Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026link.springer.com/article/10.1...link.springer.comBenefits and barriers: a rapid-ethnographic study on the perspectives of potential and actual clients of Athens’ drug consumption room - Harm Reduction JournalBackground In April 2022, a new Drug Consumption Room (DCR) opened in Athens’ city centre. To date, no qualitative research has evaluated the operational strengths and weaknesses of the site from the ... 010
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026If you have any questions or feedback about our work, please feel free to reach out! 110
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026A huge thank you to co-authors @gwshorter.bsky.social, Nikos Poulopoulos, Christos Anastasiou, @bchrisinger.bsky.social and David Humphreys who supported this project. Also, to OKANA who generously facilitated this research. 120
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026We hope this paper contributes to ongoing conversations about how harm reduction services can best prevent and respond to overdose as well as help connect individuals to broader health, social, drug treatment and housing services. 110
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026The paper reflects on the facility’s important strengths, as well as some of the practical and contextual challenges that shape access and experience in medicalised service settings. 110
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 29/01/2026Delighted to share the final paper from my PhD which explores how Athens’ Drug Consumption Facility operates and is experienced by people in the local community. lnkd.in/eVymq_kHlnkd.inLinkedInThis link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn 141
Reposted by Ben ScherAlex Stevens @profalexstevens.bsky.social · 08/12/2025How and why consensus fractured at the 2024 session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs: an exploratory study of international drug policy constellations using social network analysis and qualitative comparative analysis. @deppjournal.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... £0 #OAtandfonline.comHow and why consensus fractured at the 2024 session of the UN Commission on narcotic drugs: an exploratory study of international drug policy constellations using social network analysis and qualitati...Consensus in international drug policy has fractured. It would be useful to explain how and why this occurred.This exploratory study develops and tests theory and methods for describing and explain... 0126
Reposted by Ben ScherCenter for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University @princetonchw.bsky.social · 03/12/2025Princeton Professor and CHW affiliate @heatherhhoward.bsky.social has been invited to co-chair Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill's Action Team focused on affordable health care. Howard will lead the committee with @chiquitabl.bsky.social '96, Fmr. CMS Administrator. tinyurl.com/597tnztf 031
Reposted by Ben ScherOxford Social Policy and Intervention @dspi-oxford.bsky.social · 03/12/2025New research led by @deannagiraldi.bsky.social finds that impacts of gun violence extend far beyond dominant news statistics. The review analyses 25 years of literature involving survivors, witnesses & their communities. More: dspi.web.ox.ac.uk/article/impa... Full report: doi.org/10.1016/j.la... 033
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 30/11/2025Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...link.springer.comCharacterizing ‘Atmosphere’: exploring determinants of regular service attendance amongst integrated supervised consumption site clients in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside - Harm Reduction JournalBackground Research has explored barriers and facilitators to supervised consumption sites (SCS) in Canadian settings. Despite this, little is known about what factors drive individuals to initiate an... 031
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 30/11/2025Excited to share a new paper out in HRJ where we explore the concept of ‘atmosphere’ within SCS spaces and how it influences service engagement. A huge thanks to my co-authors @bchrisinger.bsky.social, @gwshorter.bsky.social and @dkhumphreys.bsky.social for their support and guidance on this work. 182
Reposted by Ben ScherBen Chrisinger @bchrisinger.bsky.social · 20/11/2025Twelve states will be adding new food restrictions to SNAP next year. I unpack these policies in some new research in Health Affairs Scholar (open access). tl;dr - wide range in food definitions, justifications for restriction, and plans to evaluate. 🥗 🛟 📊🩺doi.orgCharacteristics of State Waivers to Establish Nutritional Restrictions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramAbstractIntroduction. States have previously requested permission from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement food item restrictions within t 023
Reposted by Ben ScherCenter for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University @princetonchw.bsky.social · 03/11/2025In a recent interview, Postdoctoral Research Associate @ben-scher.bsky.social shares the crux of his research exploring health inequalities, social exclusion, and drug policy, along with his plans for advancing this work at and beyond Princeton. tinyurl.com/2feh6kahtinyurl.comBen Scher Tackles Health Inequalities and Drug-Related HarmIn a recent interview, Postdoctoral Research Associate Ben Scher shares the crux of his research and plans for advancing this work at and beyond Princeton 042
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 19/09/2025Thank you to @correlationnet.bsky.social for supporting this special issue! 010
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 19/09/2025The collection brings together diverse perspectives on harm reduction across Europe, from policy shifts to lived experience. You can explore all articles here: www.biomedcentral.com/collections/...biomedcentral.comHarm Reduction in Europe: Histories, Choices and Hopes 110
