Student drug use in higher education

Adam is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Addiction Medicine specialist based in London. He trained at the Maudsley and Institute of Psychiatry. He is currently Honorary Clinical Professor at UCL and works for a number of treatment providers across community and prison services. He is an active clinician, educator and researcher, having published over 150 papers. He is also founder of the  Global Drug Survey He is the creator of the  Staying Safe Programme that was awarded NIHR innovation funding, as part of its demand reduction initiative in Feb 2023. He’s developed a suite of free on-line self-assessment and harm reduction tools including   Drinks Meter app,  Drugs Meter and the ultra-brief feedback tools for young drinkers  OneTooMany  and for  people who use cannabis 

Arda Ozcubukcu graduated with an MPA in Science, Engineering and Public Policy from University College London in 2020, where she also completed her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. In the following years, she conducted research in health and innovation systems. She is now co-founder and Director at NeuroSight, where she helps organisations design and implement drug harm reduction policies and practices. She also works as Communications Associate at Clerkenwell Health, a clinical research organisation specialising in psychedelic drugs.

Director MyCareAcademy, President International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) Addiction Nurses Save Lives  

Carmel earned her doctorate from St Georges Medical School, University of London, UK, and is currently registered with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) as a mental health and adult nurse and has over 30 years’ experience in delivering nursing education at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, including curriculum development, specifically in the area of addiction; and was the course developer of the first Masters in co-morbidity (dual diagnosis) in Europe. In 2014 with funding from Health Education England Carmel established My Care Academy – a knowledge building community in partnership with Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, and is currently the Project Director.  In October 2020 Carmel took over the office of President of the International Nurses Society on Addiction. She has written extensively in this area and in 2017 co-chaired a Public Health England working group on the nurses’ role in the treatment and recovery addiction pathways . Carmel has also served as a Member of the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD)(2002 -2011) – a Standing Committee which advises the UK Government on drug issues and policies.  In 2015 in recognition of her contribution to addiction practice, she was awarded a Fellowship by Distinction and entered onto the membership register for the UK Faculty of Public Health.  Carmel has provided training to addiction professionals throughout the world and is a member of The International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP) and holds credentials ICAP-III from the Colombo Plan-ICCE.  More recently, Carmel has been working as part of the UUK Taskforce on Student Drug Use as Chair of the Research Group.

Caroline has 30 years’ experience in Higher Education administration, working in faculty administration at the University of Manchester before moving to Manchester Metropolitan University to support institutional student experience initiatives.  As part of her current role, Caroline leads on the identification and management of risk to students and to the University on issues such as harassment, sexual misconduct and student substance use.  She is passionate about removing barriers to opportunity and supporting students to get the most out of their time whilst they are at University.  

Charlotte Brooks is a PhD Researcher at the University of Nottingham. Charlotte’s ESRC funded research explores how UK universities acquire and use information about applicants' criminal records during the admissions process. As part of her research, Charlotte collaborates with the charity ‘Unlock', which advocates for people who are facing stigma and obstacles because of their criminal record. Charlotte’s research will contribute to a broader conversation about the ‘collateral consequences’ of possessing a criminal record in the UK. Prior to studying for a PhD, Charlotte has worked in widening participation and student support teams at several universities.

Donny McCormick is a Higher Education and Safeguarding Professional who is passionate about improving student academic and health outcomes. As Director of Student Support Services at University of Roehampton, Donny is responsible for the University’s Wellbeing, Disabilities and Sports Services; ensuring these services are responsive to current student needs and appropriate safeguarding responses are performed in line with legislation and Government guidance.

Donny has delivered successful projects and services in Robert Gordon University, Edinburgh Napier University and Unite Students. He also continues to be an accredited trainer in Mental Health First Aid England, Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid and Safeguarding Children and Adults in Need. Further, Donny is an accredited Sexual Violence Liaison Officer. 

Donny holds a BA (Hons) in Scots Law as well as an LLB. He is currently working towards a Master of Arts in Safeguarding and Security at London Metropolitan University. 

