Project Title: Determining the impact of underage alcohol/substance use on child health and well-being

Description: English statistics report that in 2016, almost half of girls (46%) and boys (43%) aged 11-15 years had consumed alcohol. This increased to 65% by 16-17 years. Almost a quarter of 15-year olds (23%) reported being drunk within the past 4 weeks, and by 14 years, approximately one third had tried an illicit substance (e.g. cannabis). Underage alcohol/substance use (UASU) can have significant long-term consequences on brain development, and increases risk of accident/injury, violent/criminal behaviour, pregnancy/STIs, and lowers educational/employment attainment. These effects can be more pronounced in lower socio-economic populations, important for Liverpool where 33% of those <16yrs live in poverty. Despite the common involvement of alcohol and substance use in emergency department visits which involve 'adverse' factors (e.g. violence, self-harm), few emergency departments offer any alcohol/substance-related interventions to underage patients.

This research will provide a comprehensive understanding of underage alcohol/substance use (UASU). The successful candidate will work with children, families, paediatric clinicians, and organisations (e.g. schools) to determine attitudes around UASU, and identify factors that increase UASU and perceived barriers to reducing this behaviour. This data will be collected via a range of quantitative (e.g. surveys) and qualitative (e.g. interviews) research methods, and consider the impact of health inequalities.

The candidate will work with existing healthcare records to better understand the nature of UASU admissions. The candidate will conduct relevant systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses to identify the current evidence around effective interventions to reduce UASU. This work will support collaboration with adolescents and healthcare professionals to develop guidance on tools which can be used in clinical/non-clinical settings to identify and/or reduce UASU.

This position works with the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment (NIATx) within the Center for Health Enhancement System Studies (CHESS). NIATx is a growing, mission-driven research and technical assistance organization directed by Dr. Todd Molfenter.

The focus of this position is to provide support for the Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center, a federally funded project that supports the mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery services workforce through technical assistance and training that promotes the adoption of evidence-based practices and continuous system and service improvement.

Turning Point is a national addiction treatment centre, dedicated to providing high quality, evidence-based treatment to people adversely affected by alcohol, drugs and gambling, integrated with world-leading research and education. The Monash Addiction Research Centre (MARC) draws on the multidisciplinary strengths and capabilities of researchers across the University to develop and test novel, scalable prevention and treatment approaches. We are looking to engage a Research Impact and Translation Manager, who will be responsible for delivering research findings to internal and external stakeholders in a way that builds research impact nationally.

Based at Turning Point in Richmond and reporting to the Director of Turning Point and MARC, the Research Impact and Translation Manager will work with Turning Point and MARC leadership, researchers and clinicians to develop, implement and evaluate a research impact program; collaboratively establishing processes and systems to enable translation of research and achieve research impact. The incumbent will also build strong networks and champion an understanding of research and its application across the community. The position will manage the production and delivery of regular syntheses of research, using innovative and engaging communications methods.

As the Northern Territory Regional Manager, you will support communities to build resilience to reduce the harm of alcohol and other drugs. Working alongside an Adelaide based State Manager, and as part of the South Australian/Northern Territory team, you will be responsible for the management and delivery of an integrated collection of programs and projects within the Northern Territory

Furthermore, you will play a key role in supporting mutually beneficial stakeholder and funder relationships within the NT.

Your responsibilities include:

• Identify, build, develop and strengthen strategic partnerships to meet the ADF's objectives.
• Build and maintain key stakeholder relationships including local and territory Government representatives.
• Significantly contribute to the effective delivery of all operational requirements of ADF programs and funding compliance.
• Contribute to ongoing program improvement and development through the ability to align with and strengthen business outcomes.

Attendance at meetings outside of core business hours and travel within the region will be required, therefore you will need to hold a valid driver's licence and have access to a vehicle for work related travel.

The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) is a global network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that aims to promote objective and open debate on the effectiveness, direction and content of drug policies at the national, regional and international levels. We have over 190 member organisations worldwide, and the IDPC secretariat is based in London and Bangkok.

IDPC is excited to announce that we are looking to appoint a Research and Advocacy Officer (fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave) to contribute to the smooth delivery of IDPC’s publications work plan and to support the network’s advocacy efforts. The selected candidate would join our small but dynamic and busy team in London.