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 19/09/2025I’m glad to share a new article published as part of HRJ’s special collection: "Harm Reduction in Europe: Histories, Choices and Hopes." link.springer.com/article/10.1... @gwshorter.bsky.social @dkhumphreys.bsky.social @bchrisinger.bsky.social 1/2 152
Reposted by Ben ScherHealth and Social Care Workforce Research Unit @hscwru.bsky.social · 11/09/2025New in the Homelessness series Harm Reduction and Belonging in the Provision of Homelessness Services 12 November 2025 10:00 to 11:00 Online. All welcome. with @ben-scher.bsky.social www.kcl.ac.uk/events/harm-...kcl.ac.ukHarm Reduction and Belonging in the Provision of Homelessness Services | King's College LondonBen Scher 011
Reposted by Ben ScherElaine Hyshka @ehyshka.bsky.social · 20/08/2025This story is interesting, not just because of the Minister's bad faith claims, but also because it illustrates how cities are left to pick up the pieces when provinces play politics with SCS. #harmreduction www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...ctvnews.caCrime rate around Somerset supervised consumption site lower than government suggested when announcing closureThe crime rate around the Somerset West Community Health Centre did not rise to the figures put forward by the provincial government last year when announcing the closure of its supervised consumption... 12413
Reposted by Ben ScherYale Program in Addiction Medicine @yaleadm.bsky.social · 17/07/2025✨Job Alert ✨ The Division of Prevention and Community Research, Department of Psychiatry, @yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social, invites applications for a two-year NIDA-funded T32 postdoctoral training program in substance use prevention research. medicine.yale.edu/psychiatry/p...medicine.yale.eduDivision of Prevention and Community Research and The Consultation CenterThe Division of Prevention and Community Research, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine invites applications for a two-year NIDA-funded T32 012
Reposted by Ben ScherOxford Social Policy and Intervention @dspi-oxford.bsky.social · 10/07/2025Congratulations @neftalememanuel.bsky.social, winner of the 2025 Barnett Prize for his paper: ‘Damp Places, Unhappy Faces: Analysing the Impact of Housing Repairs & Maintenance Expenditure on Local Authority Residents Wellbeing in England between 2013-2022’ 👏 www.spi.ox.ac.uk/article/barn...spi.ox.ac.ukBarnett Prize winner 2025: Neftalem EmanuelWe are delighted to announce this year's Barnett Prize winner, Neftalem Emanuel, for his outstanding contribution to evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation. 062
Reposted by Ben ScherSociety for the Study of Addiction @addiction-ssa.org · 29/05/2025Congratulations Ben!! We look forward to seeing what you do next in your career. 011
Reposted by Ben ScherAmiya Bhatia @amiyabhatia.bsky.social · 23/05/2025Come and work with us at @dspi-oxford.bsky.social as a Departmental Lecturer. Role involves teaching qualitative and mixed methods and intervention and evaluation design with time and support to develop your own lines of research. Apply by June 13th: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNF076/d...jobs.ac.ukDepartmental Lecturer at University of OxfordApply for the Departmental Lecturer role on jobs.ac.uk, the top job board for academic positions in higher education. View details and apply now. 074
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 21/05/2025As well as all the collaborators on my project: @matsouthwell.bsky.social @profalexstevens.bsky.social @pwud-pride.bsky.social + Nikos Poulopoulos and Christos Anastasiou. Finally to all my peers at DSPI who made the past 3.5 years so special and for whom I am so grateful. 4/4 050
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 21/05/2025A huge thank you to @robcalder.bsky.social and the Society for the Study of Addiction whos steadfast support throughout the entirety of my PhD greatly enhanced my doctoral experience. 3/4 230
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 21/05/2025I’d also like to say a huge thank you to my assessors @amiyabhatia.bsky.social and Dr Andrew Ivsins who pushed me whilst making the viva such an enjoyable experience. 2/4 130
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 21/05/2025I’m over the moon to share that yesterday I completed my DPhil @dspi-oxford.bsky.social 🎉 There are so many thank yous, but firstly to my amazing and unbelievably supportive supervisors @gwshorter.bsky.social @bchrisinger.bsky.social @dkhumphreys.bsky.social 1/4 8233
Reposted by Ben ScherBen Chrisinger @bchrisinger.bsky.social · 20/05/2025🚨 Proud supervisor alert 🚨 One my 1st PhD students just passed his viva! Give @ben-scher.bsky.social a follow for rigorous qualitative + participant-centered #HarmReduction research. s/o to amazing co-sup team @gwshorter.bsky.social @dkhumphreys.bsky.social @dspi-oxford.bsky.social 🛟 #academicsky 0112
Reposted by Ben ScherTransform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · 13/05/2025Glasgow's supervised drug consumption facility was accessed 2,691 times in its first 4 months, with 30 medical emergencies attended too There's huge unmet nationwide demand for SDCF/OPCs, proven to reduce harm, save lives & facilitate service access pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news... 1/pharmaceutical-journal.comUK’s first safer drug consumption facility accessed more than 2,500 times in first four months, data showThe UK’s first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) in Glasgow has been accessed 2,691 times during the four months it has been open, according to data published by the Glasgow City Health and Socia... 12510
Reposted by Ben ScherInternational Journal of Drug Policy @ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social · 05/05/2025“Exploring the need for overdose prevention centers in England: A qualitative community-based participatory study on the perspectives of people who use drugs in public and semi-public environments” by @ben-scher.bsky.social et al (2025) via IJDP. Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 065
