Impact

Benzo Research Project Updates

12 March 2025
Crew2000 (Crew) is a national Scottish charity providing essential outreach, training, and drop-in support to reduce drug and sexual health-related harms and stigma.

This month, Crew launched their annual Drug Trends report for 2023–24. The report highlights local, national and international drug trends – including young people-focused trends, and those in nightlife settings – alongside drug-related deaths statistics, and several initiatives (including ours!) aiming to reduce drug-related harms.

Crew calls for sustainable funding for young people's support, research into young people's drug taking prevalence and related harms, a commitment to lived and living experience-informed policy, and investigation into the feasibility of safer supply initiatives to reduce drug-related harms in Scotland.

Click here to read the full report.
26 February 2025
Following the recent opening of the first sanctioned safer consumption site 'The Thistle' in the UK, the Benzo Research Project joined Release and RATS in submitting evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee's inquiry into Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility.

The joint submission, led by Release, concerns both the evidence for SDCFs and the legal framework for managing these facilities.

Click here to read the full submission.
16 February 2025
In February, our partners at Change Grow Live (CGL) conducted consultations for a new co-produced alcohol strategy in Camden. Our Founder, Monica, worked alongside CGL 16-25 Outreach and Camden Council to develop and facilitate a session with young people within the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring the strategy reflects their priorities.

Consultation sessions focused on hearing from underrepresented groups in the area, with others focusing on all young adults, and young people of Muslim faith.

We were energised by the young people of Camden, who were willing to open up about their experiences of alcohol within their community. We look forward to seeing the final strategy and the impact it will have on the local community.
28 January 2025
Drug and Alcohol Impact is a university accreditation programme run by SOS-UK. They work in partnership with UK universities and student unions to embed harm reduction at a whole-campus level.

In November 2024, BRP alongside 45 other drug and alcohol organisations, universities and student unions pledged to participate in SOS-UK's Student Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week 2024 campaign — their biggest to-date!

Campaign activities included Keele University and their Students' Union hosting a DJ event providing harm reduction advice on mixing drugs, UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services hosting an information stall, our guest lecture at the University of Kent and social media post, plus many more.

Click here to read the full article.
15 January 2025
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is currently reviewing the UK's compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Benzo Research Project joins RATS, Drug Science, the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), Release, Safe Only CIC and The Love Tank CIC in submitting a civil society report to the CESCR.

This submission, led by RATS (radical acts to survive) focuses on the UK's escalating drug deaths crisis, highlighting its disproportionate effects on marginalised communities, and the crucial role that safer consumptions sites should play in tackling this crisis.

Click here to read our submission.
19 November 2024
During #StudentDrugandAlcoholAwarenessWeek, we were warmly invited to guest lecture at the University of Kent Canterbury Campus. Joanna and AJ presented to 3rd year Criminology undergraduate students as part of their module on Drugs, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System.

The lecture explored the history of benzo prescribing and benzo-related deaths, the key findings from our lived experience research, and the importance of harm reduction in drug policy.

If you would like to invite the Benzo Research Project to guest lecture at your university/organisation, contact us.
14 November 2024
One of the key findings from our lived experience research in 2022 was a severe lack of support for young people who use benzos. Our aim has always been to make actionable change with our research.

This past year, we had the absolute pleasure to work with the Inclusion crew!

Together, we developed a new pathway for people who want to change their relationship with benzos. This pathway uses up-to-date evidence-based and person-centred tapering prescribing, alongside a menu of psychosocial and holistic support, plus a workbook to help people on their journey.

This is only one part of the wider effort needed to reduce benzo and other drug-related harms, but we hope that this work helps people who use benzos access support that works for them.

To find out more about their drug and alcohol services, visit Inclusion's website.
18–20 September 2024
We went to Birmingham! AJ and Joanna presented a poster titled Benzo Research Project: An evaluation of non-medical benzodiazepine use among UK young people (18-25) at the Cranstoun Social Justice Conference 2024.

The poster highlights key findings from our report on young people's lived experiences with benzos, including motivations, mental health, polydrug use, and experiences with drug education and support.

A huge thank you to Cranstoun, Camurus and Inclusion for making it possible for us to attend. To find out more about the conference, visit Cranstoun's website.
31 August 2024
The Benzo Research Project is proud to join the London Harm Reduction Collective (LHRC) — a coalition of experts and organisations committed to reducing drug-related harm in our communities.

Our capital city and our country are undergoing a drug-related death crisis. With nitazenes continuing to contaminate the unregulated supply of street benzos and other drugs, a concerted, compassionate, and intersectional effort to reduce harm is paramount to saving lives!

To find out more and support, visit the LHRC website.
3 July 2024
Our Co-Project Leads, Monica and AJ presented a spotlight talk titled "Benzos, young people, and the emergence of nitazenes" at the Drug Education Forum's Summer event to over 130 attendees.

