Comments on Drug and Alcohol Findings

“I find Findings to be an excellent and extremely useful resource; I read it avidly. (We get it here at the NDRAC library). I appreciate the effort that goes in to producing it and I hope you intend to continue with it.”
Greg Martin National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia.

“By far the most useful and readable publication in the field.”
Dr Luke Mitcheson Consultant Clinical Psychologist, South London and Maudsley 
NHS Trust

“Thank you for the 'Findings'! It was really excellent reading and VERY
useful! Have passed info to colleagues. This will greatly assist future
planning for harm reduction work!!!” 
Francis Rocha  Crime Reduction Initiatives, UK

"I have no idea how you manage to keep up with all these riches, but am delighted that you do. I did get your hard copy of Findings that you sent, by the way, and it's wonderful ... I've been passing it around here at work and others say the same ... 
I also went to your web site & looked at your sample issue of Findings and perhaps not unnaturally thought "We need something like this for the USA!" I really like the compact text and the breakout Nuggets and the clarity. Now this is the kind of thing field practitioners can actually use. I recommend it without reservation. Mike is about as agenda-free as anyone I've ever met and enormously skillful at distilling research findings into forms that those of us in the field can actually use, with a wealth of citation and reference apparatus for anyone wanting to check out the back-up research or go further into this or that.”
Charles Vaughan Therapist, Dual Diagnosis Specialist, Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., USA

“Findings is a great mag and often of great use to us. The serendipity of seeing the paper just at the time it was so useful was magic. But … the rest is
wonderful too, and of immense use to us all. Please keep it up!” 
Russ Hayton Clinical and Service Governance Manager, Plymouth Drug and Alcohol Action Team

“I really liked your article [Manners Matter part 5]. Nice discussion of the research.” John J. Novo Valley Medical Group, Florence, USA

“I am familiar with Findings ... it is fantastic. Keep up the great work!”
Kevin Irwin Department of Public Health,Yale University

“I think your article "My Way or Yours" [Manners Matter part 5] is excellent.” 
Don Phillips USA

“An excellent and motivating concluding part to the series [on needle exchange]. It gives people clear pointers and suggestions as to how syringe exchange can be enhanced.”
Dr Ali Judd Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behaviour, London

“Excellent ... congratulations on such thorough work [concluding part of series on needle exchange].”
Dr Holly Hagan National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, New York

“You are an excellent writer and make the essential points clearer. Thanks for the high quality of this review as it must have taken considerable time to ferret out the real essence of the importance of [the Strengthening Families Program]. I was very impressed with the thoroughness of your review of all of the different studies we have completed on SFP. No one has ever done that so well before. ".
Dr. Karol Kumpfer University of Utah and originator of the Strengthening Families Program

“Excellent 4th part [of series on needle exchange] ...it was really good ... well done again for both great writing and (even more important) superb summarising and pulling things together: it is a vital art, and you are a real master at it.”
Professor Richard Velleman Director of Development and Research, Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

“This [series on needle exchange] is truly a seminal piece of work ... It deserves to be talked about everywhere!
Neil Hunt Lecturer in Addictive Behaviours, Kent Institute for Medicine and Health Sciences

“The series on needle exchange was great, and an excellent summary of the work to date.”
Dr Karen McElrath Queen's University, Belfast

“I am ashamed to say I did not know of this journal but I am going to subscribe. I don't think I have ever seen so much useful and well integrated information in one place. I just started at the front and couldn't put [it] down ... keep up the great work.”
Dr A. Thomas McLellan Director, Treatment Research Institute, Philadelphia, and editor, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

“Far and away the best summary of the addiction literature out there ... have recommended it to colleagues over here in the States. Just terrific.”
Dr John Kelly Center for Health Care Evaluation, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA

“Of the many available publications in this area, Findings is one of the few which I find genuinely useful & consistently stimulating.”
Jenny Kelsall VIVAIDS Inc.,Victorian Drug User Organisation, Peer Education & Prison Overdose Prevention Program, Australia

“You did a great job in writing this up. Seriously, I don't think I've ever had an article of mine summarized in such a detailed, readable, and accurate fashion ... terrific.”
Dr James McKay University of Pennsylvania Treatment Research Center, USA

“Findings  with the invaluable 'Nuggets'  provides us with one of the best shortcuts to a credible and comprehensive range of information on current practice, new ideas in intervention and education, and harm reduction literature. A truly excellent resource!”
Jean Wyldbore Local Alcohol & Drug Action Plan (LADAP) and Community Strengthening Initiative (CSI), Victoria, Australia.

