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It's been a real privilege to be involved in this work bringing together researchers, practitioners, people with lived/living experience & the wider public to discuss what future research on #alcohol #drugs #addiction should focus on. Now let's make it happen to improve practice.

This is a great piece from Matt Field: "Addiction isn’t just about brain chemistry – but nor is it just bad choices". Really important to developing effective treatment - & also for general comms around substance use. theconversation.com/addiction-isnt… via The Conversation (and DrugWise)

Good to see thoughtful, positive coverage of rehabilitation services like this. As this brief clip explains, community-based support is more effective at reducing offending, helping people turn their lives around, than prison sentences - especially short ones.

New blog post from me, expressing a mixture of frustration and optimism not just in relation to Government policy, but the wider media context and reaction. There's more we can do to reduce harm from #drugs, but #stigma only makes it worse.

The Government is currently advertising the role of Independent Advisor to the UK Government on drugs. This is the role that Dame Carol Black has held for several years, originally appointed under the Conservative Government. 1/3

It was nice to dust off my old academic persona and write this for IAS about how we often misunderstand people's drinking behaviour and need to engage with the reality to make good policy, including a nod to #harmreduction. Comments and engagement very welcome!

It's been interesting to read the Independent Sentencing Review today, discuss with colleagues & see other people comment. You can read some of my thoughts below. Basically quite mixed feelings: some sensible diagnosis but some out of date; some sensible proposals but others odd.

Definitely worth giving Will Haydock a listen on the latest IAS podcast #EveryonesBusiness #alcoholtreatment

This is a surprisingly good piece on substance use, specifically ketamine. Lots of detail, and quite thoughtful. (Via DrugWise ) newstatesman.com/politics/healt…

"In some ways - because so many people drink alcohol - perceiving yourself to have a problem feels arguably more unusual than with another drug." 🎙️Dr Will Haydock of Collective Voice discusses alcohol treatment on our latest podcast 🎧 Links to listen: ias.org.uk/podcast/12327/

The online abuse that Katie Boulter has received, as described in this piece, is outrageous. I was surprised, though, by the clear link made to #gambling / #betting, with the BBC paraphrasing the research: "angry gamblers sent 40% of all detected abuse". bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/a…

This new report from IAS and SHAAP is worth a look. I'm not anti-alcohol or opposed to the industry, but we need an open, honest debate about policy. Some of these moves by the alcohol industry look at best disingenuous, which is really disappointing.

Collective Voice has responded to the Government's 10-year #health plan. The ideas & principles are welcome, but if they're going to deliver on their ambitions they will need to work closely with #charities & have more of a focus on #alcohol & other #drugs collectivevoice.org.uk/comment/collec…