Skip to main content

Who Are We

We’ve been here since the start

HIT delivers effective interventions on drugs, community safety and other public health concerns. We produce publications, run mass media campaigns, deliver training, organise conferences and provide consultancy to individuals, community groups, health and social care and criminal justice agencies locally, nationally and at an international level.

HIT, formerly the Mersey Drug Training and Information Centre, was established in 1985 to reduce drug-related harm and set up one of the UK’s first syringe exchange schemes. Based in Liverpool, the organisation has an international reputation for developing, advocating and implementing a pragmatic and effective approach to the use of drugs.

HIT

  • Provides a wide range of training courses that helps develop the competence and confidence needed to work with drug users in line with DANOS
  • Organises events from intimate seminars to national conferences
  • Uses social marketing techniques to develop leaflets, posters and resources for PSHE education providers
  • Provides consultancy that helps professionals improve the planning, commissioning and delivery of interventions

Our Work Includes:

  • Encouraging safer injecting practices to prevent the spread of HIV and blood-borne viruses (BBVs)
  • Providing information about drugs and the law
  • Improving sexual health and knowledge of BBVs
  • Promoting safer clubbing
  • Preventing overdose

HIT Team

Pat O’Hare

Executive Director
Read more

Maddie O’Hare

Deputy Director
Read more

Lucy O’Hare

Training Manager
Read more

Nigel Brunsdon

Community Manager
Read more

Featured Trainer

Nigel Brunsdon

Nigel Brunsdon

Nigel has over a decade of experience of working within needle and syringe programmes both as practitioner and a manager. He ran the popular harm reduction website, Injecting Advice.com, since the start of 2007. In 2011 Nigel began his job as HIT's Community Manager, managing HIT's social media profile, as well as creating and managing a number of our online projects including naloxone.org.uk.

View All Trainers