ACMD appoints Steve Allsop and Keith Humphreys
Two more experts have joined the UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Professors Steve Allsop and Keith Humphreys were appointed on 1 February 2026, with the ACMD confirming the news on 3 February. This is the body ministers turn to for evidence when drug harms rise or new substances appear. (gov.uk)
If you’re teaching or studying drug policy, it helps to know what the ACMD actually is. It’s an independent expert body set up under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The council advises government on controlling harmful drugs, including how they are classified and scheduled, and runs in‑depth inquiries when an issue needs closer study. (gov.uk)
Who’s joining matters. Professor Steve Allsop is Emeritus Professor at Curtin University’s National Drug Research Institute in Australia, with decades of work in alcohol and other drug research, prevention and policy. Professor Keith Humphreys holds the Esther Ting Memorial Professorship at Stanford University and is known for research on treatment, recovery and addiction policy. (gov.uk)
Why this counts for you as a reader: ACMD members contribute to committees that grapple with fast‑moving questions such as novel synthetic drugs, prevention, and technical scheduling. The council’s advice informs ministers before changes to the law are proposed, so strengthening the mix of expertise matters to public safety and fair policy. (gov.uk)
How do people get these roles? Public appointments are openly advertised, applications are sifted by an advisory panel, interviews test whether candidates meet the criteria, and a minister makes the final decision. That step‑by‑step process is set out in the government’s guide to public appointments. (gov.uk)
The rules behind that process sit in the Governance Code on Public Appointments, refreshed in October 2025 and noted again by the Cabinet Office on 21 January 2026. The Code says appointments should be on merit, open and fair, with transparency and diversity built in. When you see “made in accordance with the Governance Code”, this is what it refers to. (gov.uk)
This isn’t a one‑off. Across 2025 the ACMD brought in 14 experts - ten announced in January and four more added in February - to refresh skills across public health, policing and science. The two 2026 appointments continue that renewal. (gov.uk)
Leadership has also changed. Professor David Wood became ACMD chair on 1 January 2026, succeeding Owen Bowden‑Jones after nine years. Chairs and members work together to produce evidence‑based advice, and the council’s independence is anchored in law. (gov.uk)
What this means for classrooms and study groups: you can read ACMD reports on GOV.UK and track who sits on the council and their declared interests. Pair today’s announcement with a recent ACMD publication to see how evidence moves into policy advice, and practise checking dates and sources as you go. (gov.uk)