The successful candidate will have proven expertise in undertaking policy analysis, experience in engaging in drug policy advocacy, and knowledge of operational structures of the UN and other multilateral structures. They will have excellent written and verbal communications skills in English as well as Spanish, French and/or Russian, and a commitment to work with a range of partners and networks. Although not essential, experience in research and advocacy work related to women and drug policy is welcome.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have the right to live and work in the UK.

Alcohol Focus Scotland is seeking a skilled policy professional to join our passionate team in the delivery of our strategic priorities. You will have a varied and challenging role, with a focus on developing and communicating our policy advocacy work, sharing the latest research, and keeping the team up to date on developments in parliament.

They are looking for a candidate with:

• experience of supporting the development and implementation of advocacy campaigns to achieve strategic and policy goals;
• experience of gathering and interpreting evidence and research to support policy and practice development;
• experience of engaging with politicians and other decision-makers to influence policy;
• the ability to communicate a range of information to a variety of audiences;
• a commitment to working collaboratively to deliver outcomes that improve the lives of people in Scotland.

This role will form a crucial part of AFS’s work to influence policy in the Scottish Government’s consultation on alcohol marketing in 2020 and AFS’s manifesto for the 2021 Scottish parliamentary elections, and so provides an exciting opportunity for anyone wishing to progress their policy career.

The research assistant will undertake mixed-methods research as part of a Cancer Research UK-funded project which aims to expand and evaluate a recently-developed online tobacco data monitoring tool. The tool brings together UK indicators of tobacco use and cessation from a large number of data source in one place using a consistent and easy-to-use format, and has the potential to increase the use and reach of publicly available data on tobacco use and related indicators.

The purpose of this role will be to identify and manage new data for inclusion in the tool, and undertake an evaluation of the tool’s use and utility among key stakeholders using a mixed-methods approach including a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders. 

The Victoria Overdose Community Action Team (CAT) project coordinator will support the CAT to achieve its strategic priorities by providing coordination services. The Victoria CAT is a collaborative group comprised of a range of stakeholders including people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) of substance use and their families, community agencies, municipalities and health services.

Responsibilities and Deliverables:

1. Implementation of the action plan for Victoria Community Action Team including:

• Attendance and reporting at monthly Victoria Community Action Team Meetings and other relevant community meetings
• Coordination of action plan events and activities defined by the CAT and providing reporting on these
• Tracking project progress according to a project plan, monitors and reports on progress, problems and recommended solutions to the CAT Co-Chairs and leadership committee
• Prepares and distributes CAT updates and other public relations materials relations to various stakeholders and the community in general
• Assists in the promotion of education and training on responses to the overdose crisis

2. Development and maintenance of the CAT membership, stakeholders and other partnerships needed to enhance the work of the CAT including:

• Supporting the attendance and participation of people with lived/living experience (PWLLE) in the CAT including working closely with the PWLLE and family sub-committee
• Engagement with local indigenous communities and organisations and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)
• Review of the CAT membership including a member survey

An opening exists for a research assistant to manage and contribute to research activities within the UCL Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group as part of a programme grant funded by Cancer Research UK with 3 years to run. The successful applicant will be expected to provide support for research undertaken and planned by the team across two themes:

1) advancing the scientific foundation, and furthering the development of, potentially wide-reach digital technologies for smoking cessation and

2) providing insights into population-wide influences on smoking and smoking cessation by analysis of the Smoking and Alcohol Toolkit Study. 

The successful candidate will be a key member of staff responsible for assisting with activities relating to preparation, administration and management of research projects, trials and grants. The successful candidate will have also opportunities to pursue independent areas of interest related to behaviour change and to develop their understanding of behaviour change theory and methods, including issues of replicability in science. 

18% of people with incident heart disease smoke tobacco and less than half manage to stop. Clinicians intervene actively to support cessation for a small minority when we know that continued smoking is a matter of addiction, not a choice, for most of this group. This BHF-funded doctoral proposal aims to address this by:

1. Updating the Cochrane review of the effect of cessation on the recurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in those with incident CVD, for the first time, including the risk of recurrent stroke in those with incident stroke;
2. Producing novel estimates of the association of smoking with CVD recurrence, using data from a large primary care record database and incorporating novel methods to assess the causal effect of active support for cessation on recurrence; and
3. Creating a way to reframe the management of offering smoking cessation support, to trigger doctors to view smoking as an addiction to be treated and not a matter of choice. This reframing will then be tested in online experiments to produce early evidence that we can change the way doctors treat people who smoke by providing active support for cessation. The student will work with patients with CVD who smoke to incorporate the outcomes that matter to them.

The Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics (CGET) at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is recruiting for post-doctoral fellows (MD and/or PhD) to conduct research in the laboratory located in the Mark O Hatfield Clinical Research Center on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. 

The section uses translational research strategies to investigate genetic susceptibility and neuroadaptive processes underlying the development and treatment of alcohol dependence, addiction and related phenotypes. Specifically, the lab focuses on molecular mechanisms involved in addiction biology. Candidates should have a strong background in molecular biology, molecular genetics and epigenetics, sequencing techniques and bioinformatics analyses, as well as a history of solid prior publications.

Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential. Candidates must have less than 5 years of post-doctoral training.  Salary will be set commensurate with experience and accomplishments. Interested candidates should apply by submitting a current C.V. and bibliography, a brief statement of research accomplishments and interests, along with 3 reference contacts. 

Within the delegated authority, the Project Coordinator will be responsible for the general management and implementation of Sub-Programme 1 (SP1) “Countering transnational organised crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism” of the Programme for Central Asia and will act as the Head of the Programme Office in Kazakhstan. The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:

•Participate in strategic planning, development, management and implementation of the work under SP1 of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia.

•Coordinate and supervise law enforcement activities under SP1. Provide substantive input to the implementation and further development of SP1 to promote international/regional cooperation in law enforcement matters. Provide technical support on law enforcement to member states through the ongoing and planned national and regional law enforcement interventions in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus.

•Oversee the implementation and day-to-day management of the programme component related to the establishment of a Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC), as well as provide expert advice to and coordinate with Governmental officials of CARICC Member States on CARICC related matters.

•Liaise and advise other UNODC ROCA programme experts and officers working on law enforcement, counter narcotics, transnational organized crimes and terrorism working within SP1. Advise Governments of the region on law enforcement matters in the context of UNODC's regional and global strategy.

•Prepare background and policy papers for and on behalf of the Regional Representative and assess the practicality of draft policy papers presented by others, as well as prepare concepts for new/continuing initiatives for SP1 activities.

•Request annual project allotments, ensure that responsible financial management and project implementation comply with UNODC rules, regulations and standards. Take responsibility for the timely and quality implementation of activities under her/his assignment, including the delivery of training courses, seminars, workshops, meetings, expert missions and procurement of equipment and services. Ensure the timely preparation of SP1 progress reports, including implementation delivery and forecast reports.

•Manage and supervise relevant staff members working within SP1, including staff performance, recruitment, training and oversight, as may be delegated by the Regional Representative; as well as provide support in the identification, selection and recruitment of consultants, and develop their terms of reference. Participate as a resource person in relevant workshops, seminars, training courses, study tours and meetings.

•Act as the Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Kazakhstan, work in coordination with the relevant United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and serve as a member of the UNCT Security Management Team (SMT) on behalf of the UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia. Ensure alignment with SDGs/Agenda 2030, UNSDCF (UNDAF)/PFD in the country.

•Perform other work-related duties as required.

Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority, the Programme Coordinator (Head of the Programme Office in Tajikistan) will act as the Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Tajikistan and will be responsible for the following specific duties:

•Participate in strategic planning, development, management and implementation of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia, especially in Tajikistan, as well as strategic direction for UNODC in Central Asia, including the identification of strategic approaches and modalities to achieve UNODC objectives.

•Ensure and manage planning, programme management and coordination associated with the implementation of the programme component in Tajikistan and the region as per the UNODC Programme for Central Asia, including oversight and supervision of the daily activities associated with the implementation of component activities in accordance with UNODC project management policies and guidelines.

•Support the effective implementation of the ongoing counter narcotics, transnational organized crime and terrorism prevention programmes in Tajikistan and the wider region. Promote improved understanding of the importance of drug and crime related matters, increased priority to drug control and crime prevention, as well as law enforcement, and advocate the inclusion of these issues in government planning as well as in relevant programmes of other bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental organizations.

