Co‐creating and implementing a novel pre‐conference event to promote equity and inclusivity among academic researchers and people who use drugs

Abstract

AbstractThis commentary draws on our experience organising a targeted networking event at the 10th International Conference on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users, in Glasgow, Scotland in October 2022. The event, held the day before the conference, brought together people with lived and living experiences of drug use and early‐ and mid‐career researchers on an equitable basis. We offer reflections, focussing on how the event promoted community‐academic engagement from members of the respective groups. We provide recommendations for how conferences can organise to engage with people who use drugs—both those with lived and living experience and foster greater inclusion for all attendees.