Rob Calder

Out now! Oct 'Let's talk #ecigs' podcast @jhb19.bsky.social
& @drnlindson.bsky.social interview @juststrickland.bsky.social @hopkinsmedicine.bsky.social on #vape withdrawal syndrome.
Thanks @cancerresearchuk.org
@oxfordtag.bsky.social
Spotify & iTunes podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/lets-...

📣 Introducing new funding schemes from the SSA and Office for Life Sciences tinyurl.com/mrxwrh8k | Applications for PhD studentships and fellowships open on 3 November

Regulatory capture in UK alcohol licensing policy: The 2025 ‘licensing taskforce’ report Click on the article title to read more.

A new @addictionjournal.bsky.social commentary warns of regulatory capture in UK alcohol licensing

The ‘Licensing Taskforce’ - led by industry figures - could weaken democratic accountability & redefine licensing as business promotion, not public protection

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

How to get shortlisted for a PhD studentship This webinar will guide you through the process of developing a strong PhD studentship application.

The first session on 28th October (10am) will focus on PhD studentships.

It will contain talks from @robcalder.bsky.social introducing the scheme, Hollie Walker a successful applicant and Inge Kersbergen an experienced short lister.

Sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-get...

How to get shortlisted for a fellowship This webinar will guide you through the process of developing a strong fellowship application.

On 31st October (11am) we will hold a seminar focused on fellowships.

Again @robcalder.bsky.social will introduce the scheme, a successful applicant (me!) and @ptoner.bsky.social a very experienced short lister will also present.

Sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-get...

Cannabis-based products for medicinal use Call for evidence to support ACMD's review of changes to legislation on the use of cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes (CBPMs).

The ACMD has just published its call for evidence on cannabis-based products for medicinal use in the United Kingdom, as part of its ongoing review. www.gov.uk/government/c...

In the latest episode of Addiction Audio, @owenbowdenjones.bsky.social and Arun Sahai talk about their new editorial on #ketamine tinyurl.com/4r3rcbny | Addiction Audio is the podcast from @addictionjournal.bsky.social

UK invests in next generation of research talent to tackle drug and alcohol addiction People experiencing addiction will have a ramped-up support system as UK government tackles the country’s critical shortage of world-class researchers in addiction healthcare.

EXCITING NEWS! @addiction-ssa.org has been selected to deliver the Govmt’s new flagship addiction leadership scheme, developing the next generation of researchers www.gov.uk/government/n...

The UK Government has announced £10 million in funding to support the next generation of leaders in addiction research. Find out more about the Addiction Healthcare Goals Research Leadership Programme: tinyurl.com/2sveeum8

UK invests in next generation of research talent to tackle drug and alcohol addiction People experiencing addiction will have a ramped-up support system as UK government tackles the country’s critical shortage of world-class researchers in addiction healthcare.

This is such great news for the sector and marks a huge investment in this critically important issue. Everyone at the
@addiction-ssa.org is keen to start work on building the next generation of addiction research leaders. Watch this space! www.gov.uk/government/n...

Associations between non-daily smoking and motivation to stop smoking: A population study in England 2021–2024 buff.ly/GigcYWP @drsarahejackson.bsky.social @jamiebrown.bsky.social @lionshahab.bsky.social @sharoncox.bsky.social

The SSA explored the background of ketamine and the drug's therapeutic potential with former PhD student Merve Mollaahmetoglu, who reviewed 83 studies of ketamine treatment. Read the full interview here: www.addiction-ssa.org/features/int...

Listen to a new episode of Addiction Audio about the 'questionable generalisability' of AUDIT-C – a brief screening tool for risky drinking tinyurl.com/mvryyxmf | Addiction Audio is the podcast from addictionjournal.bsky.social, featuring interviews with authors about their research.

A meta-analytic review of the relationship between racial discrimination and alcohol and other drug use outcomes in minoritised racial/ethnic groups

In a new essay for the SSA, Dr James Morris explores the role of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in modern-day society, including AA’s influence over the collective understanding of drinking problems. Read the full essay here: tinyurl.com/35krp5z5 #AlcoholicsAnonymous

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.