•Provide advice to the Government officials on the development of a medium and long-term capacity-building effort in drug control and crime prevention as well as law enforcement. Represent UNODC’s position and interests, and promote solid partnerships with Government institutions, civil society, regional and international aid agencies and financial institutions, parliamentarians and the media.

•Act as the Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Tajikistan and undertake inter-agency cooperation related to: the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), One-UN implementation; the implementation of the Peacebuilding Strategy for Tajikistan as a member of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in close collaboration with other UN interagency task forces with varying thematic and geographic coverage.

•Ensure that a resource mobilization strategy is in place that promotes long-term involvement and financial and in-kind support and resources by governments, international, public and private sector donors for core infrastructure and technical assistance programme needs of UNODC in the country; and maintain regular consultations with counterparts and ensure that financial commitments (pledges) are honored.

•In accordance with established policies and delegated authority, manage financial and human resources assigned to the UNODC Country Office, ensuring appropriate coverage, guidance and supervision of staff and the efficient and effective use of such resources. Provide support in the identification, selection and recruitment of consultants, and developing their terms of reference.

•Prepare concepts for new/continuing initiatives for Sub-Programme 1(SP1) activities and contribute to other initiatives in Tajikistan Programme Office.

•Participate as a resource person in relevant workshops, seminars, training courses, study tours and meetings. Ensure the timely preparation of the relevant progress reports, including implementation delivery and forecast reports.

•Perform other work-related duties as required.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to fill the vacant position of Case Manager, Drug Treatment Court –Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Qualification Requirements

1. A degree in social work or sociology preferably at the level    of a Masters with at least three (3) years’ experience in counseling.

OR

2. A first degree in social work or sociology with at least five (5) years’ experience in counseling.

Familiarity with the justice system, provision of drug treatment support services, drug testing and qualifications in management and record keeping would be an asset.

 Applications along with two (2) references must be submitted to the:

Registrar

Supreme Court of Judicature

1 Avenue of the Republic,

Georgetown.

Closing date for all application is: December 13, 2019.

The International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) is excited to add a Front-End Web Developer to our small, UK-based team to support and expand the ISSUP website and develop a cross-platform mobile app.

ISSUP is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation that supports the professional development of a globally connected substance use prevention, treatment and recovery workforce. ISSUP provides networking opportunities, offers a gateway to training and serves as an online access point (www.issup.net) for information from the field of drug demand reduction. ISSUP’s approach is informed by evidence-based, high-quality and ethical practice.

Salary: up to £32,000 dependent upon experience and expertise

Full time, UK based working from home

If you are interested, we ask you to provide a full CV including 2 referees and a supporting letter of application which demonstrates your ability to meet the elements identified in this Job Profile.

Closing date for applications: 12th of January, 2020

Interviews will take place: End of January 2020

Applications to be sent by email to: kirsty [dot] fitzpatrick [at] issup [dot] net (kirsty[dot]fitzpatrick[at]issup[dot]net) 

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss the position/organisation, please email Jack Tonkin (Senior Website Developer) at jack [dot] tonkin [at] issup [dot] net (jack[dot]tonkin[at]issup[dot]net)

We urge you to get in touch, or take a chance and apply, even if you feel some elements of the job description are not within your experience, or immediate knowledge! Please outline which elements of the job description you feel more or less confident in, as professional development is available for areas where you feel less assured.

Person specification

We welcome applications from any individual who consider themselves to be…

• Creative
• Enthusiastic
• Innovative
• Flexible
• Friendly
• Conscientious
• With a sense of humour

…who is a competent front-end web developer with experience in:

• Modern JavaScript and frameworks such as Angular, React or Vue
• HTML 5, jQuery, SASS
• Building content-managed websites and/or cross-platform mobile applications
• Consuming REST APIs
• Source code management, preferably with Git

…ideally with specific experience of one or more of the following:

• Drupal theming and JavaScript API
• Front-end development for decoupled Drupal
• Mobile app development using PhoneGap, Weex, Ionic or similar tools
• Submitting mobile applications to the App Store and/or Google Play Store

…and who is able to:

• Work from home, and manage their time independently
• Travel to regular meetings in Loughborough or Leicester
• Willing and able to operate as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Communicate with non-technical team members
• Work outside of normal working hours if and when the job demands
• Travel internationally if the job demands

We look forward to hearing from you.

