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Prof Harry Sumnall

Public and Allied Health

Faculty of Health

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Harry is a Professor in Substance Use in the School of Psychology. He is also a member of the Public Health Institute. His undergraduate degree was in Pharmacology at the University of Manchester, and he completed his PhD, examining the Behavioural Pharmacology of MDMA, at the University of Liverpool. He joined LJMU in 2003 where he developed specialisms in public health.

Harry undertakes and collaborates on a wide range of research on drug related topics - from pre-clinical studies to policy analysis - but has particular specialism in young people’s drug use, and prevention interventions. Harry’s funded research programmes have primarily examined the evidence base for substance use prevention and the mechanisms for implementing evidence based practice and policy. Other current work includes research into public stigma towards people who use drugs, public support for drug policy, psychedelic microdosing,
alcohol marketing, and the development and evaluation of interventions and support services for people at higher risk of drug related harm.

Harry regularly discusses drug use topics with UK and international media, and regularly contributes to UK and international practice and policy initiatives.

Harry is a current Member (2025- ) of the UK Government Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), having previously sat on the Council between 2011-2019 (continuing as a co-optee on several working groups including medicinal cannabis, prevention, and cocaine). He sits on the NIHR Public Health Research Programme Funding Commitee. He is a Board Member and Past-President of the European Society for Prevention Research (2010-2019), and is a scientific advisor to the MIND Foundation (Germany). He is a founding Steering Commitee Member of the UK Anti-Stigma Network (https://www.antistigmanetwork.org.uk/), and an Associate Editor of the journals Addictive Behaviors and Journal of Prevention. He is co-Chair of the Cheshire and Merseyside Local Drugs Information System (LDIS) Panel.

Degrees

2002, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, PhD
1997, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, BSc

Academic appointments

Professor In Substance Use, Liverpool John Moores University, 2011 - present

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