Hugh Asher

My professional background is in developing and improving drug treatment and support within the criminal justice system, however engaging and retaining drug and alcohol users in services and the building of effective therapeutic alliances with them, wherever they are in their treatment journey, is my specialism. I have worked as a prison drug worker, written group work programmes for the Ministry of Justice and trained both uniformed and civilian prison service staff from a range of backgrounds and disciplines in working with substance users within the prison system. I have also undertaken work for the National Committee for Narcotics Control in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, training social workers and school counsellors in working with substance users.

On a purely academic level I am also particularly interested in the use of psychoactive drugs as adjuncts to religious and spiritual practices, also known as entheogenic drugs.