Professor Tessa Parkes

Professor

Faculty of Social Sciences Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Tessa Parkes

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About me

Tessa holds a personal Chair in Substance Use and Inclusion Health. She is also Co-Director of the Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services and Research at the University of Stirling where she leads a number of research and knowledge exchange projects focused on the reduction of harms and promotion of health and well-being for those impacted by social and health inequalities. She job shares this role with Dr Hannah Carver.

Tessa has experience in the statutory and non-statutory health, social care and housing/ homelessness sectors as a front-line support worker, team leader, and mental health nurse, and has provided consultancy and training to a wide variety of organisations focused on service improvement to better meet the needs of healthcare users with mental health issues including related to problem use of substances. She has a track record of creating positive impact on policy and practice through research. For 20 years her research activity has centred on enhancing the experience of people who use health/social care services, with a clear commitment to social justice, health equity and advocacy for poorly serviced groups including people who use alcohol and drugs.

She has participated in national committees related to drugs and alcohol and equalities, such as the Partnership for Action on Drugs in Scotland, the Drugs Death Taskforce and sub-groups on multiple and complex needs and criminal justice, the National Mission for Drugs Oversight Group (till 2024), and Research England’s Research Excellence Framework Equality and Diversity Panel (EDAP) for the full assessment period (2017-2023).

Research (35)

My research activities centre on drug and alcohol use, homelessness, harm reduction, social inequalities, the role of peers in transforming services for people who use substances. I am a mixed methods researcher experienced in intervention development and research that meanigfully involves people whose lives are effected by the issues being studied.

Projects

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

Understanding mental health and substance use service utilisation by people released from prison: A mixed-methods study
PI: Dr Catriona Connell
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office

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

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

Overdose detection and responder alert technologies: transforming preventative care for those most at risk of drug-related death
PI: Professor Catriona Matheson
Funded by: Scottish Government

DoseCare: An Overdose Alarm and Response System enabled by Mobile App, Wearable and Self-Evolving AI Models
PI: Dr Hadi Daneshvar
Funded by: Scottish Government

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

A System Approach to Exploring Syndemic Health and Social Condition Clustering Among Individuals Who Experience A Drug Related Death: Developmental Work For Co-Produced Interventions
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office

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

Assessing prescription opioid overdose risk (POOR) via a quality improvement process led by Fife Pharmacy and scoping the feasibility of a specific overdose prevention intervention (distribution of and training in administration of intrasnasal take home naloxone) delivered by Community Pharmacists in NHS Fife.
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: NHS Fife

Feasibility and acceptability of an overdose prevention intervention delivered by Community Pharmacists for patients prescribed opioids for chronic non cancer pain
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Government

Interventions to improve prosocial occupational participation for people released from prison: A systematic review
PI: Dr Catriona Connell
Funded by: Royal College of Occupational Therapists

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

Perceptions and attitudes of strategic decision-makers and affected families across Scotland towards Drug Consumption Rooms to prevent drug-related deaths
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Government

Testing blood oxygen monitoring among people who use drugs to promote awareness of respiratory and cardiac health
PI: Professor Catriona Matheson
Funded by: CORRA Foundation

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

Understanding the health impacts of social responses to Covid-19 on people who use drugs in Scotland
PI: Professor Catriona Matheson
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office

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

Drugs Research Network Scotland (Host)
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Scottish Funding Council

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

Experiences of Housing First for service users and staff in a Salvation Army service
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

Process Evaluation of Alcohol Brief Interventions in wider settings (Young People and Social Work)
PI:
Funded by: NHS Health Scotland

Work for Drug Policy Unit, Scottish Government
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: Scottish Government

Evaluation of the Improving Relationships in Scottish Prisons
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: The Sutherland Trust

WHO Alcohol and Prisons report
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: ISD Scotland

An evaluation to assess the implementation of NHS delivered Alcohol Brief Interventions in Primary Care
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: NHS Health Scotland

The social, political and cultural construction of Methadone Maintenance Therapy in Contemporary Societies
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: The British Academy

Prison Health Needs Assessment for Alcohol Problems
PI: Professor Tessa Parkes
Funded by: NHS Health Scotland

Outputs (103)

Outputs

Showing 100 of 103 — See all 103 outputs

Article

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


Article

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

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

Matheson C, Hunter C, Schofield J, O’Sullivan K, Hunter J, Munro A & Parkes T (2023) Making community pharmacies psychologically informed environments (PIE): a feasibility study to improve engagement with people using drug services in Scotland. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 24. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1463423623000087


Article

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

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


Article

Schofield J, Parkes T, Mercer F, Foster R, Hnízdilová K, Matheson C, Steele W, McAuley A, Raeburn F, Skea L & Baldacchino A (2023) Feasibility and acceptability of an overdose prevention intervention delivered by Community Pharmacists for patients prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. Pharmacy, 11 (3), Art. No.: 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy11030088


Article

Mercer F, Parkes T, Foster R, Steven D, McAuley A, Baldacchino A, Steele W, Schofield J & Matheson C (2023) Patient, family members and community pharmacists' views of a proposed overdose prevention intervention delivered in community pharmacies for patients prescribed high‐strength opioids for chronic non‐cancer pain: An explorative intervention development study. Drug and Alcohol Review, 42 (3), pp. 517-526. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13554