The DEF is a new UK community of drug education professionals, committed to providing evidence-based and age appropriate drug education. Other speakers included Prof. Fiona Measham (The Loop), Dan Gibbons (Re-Solv), and Helena Conibear (The TALK ABOUT Trust).

The recording of the event will be available on DEF's website shortly.
8 May 2024
Joanna and AJ ran a workshop titled Supporting Student Leaders in Harm Reduction at the annual National Student Drug and Alcohol Conference, hosted by SOS UK.

The workshop was delivered to university staff, student unions, and drug support staff at Middlesex University. We hope that this session provided some inspiration on how best to support developing student-led harm reduction initiatives across the UK.
11 April 2024
Following the continued rise of nitazenes found in illicit benzo supply, ITV News interviewed Monica Richards (Founder) about the realities faced by young people who use street benzos.

The video has been viewed over 200,000 times, meeting our aim to increase awareness about counterfeit benzos.

Note: The term "study drugs" was incorrectly used by the reporter in this coverage to describe benzos. Study drugs primarily include prescription stimulants such as amphetamine, methylphenidate and modafinil.

You can watch the full TikTok here.
14 March 2024
Alongside numerous European civil society organisations, we have signed the manifesto laid out by Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network calling for drug policy that is safer, healthier, and more just.

"The 2024 European elections must bring a paradigm shift. This manifesto lays down a vision for a pragmatic, innovative, and human rights-centred European drug policy that will deliver healthier and safer communities."

You can read and sign the manifesto here.
9 February 2024
Our 2022 testimony analysis report was republished by Youth RISE: a global youth-led network advocating for evidence-based drug policies and harm reduction, centring young people in the conversation.  

You can see our report on their website here.
2 February 2024
Our Founder, Monica Richards was interviewed as part of an article covering a counterfeit benzo operation gone south. Ben Bryant's article The rise and fall of the Benzo Bros' fake Xanax empire delves into a large-scale counterfeit benzo operation in the context of the broader illicit market, how the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has responded, and the negative impact this has had on people in the absence of sufficient education or support.

Read the full article here.
14 December 2023
Following the identification of strong synthetic opioids in the UK's illicit benzodiazepine supply, Sky News invited our Founder & Project Lead to speak on behalf of the Benzo Research Project. Monica Richards discusses the motivations behind young people's benzo use, the harms of stigma around drug use when accessing support, and how young people can get help and reduce benzo-related harms.

To watch the full interview, click here.
7 December 2023
Our Founder, Monica Richards' alma mater King's College London reported on her intervention statement at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs on 5th December 2023, citing the Benzo Research Project as "ground-breaking"!

To read the full article, click here.
30 November 2023
Our Research co-leads, Joanna and AJ were invited as guest speakers to the London Harm Reduction Reading Group. The meeting, hosted at Release, focused on engaging young people who use drugs with harm reduction​: beginning with a presentation from our team, followed by a Q&A discussion. 

If you would like to read the paper we discussed, you can find it here.
14 November 2023
Our testimonies were featured in the Mental Health and Drug Use workshop for the University Mental Health Charter (UMHC). This insight-sharing event – hosted by Student Minds – outlined the role universities play in drug policy. The speakers, including our Research team leads Joanna and AJ, alongside Hanna Head (SSDP), highlighted the need for a compassionate, evidence-based, and intersectional approach to drug use on UK campuses.  

If you would like to watch the full webinar, please contact us.
13 October 2023
Our Research team co-leads, Joanna Bright and AJ Martin joined an incredible team of prescribers and psychosocial practitioners from NHS Inclusion. Our representatives presented our 2022 report findings. Bringing these together with their team's practical expertise, we began planning a comprehensive, trauma-informed treatment pathway specifically designed for people struggling with benzo dependence.
12 October 2023
Our Co-Head of Research, Joanna Bright was invited as a guest lecturer by the University of Manchester, representing the Benzo Research Project. Joanna gave a lecture to undergraduate student in the Department of Criminology, presenting our findings from our 2022 testimony analysis report.
29 August 2023
The Benzo Research Project has become a member of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). NCVO is a membership community of over 17,000 charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England. 

Being an NCVO member will allow us to connect with other voluntary organisations, access support and training to continue developing our organisation.
29 August 2023
Our Co-Head of Research, AJ Martin, recently wrote an article titled Benzos are like a box of chocolates: How tough drug laws lead to counterfeit drugs for our partners at Volteface. 

AJ writes about how novel benzos – often "never marketed for medical use" – have continued circulating in the illicit drug supply after the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 and subsequent 2017 amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act 2017, signifying that the UK government's approach to drugs is "unfit for purpose".

To read the full article, click here.
31 July 2023
Crew, our partner and Scottish drug support charity, highlighted our work in their 2021–22 drug trend report. Their report details drug trends and the drivers behind drug-related deaths in Scotland, including the 396% increase in deaths related to 'any benzo' since 2011. 

