Drug Policy Voices

The Drug Policy Voices Podcast | drugpolicyvoices

Arising from Rebecca Askew’s ERSC New Investigator project (2018-21), this podcast engages a range of stakeholders and the public in debates about drug policy.

Wild Drug Policy

This interdisciplinary project has been developed in partnership with photographer and Senior Lecturer Richard Kelly from the Fashion Institute. It combines portrait photography, ethnography, and interviews with Mancunians to explore how drug and alcohol policies shape everyday working lives, in collaboration with our Visiting Fellows, Dr Paul Kelaita and Dr Isabelle Volpe.

GMTRENDS

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) commissioned Manchester Metropolitan University to monitor emerging substance use trends and changes in drug markets across Greater Manchester. The findings inform the work of the established Greater Manchester Local Drugs Information System (LDIS), identify at risk groups in our communities, and provide recommendations on service development, harm reduction, and wider training and awareness raising. This year, GMTRENDS has been featured in the 200 year anniversary celebrations for tackling inequalities and Professor Rob Ralphs, who leads this project, has been shortlisted for the 2025 Staff Awards for Research Excellence.   

Knowledge Transfer Partnership

In April 2025, DPSC was awarded £272,000 to undertake a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Innovate UK and Cheshire-based addiction rehab clinic Delamere Health. The partnership will seek to measure outcomes in relation to the long-term effectiveness of addiction rehab treatment, assessing and improving the outcomes of the aftercare treatment model at Delamere.

Drugscapes

A book project led by Liviu Alexandrescu to understand media representations of drugs and their influence on public discourse and policy. Supported by a British Academy/Leverhulme Small Grant.