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jamesnicholls.bsky.social
Alcohol and drug policy researcher: regulation, harm reduction, culture and politics. Might post about music and other things too…
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THREAD: As you may know, Nick Heather passed away last month. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_He.... His funeral is later today, and I thought I would summarize some of his contributions to the addictions field. This isn’t an obituary, or an exhaustive list of career highlights (1/n)

submitted 14 hours ago • 2 comments

Hugely grateful to the team at The Thistle Safer Drug Consumption Facility for showing me round the service this morning. It’s a really welcoming space, with some fantastic design features. Great to chat with people and hear about how the first few weeks have progressed.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Important new evidence published today: large-scale DofE trial (N=12,166) found that two universal MH awareness interventions, in secondary schools, led to an *increase* in emotional symptoms at long term (9-12 month) follow up tinyurl.com/4ffday8y Thread below /1

submitted 17 days ago • 10 comments

Please to be on BBC radio Ulster earlier talking about @jamesnicholls.bsky.social and our team's independent review of the Northern Ireland Licensing system. Starts at 12.04. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

***New SARG report*** Our review of Northern Ireland's alcohol licensing system led by colleagues at ISMH at University of Stirling is now out. You can read the full report here: www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications... And there's a nice write-up on the BBC here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

Our independent review of the licensing system in Northern Ireland has been published. A key feature is the ‘surrender principle’: a 1-in-1-out system for pubs and off-licences, so this a major focus of the study – but lots of other novel features as well. www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications...

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

As a parent, I've always found this an intriguingly pervasive myth. I also *wanted* it to be true intuitively, but knew the evidence wasn't there. I often wonder what makes it so attractive. The sense of parental agency? The 'continental' vibe?

submitted 10 days ago • 2 comments

Today the ONS has published the latest data on alcohol-specific deaths, covering 2023. It's a worrying picture. There were 10,473 deaths across the UK, and the rate has continued to rise in England ever since the pandemic.

submitted 22 days ago • 1 comment

This looks like a pretty comprehensive review of the current evidence around the public health impacts of cannabis legalisation in the US and Canada. Finds increased adult, but not youth, use; and more acute poisonings, but mixed on disorders and other MH effects www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

submitted 22 days ago • 1 comment

Grateful to @ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social for the opportunity to write this commentary on the 'long waves' model of drinking behaviours. It's a persuasive theory, and a useful lens for looking at changing drinking behaviours over longer time periods. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

submitted 24 days ago • 1 comment

Also very sad to hear this news. Nick was a brilliant scholar, but also a lovely - and entirely unique - person. He'll be missed ♥

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

Final day to submit abstracts for #ISSDP2025! Don’t miss your chance to join this celebration of #DrugPolicy research from across the globe 🌏 in beautiful Manchester UK 🇬🇧! PS We are a super friendly bunch too 👋

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

Not a surprise, given consumption trends. But carrying out our needs assessment in Edinburgh, we were struck by the extent to which an assumption SDCFs would mostly cater to opioid use persisted in many quarters (though not among people with living experience) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

submitted 28 days ago • 2 comments

JUST PUBLISHED: UK government’s response to #ACMD advice on #nitazenes assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/679a44...

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

At least it is honest about it #deepseek

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

You shouldn't have a favourite document, but then 'Spuds in Pubs' exists

submitted 34 days ago • 2 comments

Really enjoyed this conversation with Elle Wadworth for Addiction Audio podcast. Thanks to @addictionjournal.bsky.social for the invitation. shows.acast.com/addiction-au...

submitted 34 days ago • 1 comment

💥🌍 #DrugPolicy folk - please spread the word about #ISSDP2025 🌏💥 The call for abstracts for the 18th International Society for Study of Drug Policy Conference in #Manchester, UK from June 11-13, 2025 is now open! We have scholarships too. ⏰ Abstracts due 31 Jan www.issdp.org/conferences-...

submitted 36 days ago • 1 comment

'People's Panel' report on reducing drug harms in Scotland published. Very interesting methods (described in detail). Presents a wide range of recommendations re improved funding, stigma-reduction, involving lived experience etc. Should add heft to calls for better provision! tinyurl.com/fvk882de

submitted 36 days ago • 2 comments

📣 Abstract submission for our 2025 Annual Conference is now open! 📥 Email [email protected] with your submissions by 7th March 2025 Abstract guidelines: https://buff.ly/4gf7c5G Register for conference: https://buff.ly/41HrxN2 Details below⬇️

submitted 37 days ago • 0 comments

In our new study (£0) we find that the use of dehumanising ‘zombie’ framing, frequently used in news reporting on drugs, leads to higher public stigma towards people who use drugs www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

submitted 40 days ago • 2 comments