Academic to guest lecture on UK substance abuse strategies

The seminar which will consider the movement from the maintenance of drug-use to abstinence, is open to the public and will take place at 2pm on Wednesday 10 October in Lecture Theatre E of the Rose Bowl at the University's city centre campus.

Dr Monaghan, who is a lecturer at the University of Leeds, has undertaken PhD research which followed the scientific and political battles through which cannabis classification decisions were made in the UK in the last decade.

He commented: "Politically, the idea that certain kinds of drugs and drug use are linked to crime has underpinned drugs policy in the UK since around the mid 1990s. This continues to be the case, but the means of tackling the problem seem to be changing and these changes are mirrored in many of the developments of the Coalition government's social policies."

Dr Monaghan, who is an Associate Editor of the journal 'Evidence & Policy', lectures in social policy and crime. His first research monograph entitled 'Evidence versus Politics: Exploiting Research in UK Drug Policy?' was published last year by Policy Press.

This is the first in Leeds Metropolitan's Social Sciences Group Guest Lecture series to be held of the new academic year.

Professor Ieuan Ellis, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, said: "This guest lecture addresses a subject which affects our society at large so will be of immense interest to many of our students and the wider public. It is a great pleasure for Leeds Metropolitan to have Dr Monaghan - who has such a valued expertise on this important and topical subject, visit our University to deliver this seminar."

If you would like to attend please confirm to s.rooke@leedsmet.ac.uk