Swansea professor appointed to UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

A Swansea University professor has been appointed to the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

MPharm Programme Director and professor of pharmacy at Swansea University Medical School, Amira Guirguis has been appointed to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which advises the UK Government on the control of dangerous or harmful drugs.

Professor Guirguis is a leading academic expert on substance misuse, drug detection and novel psychoactive substances, and is one of 10 new experts with academic expertise spanning public health, law enforcement and scientific research to join the ACMD.

The ACMD, is an advisory non-departmental public body, which conducts in-depth inquiries into concerning aspects of drug use in the UK and assesses substances that are being misused or may cause significant health and social harms. They then use their research to advise the UK government on drug harms.

Talking about her appointment, Professor Amira Guirguis said: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. I look forward to contributing my expertise to tackling substance misuse use and to use my pharmacy knowledge to help shape evidence-based policies that reduce harm and improve public health.

“Working collaboratively with experts from diverse sectors, I aim to support the development of effective, inclusive strategies that address the challenges of drug misuse across the UK.”

Prior to her role at Swansea University, Professor Guirguis led the creation of the first first licensed pharmacist-led drug-checking service, bridging research, policy, and public health practice.

Focusing on harm reduction, her research integrates pharmacovigilance, analytical chemistry, forensic pharmacy and netnography. The findings from this research have been incorporated into renowned databases and essential textbooks for pharmacy undergraduates in the UK.

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In January 2024, Professor Guirguis was also appointed the Chair of the Science and Research Committee of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Alongside this she has published content for over 100 publications, supervised numerous doctoral projects and holds influential pharmacy professional and regulatory roles in the UK and Ireland.

The Minister for Crime and Policing, Dame Diana Johnson said: “I am delighted to welcome the new members and reappoint those that have done such vital work to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

“This wealth of experience will be invaluable in the council’s ability to provide evidence-based advice that helps protect our communities.”

Feature image credit: Swansea University and Google Maps