting Harm Reduction through Peer Support (SHARPS): testing the feasibility and acceptability of a peer-delivered, relational intervention for people with problem substance use who are homeless, to improve health outcomes, quality of life and social functioning and reduce harms: study protocol. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 5 (1), Art. No.: 64. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-019-0447-0

Conference Paper (published)

The outreach worker role in an anticipatory care programme: A valuable resource for linking and supporting

Carver H, Douglas M & Tomlinson J (2012) The outreach worker role in an anticipatory care programme: A valuable resource for linking and supporting. In: Mackie P & Thorpe A (eds.) volume 126. Public Health International Conference 2011: Health and Wellbeing – The 21st Century Agenda, London, 08.09.2011-09.09.2011. Elsevier, pp. S47-S52. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033350612001953; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2012.05.023

Research centres/groups