​To read the full report, click here.
17 July 2023
Our project lead Monica and Research team co-leads, Joanna and AJ, joined The News Movement and NTIA (Night Time Industry Association) at the House of Commons to speak to MPs about drug policy and the #BringBackDrugTesting campaign. The campaign calls on the Home Office to restore life-saving drugs testing services at festivals across the UK. 
9 June 2023
Hanna Head (SSDP UK) spoke to our project lead Monica and Research team co-leads, Joanna and AJ, to highlight the "evidence-based, life-saving work that students are doing" in harm reduction. The article highlights the work of our project alongside SSDP Imperial, the Help not Harm campaign, and more.

To read the full article, click here. 
5 June 2023
Our project and work was featured in an article titled Students present project findings to policy-makers and professionals by Kings College London's News Centre.
31 May 2023
Following a successful abstract submission, Joanna (Co-Head of Research) presented our report findings at the 16th Annual International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP) conference, hosted by RAND Europe in Leuven, Belgium. Other speakers at ISSDP 2023 included international drug policy activists and scholars, criminologists, physicians, medical lawyers, and police commissioners.

​You can find our abstract here.
12 May 2023
Julie (Head of Outreach) and Joanna (Co-Head of Research & Outreach) presented our findings at the Substance Misuse Best Practice event in Surrey, hosted by Catch22 Hampshire 24/7. Catch22 is a charity that designed and delivers services from children's social care to health and wellbeing, including a holistic psychosocial, harm reduction, and family support approach to youth substance use.
May 2023
Our research report was featured by The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices. The group aim to raise awareness about the dangers of benzodiazepine use and to promote safe prescribing practices. You can find their evidence-based resources for prescribers and patients, and various scientific research studies and papers, on their website. 
3 April 2023
Our Co-Head of Research, AJ Martin, wrote a blog article for Drug Science's Science Beats Stigma campaign. In the article, AJ writes about his personal experiences that led to his passion for harm reduction. This passion led him to help create the Imperial chapter of SSDP, and join the Benzo Research Project in summer 2021.

​You can read the full article, click here.
10 March 2023
Our Research team co-leads, AJ and Joanna, presented at the Drug Science Street Drugs Discussions on Benzodiazepines. The event was the biggest in the series, with over 700 signups and 350 attendants including psychopharmacologists and NGO leaders. The research team leaders went on to present at the Drug Science symposium to their independent committee. You can watch the recording on YouTube here.
28 February 2023
Our founder and project lead Monica Richards presented at Imperial College London alongside our adviser Ivan Ezquerra Romano at the Young Leaders in Drug Policy event, hosted by the award-winning ICL SSDP. You can watch the recording on YouTube here.
February 2023
Alcohol and drug support charities Crew 2000 (Edinburgh) and Cranstoun (Worcestershire) have incorporated the findings and recommendations from our report in their training programmes!
12 January 2023
The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) re-published our research report! IDPC is a global network advocating for drug policies that advance social justice and human rights. 
31 December 2022
The Benzo Research Project executive team were featured on The News Movement. Our founder and several members of the project were interviewed in two videos: one on why young people are taking benzos, and another on our efforts to change attitudes towards drug policy in the UK. 
23 December 2022
Our project was spotlighted in the Drug Science Student Society Network (SSN) newsletter, sharing some important findings from our report with students across the UK.
December 2022
Drugs and Alcohol Ireland re-published our research report in the Health Research Board (HRB) National Drugs Library. This will ensure our report and the stories shared will be brought to the attention of practitioners and researchers across Ireland. The report also featured in the HRB National Drugs Library e-newsletter volume 18, issue 12.
9 December 2022
The blog post authored by Joanna Bright (Co-Head of Research) and Zara Nelson (Outreach Officer) was shared by Dovetail. Dovetail is an organisation that provides training to drug and alcohol services in Queensland, Australia with a specific focus on young peoples' services.
28 November 2022
Our Report Launch and Drug Policy event was shared on the DrugWise Daily newsletter: a news service providing coverage of all things related to the drugs and alcohol sector.
1 November 2022
​The Benzo Research Project was featured on ITV! Check out George Hancorn's article on us, titled Psychoactive drugs being 'sold' to children as young as 15 on Instagram for as little as £1. It's also available in video form on their Instagram, YouTube, and website.
8 July 2022
Dovetail shared a blog post authored by AJ Martin (Co-Head of Research) on the history of benzodiazepines. Dovetail is an organisation providing drug and alcohol service training in Queensland, Australia with a specific focus on young peoples' services.
20 May 2022
Our project was featured in the UK Drug Testing Newsletter by Zoom Testing. Zoom Testing are a small company that supply drug testing kits to the UK.
3 May 2022
Monica Richards (Founder, Project Lead) was featured in a news article about the Benzo Research Project titled The student-led project aiming to shape national drug policy by King's College London, alongside our King's student members.
12 April 2022
The Students' Union at UWE Bristol featured the Benzo Research Project on their page about Mixing Drugs and Alcohol, encouraging students with lived experience of benzo use to share their stories.
Disclaimer: The inclusion of an organisation on this page (Impact) does not equate to endorsement by the Benzo Research Project.
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