Professor Fiona Measham is Chair in Criminology at the University of Liverpool. Fiona has conducted research for over 30 years exploring changing trends in drugs, drug policy and the socio-cultural contexts to intoxication. Her recent research and publications have focused on recreational drugs, leisure sex and transgressive leisure, and harm reduction policy and practice with particular reference to drug checking.  

Fiona has been an advisor to the UK government through the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (2008-), is a founding member of DrugScience, sits on Labour and Conservative Party drug policy reform expert panels and UUK Student Drug Taskforce committees. Previous expert advisory roles include to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, UK Ministerial Review of New Psychoactive Substances and Liberal Democrat cannabis regulation expert panel.  

Fiona is founder of The Loop (2012-), a charity which provides drug checking and associated harm reduction services in community and nightlife settings. The Loop is best known for introducing drug checking in the UK in 2016. www.wearetheloop.org 

Graham Towl is Professor of Forensic Psychology at Durham University. He co-chaired the ‘demand’ drug strand with Maria Measham for Universities UK and was co-author of ‘Illicit drug use in universities: zero tolerance or harm reduction?’ (2022) with Arda Ozcubukcu of Neurosight. He is national advisor on mental health to Nightline the student peer helpline and previously was Pro Vice Chancellor Chair of the Sexual Violence Task Force at Durham University. He was also an expert member of the Harris Review into suicides amongst 18–24-year-old prisoners. As well as having been an academic and practitioner psychologist he was formerly a Senior Civil Servant and Chief Psychologist at the Ministry of Justice, UK.

Hanna is an ESRC funded PhD student at the University of Birmingham, working alongside the charity Release to explore innovative police approaches to reducing drug related harms. She chairs the Universities UK Student Advisory Panel for the project on student drug use, and is also a board member for Students For Sensible Drug Policy UK, and works on campaigning for sensible drug education and policies in higher education institutions. She regularly attends conferences and gives guest lectures about her PhD topic, but also on student drug use and university drug policy. 

Prior to joining the University of Birmingham, Hanna completed her MA Comparative Drug & Alcohol Studies at Middlesex University, where she was awarded the Yvonne Heard Award in Criminology for best postgraduate dissertation, looking at the policy process behind university drug policy. She also held the role of VP Welfare & Community at Southampton Solent for two years. She has also previously worked as a research assistant for Release where she assisted the policy review for the NUS & Release Taking the Hit report on university drug policy and student drug use, and has been a trustee for several charities including Yellow Door (formerly Southampton Rape Crisis & Womens Aid) and Mentor. 

Jenny has 30 years’ experience of working in Further and Higher Education in a variety of Academic and Professional Service roles.  As part of her role Jenny is responsible for leading and strategic development of Counselling Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, Inclusion and Disability Services, Student Welfare and Pastoral Services, Sport, Student Engagement (including Peer Guides, PAL Leaders, Inclusive Learning Communities) Learner Development Services and Student Operations. Within her first year of employment at Manchester Metropolitan University, Jenny was awarded the University Citizenship Award for demonstrating outstanding leadership, beyond the day-to-day expectations of her role. Jenny always puts students’ and their experience, at the heart of her work and is passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people each and every day. 

Jenny Shaw is HE External Engagement Director for Unite Students and the presenter of Accommodation Matters podcast. She has previously led on student experience and student welfare for Unite, and since 2013 has led national research into the student experience. Before joining Unite in 2012 she worked at senior level in the UK higher education sector to widen participation in higher education, and has published several academic articles and edited a book on the subject. She has worked for the universities of Hull, York St John and Middlesex, and provided research and consultancy for national HE sector organisations. 

John de Pury is Assistant Director of Policy at Universities UK. John currently leads policy programmes on HE Innovation and Health and directs the UUK Health Research Networks.​ 

Prior to this, he led the Research and Innovation desk at NHS Confederation. He has a background in health, higher education and arts policy and infrastructure in the UK and East, South East and Central Asia. ​ 

John has a first degree from Oxford and an MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 

Lauren Stewart works for the organisation Change, Grow, Live. Lauren’s role as Services Manager has her overseeing 1625Outreach, these projects support those aged 16-25. The ethos centres around reducing drug/alcohol related harms, and lessening the likelihood of recreational/experimental use becoming that of a problematic nature. Part of this work involves a specialist work stream with further & higher education provisions and working within the night time economy, supporting students to be aware, safe & well. With support of Change, Grow, Live & Middlesex University Lauren has recently secured NIHR research funding to support the evaluation the 1625Outreach model, with hopes of seeing this successful approach expanded. 

