About the Department
Formed in March 2010, The Addictions Department brought together the addiction research unit and the sections of alcohol research, tobacco research and behavioral pharmacology. The Addictions Department is also known as the National Addiction Centre (NAC).
One of Europe’s leading research centres.
We are one of the most productive addictions research groups in Europe. We represent one of the chosen areas of important health-related study as the newly created Addictions Clinical Academic Group (CAG) within
King’s Health Partners, and form one of the core areas of the
Academic Health Science Centre that brings together university partners King’s College London with the NHS from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital, and Guy’s and St Thomas’. Substance Use Disorders is one of the main themes of the
NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health which is based at the Institute of Psychiatry.
Thirty years of research excellence
The emphasis of our research is on ‘what works’ in the prevention and treatment of substance misuse: the NAC represents a network of clinicians, researchers and clinical teachers who have a shared commitment to excellence in prevention and treatment work, and to supporting and strengthening national and international endeavors in this field. Over the last 30 years, the NAC has developed a body of research evidence that has informed the development of new treatment services for alcohol, smoking and drug problems in the UK. This work ranges from trials of new therapies and preventative treatments to studies seeking to understand the genetic and biological basis of addictive behaviour.