Lecturer in Mental Health and Addiction, University of York
Ian is a lecturer in mental health and addiction in the Department of Health Sciences, with a particular interest in the relationship between substance use and mental health (Dual Diagnosis).
Ian trained and worked as a mental health nurse in South London, working with people who had a severe mental health problem and used drugs or alcohol problematically.
Ketamine: what you need to know about the UK’s growing drug problem
Sep 29, 2024 10:19 am UTC| Insights & Views Law Health
There is growing awareness of the problems caused by the use of a fast-acting drug called ketamine. Often referred to as K or ket, it was made a class B drug in the UK in 2014 and is illegal to buy or sell. Possessing the...
Germany decriminalised cannabis: why the UK should consider doing the same
Apr 09, 2024 12:47 pm UTC| Insights & Views Law
The German government has approved new legislation which decriminalises cannabis. This policy allows over-18s to possess a maximum of 25 grams of cannabis for personal use and grow up to three plants at home. From...
Death from nitrous oxide and other volatile substances – latest official data
Mar 01, 2022 10:05 am UTC| Health
Drugs such as cocaine and cannabis are seldom out of the headlines, but it is rare to read about another class of drugs - volatile substances. Volatile substances cover a range of gases and chemicals that are commonly...
Cannabis: increased schizophrenia risk in young people linked to both low and high use
Jan 26, 2022 04:48 am UTC| Health
An estimated 200 million people use cannabis across the world. Next to alcohol and tobacco, its the most widely used drug in many countries. But while many may no longer see cannabis as a risky or harmful substance, there...
Does cannabis really affect memory? Here's what research currently says
Jul 16, 2020 14:10 pm UTC| Health
Cannabis use has long been associated with memory loss. But until now, this notion was largely anecdotal. As researchers begin to look into cannabis and the effect that it has on human health, theyre beginning to better...
The best way to ditch bad habits: what science can teach us
Jan 06, 2020 16:57 pm UTC| Health
Its a new year and many people are in the mood for making a fresh start. And that often means giving something up (cigarettes, alcohol, junk food). Unfortunately, the odds of sticking with new year resolutions are not...
Alcohol deaths in the UK – second highest since records began
Dec 04, 2019 12:15 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health
Its easy to forget how toxic alcohol is, although this collective lapse of memory is not accidental as the alcohol industry does all it can to curate a positive image of drink. In the UK, the industry depends on heavy...