Misuse of drugs appointment

Dr Roger Knaggs , an Associate Professor in Clinical Pharmacy Practice at the University of Nottingham, has been appointed as a member of the Home Office Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Dr Knaggs is an expert in the field of pain management, the misuse of medicines and the legal and regulatory aspects of medicine supply. He said: "With the current interest in the medical use of cannabis for various illnesses and misuse of prescription medicines, it is going to be a very interesting period to ensure legitimate clinical use whilst maintaining adequate controls to minimise misuse." The three-year appointment was announced today, Wednesday 16 January. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is an independent advisory public body sponsored by the Home Office that advises government on drugs and substances that have the potential for misuse and harm. The ACMD has statutory duties and roles under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA) and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. The ACMD is responsible for keeping under review the situation in the UK with respect to drugs which are being, or appear likely to be, misused and the misuse of which is having, or appears capable of having, harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem. As part of its annual recruitment process and in order to build on existing skills and knowledge, the ACMD was seeking eight new members including a pharmacist engaged in clinical practice.