Matt Field

UK gambling industry launches summer charm offensive to head off tax rise Exclusive: Lobbyists meet with ministers, and host a darts night with Labour advisers and MPs’ staff

UK gambling industry launches summer charm offensive to head off tax rise www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Can you use off the shelf generative LLMs (eg ChatGPT, Claude) to assess personality from brief bits of unconstrained, open-ended text? If so, how well do they do?

Turns out you can, and they do amazingly well. I couldn't believe how well.

Here's our pre-print on it and a 🧵

More evidence on how 'othering' is a barrier to problem recognition amongst at-risk/heavy drinking groups. Great novel study led by the excellent @melissaoldham.bsky.social and colleagues.. Open access 👇

Trains. Looks like Delay Repay will continue to be an important source of income.

Understanding barriers to the use of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks to reduce alcohol consumption among individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds - Sheffield Addictions Research Group This project aims to shed light on why alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks may not be as accessible or appealing to those from disadvantaged communities.

We're looking for people in Sheffield who regularly drink alcohol, experience financial difficulties and don't often drink no and low alcoholic drinks. As a thank you, you'll receive £20 Love2shop voucher for taking part.

Find out more about the project and how to take part: tinyurl.com/mwrtp9we

I was on the BBC Radio Sheffield yesterday talking about our @ias.org.uk funded project on exploring whether no and low alcoholic drinks can help people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds to reduce their alcohol consumption.

New paper from myself and Matt Gaskell (Northern Gambling Clinics) out today.

Commentary on excellent article from Phil Newall.

Perhaps of interest if you like your commercial determinants of health applied to addiction.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

People think money has ruined football but the sight of a rapist dictator standing next to a corrupt football official in front of a big gold trophy at a competition bankrolled by Saudi Arabia reminds me the game still belongs to us.

Quality of scientific papers questioned as academics ‘overwhelmed’ by the millions published Widespread mockery of AI-generated rat with giant penis in one paper brings problem to public attention

Publish, baby, publish and perish by getting drown while making us rich!

3 points to reckon and think about:

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

1/

the plausibility that dysfunctions in the first three to be traced in the brain (i.e., DA, 5HT and NE) caused the major psychiatric disorders strains to the breaking point any sense of credulity.

2/2

Is headache an aspirin-deficiency disease?

Combining history of neuroscience and probability to refute monoamine hypotheses of mental disorders

Given the more than 100 neurotransmitters in the mammalian brain...

1/

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Polygenic risk scoring and precision prevention I’ve had occasional long and at times difficult correspondence with various bodies who are busy promoting polygenic risk scoring who want me to be a “strategic partner” or something (ie “Greg Fell …

gregfellpublichealth.wordpress.com/2025/07/05/p...

Polygenic risk scoring and precision prevention

Cynics view

In response to the NHS 10-year plan, Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, AHA Chair, welcomes improved labelling but says it is "staggering" that the most evidence-based policies to reduce alcohol harm did not make it into the final plan.

Our full statement: ahauk.org/news/nhs-plan/

...and low alcohol sector.

Jem Roberts of IAS responded that:

“It’s frankly embarrassing to launch a ‘prevention’ plan that ignores the most effective ways to prevent alcohol harm."

"Embarrassing" 10-Year Plan.

The government has published its 10-Year Health Plan, which fails to include any of the most-effective prevention policies on alcohol.

The only measures are to improve labelling and support the growth of the zero..(1/2)

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/686638...

But Colin, what do you really think?

As Professor Colin Angus states:

"We've spent the last year listening to the government say sensible, if generic, things about being committed to a prevention agenda. We're seeing today that this, from the perspective of alcohol, was all mouth and no trousers whatsoever."

The Government's big new 10 year health plan has finally been published.

In spite of lots of talk about moving towards prevention rather than treatment, there is basically no meaningful alcohol prevention policy here.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/686638...

Beyond the journal: Sharing addiction science through the media Discover how to share your research with integrity, impact, and confidence across traditional news outlets and contemporary media platforms.

Join us 15 July, 12–1pm for a free webinar. Whether you're curious about starting a podcast, pitching your work to journalists, or responding when they come to you.. this event will offer practical insight on sharing your research with integrity, impact, and confidence.
Sign up: tinyurl.com/3bcw8juu

Another push for this @afsguk.bsky.social funded research associate position that will use advanced stats to explore predictors of treatment retention in NHS gambling services. jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Research...

Please share and, if it’s a good fit for you, apply! Deadline 11th July

It’s 27 years since Michael Owen got the ball vs Argentina… and Brian Moore couldn’t believe what happened next.

Compass’ stock slips despite psilocybin trial hitting target Compass is running another Phase III trial of its psilocybin candidate, which is due to readout in H2 2026.

Turns out that raising virtually insane expectations literally has a price.

“Compass Pathways’ stock has crashed by nearly 50% despite the company announcing its Phase III trial of psilocybin had met its primary endpoint [..] investors seem unconvinced by the impact of the therapy in the study.”

An absolutely brilliant morning! More photos:

Excellent kayaking trip in the Louisiana swamp with @ambercopeland.bsky.social today in a short break from conferencing. Didn’t see any alligators, but it was very relaxing and my personal highlight was seeing this sneaky owl

Followed by a shrimp po boy in a dive bar for lunch. Could get in to this

Creole House Restaurant on the edge of the French Quarter, it was delicious! See you soon, Matt

First day in New Orleans with @ambercopeland.bsky.social ahead of Research Society on Alcohol Conference which starts tomorrow. First US experience: big food

Great thread from Claire here about the Drinkless app development and evaluation!

Got to love a ‘spoons next to the railway station. Particularly Glasgow station. I could happily sit here all day but I should probably go and get my train