Article

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

Parkes T, Price T, Foster R, Trayner KMA, Sumnall HR, Livingston W, Perkins A, Cairns B, Dumbrell J & Nicholls J (2022) ‘Why would we not want to keep everybody safe?’ The views of family members of people who use drugs on the implementation of drug consumption rooms in Scotland. Harm Reduction Journal, 19 (1), Art. No.: 99. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00679-5


Article

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

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

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


Research Report

Daneshvar H, Oteo A, Schofield J, Parkes T, Matheson C & Baldacchino A (2022) Mapping of Overdose Detection and Alert Technologies: A Summary. Digital Lifelines Scotland. https://digitallifelines.scot/media/1115/digital-lifelines-odart-mapping-summary.pdf


Article

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

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

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

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


Article

Price T, Parkes T & Malloch M (2021) 'Discursive struggles' between criminal justice sanctions and health interventions for people who use drugs: a qualitative exploration of diversion policy and practice in Scotland. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 28 (2), pp. 118-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2020.1775180


Article

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


Commentary

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

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.


Project Report

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

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


Website Content

Schofield J, Matheson C, Browne T, Dumbrell J, Parkes T, Bancroft A & Galip I (2020) The impacts of COVID-19 on people who use drugs. The impacts of COVID-19 on people who use drugs (1.0) [Website] 20.11.2020. https://covid-drugs.stir.ac.uk/


Article

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


Article

Stead M, Parkes T, Nicoll A, Wilson S, Burgess C, Eadie D, Fitzgerald N, McKell J, Reid G, Jepson R, McAteer J & Bauld L (2017) Delivery of alcohol brief interventions in community-based youth work settings: exploring feasibility and acceptability in a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 17 (1), Art. No.: 357. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4256-1


Research Report

Parkes T (2016) Drugs Research in Scotland: Scoping Review. Scottish Government. Edinburgh. https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2016/09/drugs-research-scotland-scoping-review-july-2016/documents/00505865-pdf/00505865-pdf/govscot%253Adocument/00505865.pdf


Conference Abstract

Parkes T, Stead M, Eadie D, Nicoll A, McKell J, Bauld L, Wilson S, Burgess C, Reid G, McAteer J & Jepson R (2013) Alcohol brief interventions in youth and social work settings in Scotland. International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INEBRIA) Meeting 2013, Rome, Italy, 18/09/2013 - 20/09/2013. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 8 (Supplement 1), p. A52. http://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1940-0640-8-S1-A52; https://doi.org/10.1186/1940-0640-8-S1-A52


Article

Taylor J, Parkes T, Haw S, Jepson R & Taylor J (2012) Military veterans with mental health problems: a protocol for a systematic review to identify whether they have an additional risk of contact with criminal justice systems compared with other veterans groups. Systematic Reviews, 1 (1), Art. No.: 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-1-53


Presentation / Talk

Parkes T (2011) The evaluation of ABI implementation. Alcohol Brief Interventions National Event 2011, Glasgow, UK, 06.09.2011-06.09.2011. http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/5990.aspx


Presentation / Talk

Parkes T (2011) Prison Health Needs Assessment for Alcohol Problems (Keynote address). Alcohol and Offenders National Event 2011, Edinburgh, UK, 08.02.2011-08.02.2011. http://www.healthscotland.com/uploads/documents/15169-TessaParkesPrison%20health%20needs%20assessment%20for%20alcohol.pdf


Presentation / Talk

Parkes T & Wardman D (2010) "Sometimes our people get tossed out of the system": Accessibility and appropriateness of Methadone Maintenance Treatment/Therapy (MMT) and harm reduction services for Aboriginal peoples in British Columbia, Canada. Harm Reduction 2010: "Harm Reduction - The Next Generation": 21st International Harm Reduction Association Annual Conference, Liverpool, UK, 25.04.2010-29.04.2010.


Presentation / Talk

Glenister D, Parkes T, Tilley S & Ryan D (2009) Process in the life-world or progression through the institution? How nursing academic careers weave personal knowledge and discontinuous narratives into conversations of multiple identities. Third CETL Conference 2009: "Beyond Teaching and Research: Inclusive Understandings of Academic Practice", Oxford, UK, 13.12.2009-15.12.2009.


Conference Paper (unpublished)

Parkes T (2009) "Between a Rock and a Hard Place": Creating healthcare system change by privileging client experience within Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) in British Columbia. 10th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference: "Transforming Healthcare through Research Education and Technology", Dublin, Ireland, 04.11.2009-05.11.2009. http://nursing-midwifery.tcd.ie/assets/events-conference/doc-2009/book_of_abstracts_nov_2009.pdf


Conference Paper (unpublished)

Parkes T, Salmon A, Coull AF & Gloyn S (2009) I and Thou: Refocusing on relationality in substance use treatment. "Models, implications and meanings of alcohol and drug treatment systems": Thematic meeting of the Kettil Bruun Society for Social and Epidemiological Research on Alcohol 2009, Stockholm, Sweden, 07.10.2009-09.10.2009.


Research Report

Salmon A, Livingston A, Browne A, Pederson A, Dykstra L, Ham J & Parkes T (2009) "Me, I'm Living It": The Primary Health Care Experiences of Women who use Drugs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: Summary of Findings from the VANDU Women's Clinic Action Research for Empowerment Study. The British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. http://www.bccewh.bc.ca/publications-resources/documents/MeImLivingit.pdf


See all 103 outputs