Towards an Ecosystem for Innovation in Addiction Care: Mobilising Community-Based Solutions

Victoria Coates joins IDEAS St Andrews as a Laidlaw Scholar undertaking two six-week Summer projects over two years: in 2026, a period of research at the IDEAS hub in St Andrews, and a leadership-in-action programme abroad in 2027. Supervised by Prof Alex Baldacchino and Dr Gosia Mitka, this research project aims to explore community-based solutions for addiction support within Scotland.

Victoria is focussing on the under-utilised role of martial arts, especially Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Recognising the significant public health crisis of drug-related deaths in Scotland, she is researching how the BJJ community currently supports individuals in recovery and how these informal pathways can be better integrated into the broader addiction care ecosystem.

Victoria will primarily utilise systems thinking and participatory research which involves mapping the complex interactions of BJJ club owners, healthcare providers who facilitate access to martial arts, and individuals with lived experience. Through her work she aims to identify existing barriers to innovation and, through design thinking, co-develop interventions that can foster a more responsive addiction care system.

The project includes a six-month ethical leadership programme comprising The Oxford Character Project | Laidlaw Scholars Leadership Programme, including an international Leadership-In-Action component where Victoria will connect with global martial arts and recovery communities to gain comparative insights into how martial arts are utilised in addiction recovery worldwide.

The anticipated outcome is to develop a replicable and inclusive recovery model that can support health and well-being initiatives across Scotland.