Paul Toner wins Griffith Edwards Academic Fellowship

Posted on 19 February 2016

Building on his reputation for developing or adapting assessments and interventions in the addiction field, Dr Paul Toner has recently been awarded the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA) Griffith Edwards Academic Fellowship, which is a prestigious three-year honour given only to future leaders in addiction science.

Paul, who is a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Sciences, is the fourth recipient of this award, which marks a major early career achievement, and involves what should be a career defining study of adapting or developing an alcohol assessment measure for young people aged 15 to 17. The study utilises a mixed methodological approach and permits the beginnings of the infusion of cutting edge psychometric expertise from the York mental health instrument appraisal tradition into addictions. This study has been designed with further studies in mind, and is intended to secure early impact on policy and practice.

Griffiths Edwards was the original author of the alcohol dependence syndrome, which paved the way for the modern understanding of addiction problems, and which has been the cornerstone of the diagnostic systems for almost 40 years. He saw the need to promote the use of evidence among policy makers, and led globally influential publications designed for use in policy making. This involved leading the struggle against the alcohol industry's policy influence efforts internationally, all whilst developing nationally and internationally leading clinical services and remaining a clinician.

Professor Jim McCambridge is Paul’s academic mentor for the programme of work.