Reposted by Ben ScherAlex Stevens @profalexstevens.bsky.social · 05/05/2025People involved in street-based drug use need places of safety, away from police and public gaze, where they don't have to rush. 021
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025Please get in touch if you have any comments or feedback! 000
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025•An OPC was seen to offer protection from police-related trauma. •An OPC was viewed as a solution to improve community relations by reducing drug-related litter. •The views of people who use drugs should be prioritized by policymakers when considering the implementation of OPCs. 100
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025Highlights: •Threat of public and police interaction leads to rushed injection practices and increased risk of injection-related harms. •An overdose prevention centre (OPC) was seen to reduce injecting risks and drug-related deaths. 100
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025A huge thank you to co-authors @matsouthwell.bsky.social @pwud-pride.bsky.social @profalexstevens.bsky.social @bchrisinger.bsky.social @dkhumphreys.bsky.social @gwshorter.bsky.social for all their help with the research and writing process. 120
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025Very excited to share our new paper in @ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social 🎉 In this paper we look at experiences of people who use drugs in public and semi public drug consumption environments and the need for OPCs in England. 1219
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025Would love to hear your thoughts if you have comments or feedback! 000
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025•An OPC was seen to offer protection from police-related trauma. •An OPC was viewed as a solution to improve community relations by reducing drug-related litter. •The views of people who use drugs should be prioritized by policymakers when considering the implementation of OPCs. 100
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025Highlights: •Threat of public and police interaction leads to rushed injection practices and increased risk of injection-related harms. •An overdose prevention centre (OPC) was seen to reduce injecting risks and drug-related deaths. 100
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 05/05/2025A huge thank you to co-authors @matsouthwell.bsky.social @pwud-pride.bsky.social @profalexstevens.bsky.social @bchrisinger.bsky.social @dkhumphreys.bsky.social @gwshorter.bsky.social for all the support throughout the research and writing process. 100
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 01/05/2025www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/event/from-s...wolfson.ox.ac.ukFrom Street to Safety: Exploring the How and Why of Overdose Prevention Centres - Wolfson CollegeDr. Gillian Shorter is a leading researcher in drug policy, whose work has significantly advanced the empirical and policy understanding of overdose prevention centres (OPCs). Her contributions includ... 021
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 01/05/2025First and final in person supervision with @dkhumphreys.bsky.social and @gwshorter.bsky.social, just missing @bchrisinger.bsky.social…come check out Gillian’s talk at Wolfson tonight if you’re in the Oxford area, link 👇 140
Reposted by Ben ScherDr. Deanna Giraldi, MPH @deannagiraldi.bsky.social · 19/04/2025Excited to share my first #PhD paper, now published in @lancetrh-americ.bsky.social 📝 #scopingreview #gunviolence Read more: kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https://a... 0105
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 15/04/2025If you are in the Oxford area and interested in drug policy, come catch @gwshorter.bsky.social who will be giving a guest lecture on the evidence-base surrounding overdose prevention centres 🎉 🗓️ Thursday 1st of May ⏰ 6pm-7pm 📍Wolfson College www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/event/from-s...wolfson.ox.ac.ukFrom Street to Safety: Exploring the How and Why of Overdose Prevention Centres - Wolfson CollegeDr. Gillian Shorter is a leading researcher in drug policy, whose work has significantly advanced the empirical and policy understanding of overdose prevention centres (OPCs). Her contributions includ... 086
Reposted by Ben ScherRob Calder @robcalder.bsky.social · 09/04/2025Great interview Ben! It's wonderful to see @ssa-addiction.bsky.social funded PhD students talk about the importance of the evidence base, providing informed thought and responding so generously to curiosity about such a complex area. 041
Reposted by Ben ScherKim Sue, MD, PhD @drkimsue.bsky.social · 07/04/2025yaledailynews.com/blog/2025/04...yaledailynews.comHow overdose prevention centers can change the game in the fight against the opioid epidemicThe Public Health Committee of the state legislature is advancing a bill proposal that could establish opioid overdose prevention centers by 2026. 052
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 08/04/2025🎥: m.youtube.com/watch?v=yLfd...m.youtube.comThe War on Drugs - A Failed StoryYouTube video by Human Condition 021
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 08/04/2025Is the UK shifting its approach to drug policy? Why is drug policy more important than ever in today's geopolitics? What does global evidence say about OPCs? It was great to join Sam Lewis from the Human Condition Podcast to discuss these questions...check out our full discussion below 👇 144
Reposted by Ben ScherAlex Stevens @profalexstevens.bsky.social · 20/03/2025Just out in #HarmReductionJournal: another article from our realist review of international evidence on overdose prevention centres (AKA drug consumption rooms, supervised injecting facilities), showing how and for whom they work #harmreduction #OPCPrep 1/7 links.springernature.com/f/a/hWOfNJIE... 12416