“Excellent! You wrote beautifully, and above all, you touched the soul of my work. Thank you!”
Zhiwei Zhang University of Chicago, USA

“Many thanks for the excellent material. I had in fact studied and used the Idle Hands article as a key document to underpin our thinking on Pathways into Employment up here.”
Mike McCarron Greater Glasgow Drug Action Team, UK

“A great UK journal which connects science and practice of  harm reduction.” 
Chicago Recovery Alliance, USA

“I have become a fan  … A great design complements fine contents. Makes NIDA's Science & Practitioner Perspectives look second class.
David McDonald Consultant in social research and evaluation and a member of the Board of  Directors of the Alcohol & Other Drugs Council of Australia.

“Findings is a superb publication. I fully support what you are trying to do.”
Dr. Lawrie Elliott Director of Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dundee

“I was very interested as well as impressed by your column 'Nuggets'” 
Dr Gerhard Bühringer editor Sucht, largest German addiction journal.

“I was impressed with your astute selection of issues covered .. and particularly appreciated the applications you make of these findings. The overview of Doug Anglin's work was excellent because of the way pieces were pulled together & integrated for the reader … Keep up the good work.”
Professor D. Dwayne Simpson Director, Institute of Behavioral Research, Texas Christian University, USA.

“The DATOS team is grateful for the thorough and well-balanced review of our research program. Such a comprehensive and integrative commentary on this type of complex project is rare. It offers particular value for clinical audiences and public policy makers, who are less inclined to read the peer-reviewed scientific literature where it is expected that such works should be published.”
Professor D. Dwayne Simpson Director, Institute of Behavioral Research, Texas Christian University, USA.

“I am very impressed.  The journal is a very valuable contribution to the field. I will do what I can to promote knowledge of its existence and to support its circulation.”
Professor Ann M. Roche Director, National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Australia

“Congratulations on yet another superb issue of Drug and Alcohol Findings.” 
Jim Sherval Centre for HIV/AIDS and Drug Studies, Edinburgh.

 “I read your article on life skills training with great interest. You did a great job!”
Dr Reiner Hanewinkel Institute for Therapy and Health Research, Germany

“Congratulations on the drug education article  it adds substantially to the debate.”
Richard Ives educaRI, London

“The first copy of 'Findings is excellent, and heavily influenced our new policy.”
Nick Royle Scottish Prison Service Drug Strategy Co-ordinator

“Congrats on Findings, which found its way onto my desk this morning. This is a tremendous help to those of us who can be described as "overworked, underpaid and overmonitored". It's also nice to read and to look at. Keep up the good work.” 
Nick Tegerdine Executive Director, Alcohol Problems Advisory Service, Nottingham,

"I'm really impressed with issues 1 & 2  just what the field needs, well done." 
Richard Elliot Coordinator of the South West Drug Services Audit Project

“Firstly I should like to congratulate on another edition of Findings. On the basis of the first two editions I think you have achieved your aim of providing research information for the field in an easily digestible form which makes tackling the original sources less daunting for the busy practitioner. I particularly like the combination of feature articles and the Nuggets sections.”
Paul Wells Team Leader, Coventry Community Drug Team

“Outstanding! I find (or make) so little time to read papers these days so I read  issue 2 cover to cover on the train yesterday. It was great, superb …You've done NTORS proud as well.”
John Marsden National Addiction Centre

“An invaluable publication ”
John Witton National Addiction Centre and formerly senior information officer at the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence

 “As an aid to promoting cost effective interventions, this new publication is essential reading. The focus on the practical implications of research in the alcohol and drug fields provides social workers and commissioners with relevant information they require to help make decisions about effective practice.”
John Dixon Chair of the drug and alcohol group of the Association of Directors of Social Services and Director of Social Services for West Sussex County Council

"Brilliant"
Lorraine Hewitt Stockwell Project and ACMD,

"My only real feedback on the first issue of findings is 'WELL DONE'.  It was just what I was looking for.  Short, sweet, to the point.  I hope commissioners use it to modify their service specifications and their monitoring arrangements.  It will take time to see if this takes place."
Don Lavoie, Associate Director, Substance Misuse Advisory Service

“Warm congratulations on your first issue. If subsequent issues are as good, I think you have a winner. I am immensely impressed by its professionalism. It is both stylish and authoritative.”
Professor Griffith Edwards, editor, Addiction journal.