Maria Measham has over seven years of drugs and alcohol research experience, from volunteering with The Loop at festivals and nightclubs, to working on policy and data with Release and the NightTime Industries Association. She recently completed her MPhil in Criminology from Cambridge University, with a thesis focused on victim personal statements and the courts. Her current role is in the domestic abuse sector, working for Welsh Women’s Aid as their Research and Evaluation Officer.

Myles is the Senior Policy Analyst at Advance HE and is responsible for delivering high-quality policy analysis within the organisation. Myles previously worked as a Policy Adviser at Universities UK and led their work on student drug use, and supported their work on mental health, access and participation, social mobility, and the cost of living. He holds an MA in International Relations and a BA in History from the University of Sheffield.   

Dr Owen Bowden-Jones is a Consultant in Addiction Psychiatry, overseeing alcohol and drug services in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College in the Division of Brain Science. He trained in general psychiatry before achieving a specialist accreditation in substance misuse. 

In 2010, Dr Bowden-Jones founded the Club Drug Clinic, the UK’s largest multi-disciplinary service for people using ‘legal highs’ and ‘club drugs’. The service has grown rapidly and now operates from two Central London sites.  The clinic has provided a unique opportunity to monitor new trends in drug use and to research innovative approaches to service delivery and treatment.

With a track record in higher education leadership, Peter’s career spans education, research and knowledge exchange.  He joined Birmingham City University on 1st July 2021, having previously worked as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Northumbria. His responsibilities include all academic matters including the academic portfolio, academic transformation, academic partnerships and TNE, student recruitment, student support services, mental health and wellbeing, and the student experience. He co-led the University’s response to TEF, and is REF lead. As an active researcher, most of Peter’s published research has focussed on victims and victimisation, criminological research methods, policing, prisons, and crime and social divisions. He has just completed leading a major multi-partner and multi-site R&D project funded through the OfS Mental Health Challenge Competition examining student mental health and wellbeing support achieved through advanced educational data analytics, relationship management, and effective models of support.  He has published three articles on educational analytics in HEIs, and on the platform society, and is writing up findings from his recent research.

Sarah is a Professor of Primary Care at the University of Bristol. Until recently she was Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Experience, responsible for student wellbeing, inclusion and engagement across the University. Previously, she led Bristol Medical School.     

Sarah is a Non-Executive Director of North Bristol NHS Trust, a Trustee of Bristol Student Union and Vice-Chair of a multi-academy charitable trust sponsoring 13 schools.  She joined the Barts Charity Grants Committee in January 2023.    

Sarah practiced as a GP from 1991 to 2022 and was awarded an OBE for services to general practice in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Tracy Lumb is the Senior Project Manager - Wellbeing for Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK). She supports universities and students' unions to deliver programmes to embed social norms of responsible drinking on campuses as well as refocusing the conversation on drugs towards reducing harm and building healthier and safer student communities. She leads on the Alcohol Impact and Drug and Alcohol Impact accreditation programmes. From 2020-2022 she managed a pilot scheme supporting universities and students’ unions to introduce harm reduction on campus. Before working for SOS-UK, Tracy worked for 6 years in community drug and alcohol services coordinating the care for adults affected by drugs or alcohol and providing training to health care professionals, support workers and students on the facts and risks associated with alcohol and drugs.

Yusuf is a Muslim student in long-term recovery from addiction. Over the past eight years, he has worked in numerous roles within the recovery sector and outside of it. After teaching for three years in the Middle East he returned to the UK to pursue a bachelor's degree. He currently works part-time as a peer support worker in the recovery flat as part of BTW's recovery service at the University of Birmingham. He is also very involved with the ISOC at UoB as the Vice president. He continues to stay involved in the 12-step recovery community outside the university sponsoring people in the program.