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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.
Partners
We work closely with the Addictions Division (part of the Specialist Services Directorate) of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) to improve understanding of addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and to develop effective preventative and treatment interventions. Much of this research is carried out with the help of people with addictions who have been referred for treatment to services run by SLaM’s Addictions Division and is supported by the charity Action on Addiction, the only independent UK research charity dedicated to seeking new ways to prevent and treat nicotine, alcohol and drug abuse. Action on Addiction also funds research fellows who are based within the Addictions Department.
Research Income
In excess of £2.0 million per year
Number of Staff and Students
36 academic and research staff.
Recent Publications
Supervised injectable heroin or injectable methadone versus optimised oral methadone as treatment for chronic heroin addicts in England after persistent failure in orthodox treatment (RIOTT): a randomised trial. The Lancet, 2010
Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of stepped care intervention for alcohol use disorders in primary care: a pilot study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 2009
Overdose training and take-home naloxone for opiate users: prospective cohort study of impact on knowledge and attitudes and subsequent management of overdoses. Addiction, 2008
Opportunistic screening for alcohol use disorders in primary care: comparative study. British Medical Journal, 2006
Screening and referral for brief intervention of alcohol-misusing patients in an emergency department: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 2004
Recent Projects
Contingency management in addiction treatment (CONMAN). This programme of research consists of 5 linked studies which aim to develop a UK Evidence Base for Contingency Management in Addiction Treatment and is funded for 5 years by a NIHR Programme Grant.
SIPS. Funded by the Department of Health and focussed upon hazardous drinkers, this research aims to identify the best screening methods, brief intervention techniques, and methods of implementation, that are the most appropriate, acceptable and cost effective across three health and social care settings: Primary Health Care (PHC), Accident & Emergency Departments (AED) and Criminal Justice Services (CJS).
Preventure. A prevention programme which aims to reduce risk taking behaviour in young people by targeting anxiety sensitivity, sensation seeking, negative thinking and impulsivity which are known risk factors for early onset substance misuse
ACTAD. A randomised control trial to determine the effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment for the treatment of alcohol dependence compared with standard treatment.
COMBAT Trial Pilot Study. Cocaine Dependence Treatment with Modafinil & Voucher-based Reinforcement Therapy for patients in Methadone Maintenance.
Partner Organisations
The South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Addictions
|MPhil/PhD
|Part Time, Full Time
RESEARCH PROFILE
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.
Partners
We work closely with the Addictions Division (part of the Specialist Services Directorate) of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) to improve understanding of addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and to develop effective preventative and treatment interventions. Much of this research is carried out with the help of people with addictions who have been referred for treatment to services run by SLaM’s Addictions Division and is supported by the charity Action on Addiction, the only independent UK research charity dedicated to seeking new ways to prevent and treat nicotine, alcohol and drug abuse. Action on Addiction also funds research fellows who are based within the Addictions Department.
Research Income
In excess of £2.0 million per year
Number of Staff and Students
36 academic and research staff.
Recent Publications
Supervised injectable heroin or injectable methadone versus optimised oral methadone as treatment for chronic heroin addicts in England after persistent failure in orthodox treatment (RIOTT): a randomised trial. The Lancet, 2010
Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of stepped care intervention for alcohol use disorders in primary care: a pilot study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 2009
Overdose training and take-home naloxone for opiate users: prospective cohort study of impact on knowledge and attitudes and subsequent management of overdoses. Addiction, 2008
Opportunistic screening for alcohol use disorders in primary care: comparative study. British Medical Journal, 2006
Screening and referral for brief intervention of alcohol-misusing patients in an emergency department: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 2004
Recent Projects
Contingency management in addiction treatment (CONMAN). This programme of research consists of 5 linked studies which aim to develop a UK Evidence Base for Contingency Management in Addiction Treatment and is funded for 5 years by a NIHR Programme Grant.
SIPS. Funded by the Department of Health and focussed upon hazardous drinkers, this research aims to identify the best screening methods, brief intervention techniques, and methods of implementation, that are the most appropriate, acceptable and cost effective across three health and social care settings: Primary Health Care (PHC), Accident & Emergency Departments (AED) and Criminal Justice Services (CJS).
Preventure. A prevention programme which aims to reduce risk taking behaviour in young people by targeting anxiety sensitivity, sensation seeking, negative thinking and impulsivity which are known risk factors for early onset substance misuse
ACTAD. A randomised control trial to determine the effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment for the treatment of alcohol dependence compared with standard treatment.
COMBAT Trial Pilot Study. Cocaine Dependence Treatment with Modafinil & Voucher-based Reinforcement Therapy for patients in Methadone Maintenance.
Partner Organisations
The South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
KEY FACTS
Head of group/division
Professor John Strang
Duration
Three years FT; six years PT. Accelerated PT rates available - email iop.educationsupport@kcl.ac.uk for further information. Registration is carried out at four points in the year: October, January, April and July.
Location
King's Denmark Hill Campus, based at the National Addiction Centre.
Student destinations
Psychiatrists or psychologists within the NHS, academic careers in substance misuse research, health services management.
Year of entry 2012
Offered by
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