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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher
@ben-scher.bsky.social
200 followers 220 following 28 posts
Lecturer/Postdoc in Global Health @Princeton Center for Health and Wellbeing | Research Affiliate @DSPI_Oxford | Drug Policy, Harm Reduction, OPCs, Low-Barrier Housing
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 19d
Thank you to @correlationnet.bsky.social for supporting this special issue!
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 19d
The 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/...
Harm Reduction in Europe: Histories, Choices and Hopes
www.biomedcentral.com
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · 19d
I’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
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Reposted by Ben Scher
hscwru.bsky.social
Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit @hscwru.bsky.social · 27d
New 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-...
Harm Reduction and Belonging in the Provision of Homelessness Services | King's College London
Ben Scher
www.kcl.ac.uk
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Reposted by Ben Scher
ehyshka.bsky.social
Elaine Hyshka @ehyshka.bsky.social · Aug 20
This 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...
Crime rate around Somerset supervised consumption site lower than government suggested when announcing closure
The 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...
www.ctvnews.ca
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · Jul 20
Look forward to listening Mat
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Reposted by Ben Scher
yaleadm.bsky.social
Yale Program in Addiction Medicine @yaleadm.bsky.social · Jul 17
✨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...
Division of Prevention and Community Research and The Consultation Center
The Division of Prevention and Community Research, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine invites applications for a two-year NIDA-funded T32
medicine.yale.edu
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Reposted by Ben Scher
dspi-oxford.bsky.social
Oxford Social Policy and Intervention @dspi-oxford.bsky.social · Jul 10
Congratulations @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...
Barnett Prize winner 2025: Neftalem Emanuel
We are delighted to announce this year's Barnett Prize winner, Neftalem Emanuel, for his outstanding contribution to evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation.
www.spi.ox.ac.uk
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Reposted by Ben Scher
addiction-ssa.org
Society for the Study of Addiction @addiction-ssa.org · May 29
Congratulations Ben!! We look forward to seeing what you do next in your career.
ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 21
I’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

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Reposted by Ben Scher
amiyabhatia.bsky.social
Amiya Bhatia @amiyabhatia.bsky.social · May 23
Come 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...
Departmental Lecturer at University of Oxford
Apply for the Departmental Lecturer role on jobs.ac.uk, the top job board for academic positions in higher education. View details and apply now.
www.jobs.ac.uk
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 21
Thank you Zoe! I hope you’re well
ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 21
As 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
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 21
A 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
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 21
I’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
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 21
I’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

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Reposted by Ben Scher
bchrisinger.bsky.social
Ben Chrisinger @bchrisinger.bsky.social · May 20
🚨 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
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Reposted by Ben Scher
transformdrugs.bsky.social
Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · May 13
Glasgow'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...
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UK’s first safer drug consumption facility accessed more than 2,500 times in first four months, data show
The 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...
pharmaceutical-journal.com
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Reposted by Ben Scher
ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social
International Journal of Drug Policy @ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social · May 5
“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...
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Reposted by Ben Scher
profalexstevens.bsky.social
Alex Stevens @profalexstevens.bsky.social · May 5
People involved in street-based drug use need places of safety, away from police and public gaze, where they don't have to rush.
ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 5
Very 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.
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 5
Please get in touch if you have any comments or feedback!
ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 5
•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.
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 5
Highlights:

•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.
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 5
A 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.
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 5
Very 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.
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ben-scher.bsky.social
Ben Scher @ben-scher.bsky.social · May 5
Would love to hear your thoughts if you have comments or feedback!