The department, part of the University’s Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care, will oversee the research and evaluation of the seven-year ‘Rethink Good Health’ scheme.

Dr Sarah Wadd, Director of SMART, will lead a UK-wide academic team, in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University, Glyndwr University Wales and Queen’s University Belfast.

“We are very excited to be part of the programme,” said Dr Wadd. “Being chosen as the academic lead for the programme will further strengthen SMART’s position as a leading research group for substance misuse in the UK.

“It is a testament to the team’s commitment to strengthening the evidence base in this field internationally.”

SMART, formed in 2010, consists of researchers from a variety of disciplines, including public health, social work and social care. The department’s work is led by Dr Wadd, one of the UK's leading experts on alcohol use and misuse amongst older adults.

Dr Wadd’s research in this area coincides with SMART’s involvement with the Rethink Good Health programme.

“Our research suggests that the UK may be facing an epidemic of alcohol-related harm amongst older people,” she said.

“An estimated 1.4 million people aged 65 and over currently exceed recommended drinking limits and the large number of people born in the post-World War II economic boom period, the so-called ‘baby-boomers’, are moving into old age drinking relatively high levels of alcohol compared to previous generations.”

The Rethink Good Health programme, which has been granted £25million by the Big Lottery Fund, seeks to address these issues. It will support the ‘Drink Wise, Age Well’ initiative run by charity Addaction, which will lead a consortium including Royal Voluntary Service, Addiction Northern Ireland, International Longevity Centre UK and Drug and Alcohol Charities Wales.

Long term, the programme aims to prevent alcohol-related harm and improve the health of over-50s at risk of alcohol problems. Flagship work for the project will take place in Glasgow, Sheffield, Devon, South Wales and Northern Ireland.

A study by the International Longevity Centre and charity Independent Age revealed the over-50 age group tend towards drinking for reasons such as retirement and loneliness. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that deaths related to alcohol are most prominent among men aged 60-64 years and women aged 55-59 years.

Chief Executive of Addaction, Simon Antrobus, outlined the importance of SMART’s involvement with the project:

“The Substance Misuse and Ageing Research Team of the University of Bedfordshire are long standing experts in the areas of substance misuse and ageing research.

“Over the years Addaction has been lucky to work with Dr Wadd on a number of research programmes to identify improvement in practice and service provision for older adults. We are delighted to continue this partnership for the Drink Wise, Age Well initiative.”