The University of California, Davis, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is recruiting for a Health Sciences Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor to serve as teaching attending physician in its Addiction Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic with a culturally diverse patient population.

The applicant(s) will also be supervising general psychiatry residents with their addiction cases, and both general and combined residents in IM/Psych FM/Psych.

Experience with the full range of addictions treatment modalities highly desired.

Time is allocated for didactic teaching, case conferences, and supervision. In addition, the applicant(s) will engage in scholarly or creative activities derived from and in support of their clinical teaching, professional and service activities. The candidates will also evaluate and treat their own patients.

Suffolk County New York, where Stony Brook University is situated, is currently suffering from an opioid epidemic in addition to the typical prevalence of other substance use disorders. This has led to the creation of a new Division of Addiction Psychiatry, directed by Richard N. Rosenthal, MD. Stony Brook's anticipated affiliations with community hospitals, one which currently operates NYS licensed SUD programs, will require a coordinated effort to help address the county-wide problem.

The new faculty member will provide clinical care as well as teaching/supervising evidence-based psychosocial interventions in addiction to medical students, and residents in psychiatry and other departments

The faculty will be tasked with assisting Division faculty in the provision of the clinical, research, and educational programs related to addiction, coordinate and oversee quality of pyshosocial treatments for addiction between hospital sites, and work with the Division Director to develop vibrant and competitive Addiction Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Fellowships. She/he will assist the Division Director in working with the hospitals and School of Medicine to develop comprehensive, demonstrably high-quality addiction services across the spectrum. She/he will routinely join in the collaboration with internal and external stakeholders when developing programs and to help move the community toward a prevention model. Successful candidate will have protected time to work independently and/or with senior faculty to develop/continue research, and generate a career development plan. 

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) requires a Policy Advisor to provide support for highly complex policy initiatives, as well as for program design to support the AGCO’s and government’s policy agenda as related to the alcohol, gaming, cannabis and horse racing sectors in Ontario.

The incumbent will perform critical work in supporting the development of standards, policies, and other regulatory mechanisms required to implement government and AGCO initiatives.

The ideal candidate will think strategically and critically while assessing policy and program problems to develop feasible and innovative solutions. The ideal candidate will have proven ability in planning and organizing complex projects under tight time constraints and competing priorities. You will have working knowledge of computer software packages, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook to contribute to the design and preparation of effective policy options, presentation materials and correspondence in support of policy and/or program development and implementation.

The Project

You will join our growing research team in working to understand and support innovative projects in the family justice and criminal justice systems. You will design and deliver quantitative and qualitative research, creating insights by working with service users and professionals at the front line of the system and analysing imperfect, real-world data sets. You will also work with our practice development and policy teams to translate your research findings into meaningful change. On the family justice side, you will explore approaches like such as Family Drug and Alcohol Courts: problem-solving courts which aim to improve outcomes for children involved in care proceedings. They offer a new way of supporting parents to overcome issues like substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse that have put their children at risk of serious harm. As well as working on family justice, you will also contribute to research around criminal justice innovations such as youth diversion which seeks to prevent young people from getting caught up in the criminal justice system. We are a charity which seeks to build a justice system which every citizen believes is fair and effective. We champion innovative approaches and evidence-led policy reform.

The role will involve:

• Generating insights by coordinating and holding conversations with practitioners and service users;
• Identifying data sources, submitting data requests, and collating and analysing quantitative data;
• Authoring reports, briefings and other written outputs;
• Presenting research findings to practitioners, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders;
• Supporting innovative projects to develop and implement data collection systems and to monitor their activities and impact;
• Reviewing and summarising research literature;

PhD question:

• Can we isolate the relationships between cannabis, tobacco and psychiatric disease through triangulation of data from countries that smoke cannabis with, and without tobacco?

Training highlights:

• You will become an expert on the scientific impact of smoking cannabis and tobacco on psychiatric diseases.
• You will learn to use exciting, novel and cutting-edge statistical and causal inference methods.
• You will learn how to analyse genetic data and apply Mendelian randomization and polygenic risk score analysis.
• This research will have an international impact.
• You will have an opportunity to present at international conferences.