Resources and Evidence | Digital Lifelines

Evidence is clear that isolation from friends, family and support can place people who use drugs at higher risk of a fatal overdose. Equally, initial case studies have suggested that the distribution of digital devices and building the skills and confidence to use them can be life changing.

The Digital Lifelines Scotland team are gathering powerful evidence to inform and shape the future direction of the programme, ensuring that people and their needs remain at the core of what we do in our mission to contribute to the reduction of drug related harm and death in Scotland.

We are delighted to share our learnings so far. Please visit the links below to view our reports, case studies, service recipes, and resources:

Harm Reduction Journal paper - Using digital technology to reduce drug-related harms: a targeted service users’ perspective of the Digital Lifelines Scotland programme, July 2024

This paper in the Harm Reduction Journal reports on the evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland programme from the perspective of service users who accessed services for those at risk of drug-related harms.

Click here to view the report

Small Grants Fund Impact Report, July 2024

This report provides a summary of the impact of the funding to date from organisations funded through the Small Grants Fund 2024.

Click here to view the report.

Early Adopters 3 Interim Impact Report, July 2024

This interim report provides a summary of the impact of funding after 6 months delivery from organisations funded through the Early Adopters 3 Fund.

Click here to view the report.

Follow On Fund Interim Impact Report, July 2024

This report provides a summary of the impact of the funding to date from organisations funded through the Follow on Fund.

Click here to view the report.

Telehealth-Mediated Medication Assisted Treatment and Online Engagement Report

The TMAT-OLE report, May 2024, about increasing the engagement of people who use opioids in treatment through online consultations is available to read now.

Click here to view the report

Follow On Fund Interim Impact Report, February 2024

The Follow On Fund continued the work of some organisations who were funded through the Early Adopter 1 & 2 programme. The Interim Impact report provides an insight into the learnings.

Click here to view the report.

Small Grants Fund Impact Report, February 2024

The Small Grants fund supported small, local organisations to continue or extend digital inclusion activities with people at risk of death from a drug overdose and those who care about them and support them. The report provides an insight into the impact of the work.

Click here to view the report.

Here4U Scotland Roadmap

Piloting a novel smartphone application to reduce the risk of drug-related death: a roadmap towards implementation.

Click here to view the roadmap.

Here4U Scotland Evaluation Executive Summary

HERE4U Scotland: An evaluation of a novel smartphone application to reduce the risk of drug-related deaths.

Click here to read the executive summary.

Here4U Scotland Evaluation: Full Report, October 2023

HERE4U Scotland: An evaluation of a novel smartphone application to reduce the risk of drug-related deaths.

Click here to read the full report.

Digital Lifelines Scotland Delivery Plan 2023-25

Digital Lifelines Scotland Delivery Plan 2023-25 Executive Summary published March 2023.

Please click here to view.

Evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland Programme, March 2023

Evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland Programme March 2023 by Drugs Research Network Scotland.

Click here to view the report

DHI Discover and Define, Final Report

This final report presents an overview of activities and findings from the integrated ‘Discover and Define’ workstream led by DHI between March and December 2022, as part of the Digital Lifelines Scotland programme.

Please click here to view the report.

ODART Final Report

This is a final summary report on the ODART programme focussing on impact and subsequent initiatives. A previous report covered the review of devices and technologies available. This is available on the ODART website.

Click here to view the report

Early Adopters 1 Interim Report

The aim of the Early Adopter 1 phase was to take learning from the experience of the organisations to influence the longer-term Digital Lifelines programme. This report covers our learnings from the programme.

Click here to view the report.

ODART Mapping of Overdose Detection and Alert Technologies: A Summary

This report summarises the existing technologies developed for preventing drug overdose deaths. The report focuses on mapping detection alert and responder technologies. Drug Research Network Scotland, University of St Andrews, University of Stirling (2022).

Click here to view the report.

Literature Review

'How have digital technologies been used to support people who use drugs or their families and carers?’
‘What technology will work for whom and in what circumstances?’
‘What evidence supports the application of digital technologies to reduce harm to people who use drugs?’
Digital Lifelines Scotland partners the Drug Research Network for Scotland asked these and other questions through a review of international academic literature. Their findings are summarised in this slide deck. (May 2022)

Click here to view the slide deck

Digital Inclusion to Prevent Drug-Related Deaths: Scoping user needs

Drug Research Network for Scotland, a Digital Lifelines partner, has gathered the experiences and views of people who use drugs and those who support them about their use of digital technology, the challenges and barriers they face, and the support they would like. This slide deck provides a summary of their research (January 2022).

Click here to view the slide deck.

Want to read the full report? Get in touch with nss.digitallifelines@nhs.scot

Service Recipes

Digital Lifelines have teamed up with Third Sector Lab and Catalyst to create service recipes: short descriptions of the ingredients and methods that different organisations used in adopting digital solutions. The service recipes that Third Sector Lab have created for this website are particularly relevant to the Digital Lifelines Programme.

Running an online seminar

Running online seminars to discuss topics covered in our podcast for people re-joining society after recovering from substance abuse.

The London-based Foundation for Change works with people who have experienced addiction in the latter stages of their recovery journey and operates in a space between education and therapy.

(Click here for more)

Breathe HR

Using Breathe HR software to give sessional staff control over their own rotas.

Street Soccer Scotland has started using Breathe HR software in their new facility in Dundee (Change Centre Dundee) to give sessional workers control over their rota. Users can indicate their availability, schedule themselves in, see how much they will get paid and swap shifts among themselves without permanent staff involvement.

(Click here for more)

OMBEA

Implementing live feedback software to continually improve services. Street Soccer Scotland started using OMBEA software in their new facility in Dundee (Change Centre Dundee) to gather live, anonymised feedback from players (service users), volunteers and staff. This encourages quick learning, gives users and the local community a sense of ownership over the centres they operate from and address issues as they arise.

(Click here for more)

Creating a podcast

Creating a podcast for people re-joining society after recovering from substance abuse. The London-based charity Foundation for Change works with people who have experienced addiction in the latter stages of their recovery journey and operates in a space between education and therapy.

(Click here for more)

Language Glossary

We aim to use language that reflects our person-centred approach and to avoid causing offence in our written work. We accept the challenge that different words can mean different things to different people so have compiled a glossary to explain what we mean by words we use to refer to people, services and support.

Please be aware that not all publications on our website are created by Digital Lifelines Scotland and the content and language may be slightly different, however we will never publish anything which uses language we think may be offensive.

When we say…	We mean…
People who use drugs	People with lived or living experience of substance use
Person with lived / living experience	A person living with substance-related issues. This may be the individual who uses/used drugs. It may also be a friend, family member or carer of a person who uses/used drugs.
People with experience of the justice system	People who may have been previously convicted of drugs related offences and may have been in custody.
People with experience of homelessness	People who are currently or have previously been lacking stable, safe and adequate housing.
People who access services	People who are connected to services and supports to enable them to live well
Chronic and multiple disadvantage	People with poor physical and mental health, unemployment, financial instability, unstable housing, involvement with the criminal justice system and family breakdown
Digital inclusion	Access to the online world, and the opportunity to connect and remain connected to families, friends and support services

Evidence and resources

Service Recipes