"Not only an honest and fair representation of the trial, but also a  creative and clinically meaningful way to communicate its implications ... some rather insightful interpretations ... an excellent article.”
Thomas Babor Principal Investigator, Project MATCH Coordinating Center

"Superb – people who can't digest all the literature can still feel up to date with the most relevant information." 
Barbara Elliott formerly director of Accept Services,  London,

"Findings is great because it boils down a huge amount of reading ( that I
would never have time for ) to leave just the juicy bits.
Weighty papers, huge studies and complex themes are not only beautifully
distilled but they are also linked to others on the same theme, put into
context and come with a key contact name. Keep up the good work!"
Dr Laurence Gruer Member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Greater Glasgow Health Board

“At a time when then is more concern than ever to adopt an evidence‑based
approach to our work, Findings provides a cheap and timely way for the
'drug worker in a hurry' to keep informed about the latest developments.
Concise, yet wide‑ranging it promises to provide an invaluable aid for
anyone who is trying to keep abreast of the burgeoning number of
publications in our field.”
Neil Hunt Honorary Research Worker, National Addiction Centre, Institute of 
Psychiatry; Research and Development Manager, Invicta Community Care NHS Trust

“An excellent publication”
Laetitia Terry Broadreach House
“My top tips for FINDINGS?  Keep up the standard of the first issue.  I really liked the Nuggets.”
Mr.Flett Rankeillor Project Edinburgh

"It's just what we need in the field. Nuggets is going to be so useful! Superb. Articles were all high standard, written by very credible authors. Your only problem ifs maintaining such a high standard."
Ollie Batchelor Training, Advice, Help and Research in Addictions (TAHRA), Gateshead

"Excellent" 
K Dawson Drugs Counsellour c/o Dr Hussain, Hull

“Many congratulations on issue one of Findings! I and others in my organisation, have found it very informative and highly readable. As someone responsible for R&D in substance misuse/addictions it has provided me with an excellent resource.”
Kim.Clarke Research Coordinator, Substance Misuse & HIV/Addictions Division, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

"Findings is a serious and considered attempt at making the link between research and practice. It is clear that this publication will make an important contribution to the development of effective services to tackle drug misuse problems." 
Jerry Sutton Chief Executive, Inward House Projects,

“A very useful tool to support our drug work” 
Paul Delaney Training Officer, Merchants Quay Project Drugs Service, Dublin

“I was impressed with this first edition and felt that it has the potential to be an extremely useful tool for helping to build the evidence base for effective treatment within drug misuse services."
Keith Hellawell UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator

"An excellent first issue with useful information presented in a  user‑friendly and accessible format. The inclusion of a glossary is  particularly welcome." 
Phil Willan Regional Manager, Drugs Prevention Advisory Service (Yorkshire & The Humber)

 “I am very impressed by the launch issue of Findings ‑ it is absolutely jam-packed with what looks to me like useful and interesting information.” 
Kristina Bird Manager, National HIV Prevention Information Service ,HEA

“Findings looks really good. It is just the sort of thing that our treatment centres need to help them to improve their services by taking account of the latest research.”
Simon Shepherd Chief Executive, European Association for the Treatment of Addiction (EATA)

 “It does really bridge the gap between research and practice. excellent, authoritative and succinct.” 
Andrew Bennett Director of HIT, Liverpool

“I was particularly impressed by a review of Project Match that seemed to me to explain the findings and their implications for UK practice remarkably well. I also liked a short article entitled ‘How to show treatment works’ which had some realistic guidance on the thorny question of how services could reassure commissioners that they were providing value for money. Findings certainly condenses a lot of information into a small space and if you like that style you will like it. It is certainly worth considering for the project library or for personal subscription. 
John Kemm Public Health Physician, writing in Addiction Today July/August 1999

"PCGs must promote evidence based practice if they are to develop the quality agenda set out in recent white papers. Central to quality development is Clinical Governance. Drug and Alcohol Findings supports the development of evidence based practice, as a component of clinical governance, for providers and commissioners of services. Drug and alcohol misuse make significant calls on PCG resources and the lives of the communities they serve. We must therefore be in a position to use resources effectively across the local health economy. Findings will ensure that the latest information available will inform PCG decision making."
Peter Forrester Chief Executive, Coventry East Primary Care Group

“Substance misuse continues to represent a major - if not the major — criminogenic factor for Probation Services. But who can find the time to keep up with the latest research and commentary? Drug and Alcohol Findings provides a user-friendly answer to the deluge of paperwork constantly flooding practitioners’ and managers' desks.”
Lawrence Singer Assistant Chief Probation Officer Merseyside Probation Service, ACPO Management Unit