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Most drug-takers are ‘recreational’ users who will come to little or no harm, and who will not become dependent. Shocking but true!

Paul Hayes is Honorary Professor London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. As CEO of the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, he was responsible to ministers and parliament for the funding and delivery of treatment for drug addiction in England between 2001/13. He currently chairs the Northern Inclusion Consortium, a collaboration between five third […]

Happy New Year to all!

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2015. Let’s make this year a safer one for all ravers and clubbers, and a better one for all those struggling with alcohol and drugs. Best wishes Karenza x

NPS and their users

Discussing user perspectives on novel psychoactive substances (NPS) at @RUSI_org, proudly representing @SociologyLancs 🙂 — Dr Karenza Moore (@DrKarenzaMoore) October 1, 2014

EU-MADNESS? Questioning current research and policy agendas on ‘legal highs’

There are few things that shock me in relation to the world of drugs research, policy and practice. I have heard young adults’ accounts of the indignities of being strip-searched at festivals. I have witnessed a complete lack of regard for the health and wellbeing of those experiencing dependency difficulties with GHB/GBL. And I have heard, like a repeat […]

‘Fan Researchers’: Supporting students to explore youth cultures

Among the most pleasing aspects of being an academic is engaging with young adults who are interested in the same or similar research topics as oneself. So, when an undergraduate student from another university contacted me to ask if I would mind being interviewed for her documentary on “contemporary club culture” which would form part of her final […]

Briefing on Benzo Analogue Etizolam Released Today

Today sees the release of an Etizolam briefing by the Scottish Drugs Forum. I have been wondering how long it would take for this benzo analogue to come to the attention of (typically experienced) drug users, national and local drug services, and ultimately the UK government. You can read it here. In Manchester, local services are seeing […]

Druglink review of our Key Concepts in Drugs and Society book

As a Lecturer in Sociology at Lancaster University, helping students gain an understanding of the contested nature of ‘drugs’ and what we might call ‘the drugs problem’ is often at the forefront of my mind. The challenge is to support student learning about an incredibly complex issue presented in often simplistic and moralistic terms by the media and politicians. […]

Welcome

Welcome to Clubbing Research, located within the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University, UK. This website is the home of academic research around alcohol, illegal drug use and novel psychoactive substance (NPS) use, the night-time economy (NTE) and dance club cultures or ‘scenes’.