Reminder: Our free Science Communication Webinar is today at 12:00–13:00.
Join us for expert talks on:
📰 Writing press releases
📺 Preparing for televised news interviews
🎙️ Capitalising on the influence of blogs and podcasts

Register here: tinyurl.com/3bcw8juu

Clinical alcohol guidelines are welcome—but upstream action is paramount Click on the article title to read more.

Despite the public health community emphasising the need for unused policy levers for prevention of alcohol harm for decades (our recent call in @addictionjournal.bsky.social below), the labour government have ignored this in their 10 year plan. Sigh

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

Discover how to share your #research across traditional and contemporary media platforms with our free lunchtime webinar tinyurl.com/3bcw8juu | Featuring @melissaoldham.bsky.social, Mark Greaves, @tattanbirch.bsky.social, and Suzi Gage

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

A bar chart showing a time series of 'excess' alcohol duty revenue from Jan 2020 to Jan 2025 - a comparison of actual revenue each month to estimated revenue if the pre-2020 trend had continued. This shows falls in alcohol duty revenue during the lockdowns in spring 2020 and winter 2020/21, but corresponding increases in summer 2020 and spring/summer 2021. Since the start of 2022 duty revenue has been consistently below the pre-pandemic trend, except for a one-month blip in August 2023 when alcohol duties were reformed.

Some exciting Monday afternoon reading here - Jonas Schöley and I have a new study in @addictionjournal.bsky.social using UK data on alcohol duty revenue to examine trends in alcohol sales and how these have changed since the start of the pandemic.

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

Screenshot of the first page of a NIHR synopsis report titled "Evaluating the effectiveness of the Drink Less smartphone app for reducing alcohol consumption compared with usual digital care: a comprehensive synopsis from a 6-month follow-up RCT"

Image showing project flowchart of seven components. RA=research article.

🚨📄 The final synopsis from our evaluation of the effectiveness of the Drink Less app has now been published on the NIHR Journals Library website, available here: www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr/LNNB8060 - this draws together all seven of the published scientific papers relating to the award...

Research Associate in Psychology at University of Sheffield Discover Research Associate in Psychology jobs and more in higher education on jobs.ac.uk. Apply for further details on the top job board.

Come and work with us on this exciting project! Please share, and drop me a line if you would like more information.

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNM695/r...

JUST ADVERTISED: interested in the interface between science and drug policy? Then why not apply to be the next Chair of the ACMD. Closes July 14th. apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8838

Hidden populations in household surveys on smoking prevalence with Emma Beard | Addiction Audio The podcast from the journal Addiction

New Addiction Audio: Emma Beard talks to Tsen Vei Lim about her research. Podcast: buff.ly/wsvnUda Article: buff.ly/UcLuk67

Thanks to the @drnscot.bsky.social for inviting me to talk at their conference yesterday. It was a fascinating day of talks and networking, I had a great time and am looking forward to next year's event!

Do do this, it's an impressive list of people to join!

Apply for prestigious academic prizes as an SSA member or associate. We will present the Fred Yates Prize to an early career researcher for their contributions to the field, and the Impact Prize for work that has had a strong public-facing impact. Read more: www.addiction-ssa.org/news/recogni...

Listen to our latest podcast, where @williamhaydock.bsky.social of @collective-voice.bsky.social discusses the alcohol treatment system in England, incl:

💊Accessibility to free treatment
💷How it's commissioned
⚕️What the Health & Social Care Act changed
➡️Drug Strategy

www.ias.org.uk/podcast/12327/

📣 We are offering bursaries (up to £300) to support early career researchers and PhD students to attend or present at conferences related to drugs research.

📅 Applications close Friday 20th June 2025

📝 Apply here: buff.ly/gmcuxbm

Always a pleasure Ben. Huge congratulations here too! Glad it was an enjoyable viva!