Wednesday 30 October 2019

17:30 - 18:00 Arrival

18:00 - 18:10 Opening remarks, Professor Patrick Callaghan

18:10 - 18:50 Inaugural Lecture, Professor Antony Moss

18:50 - 19:00 Closing Remarks, Professor Patrick Callaghan

19:00 - 20:00 Drinks Reception

Abstract

Assuming Responsibility: Understanding the nature and function of choice and responsibility in addictive behaviours

Addictive behaviours are commonly understood to entail a loss of control over a behaviour which, in the short or long term, has detrimental consequences for individuals and those around them. Alcohol, nicotine and other drugs, gambling, gaming, and the internet are just some examples of addictive behaviours which can lead to significant personal and public harms.

During this lecture, Professor Moss will focus primarily on how our understanding of addictive behaviours has informed, or otherwise, the approaches taken to prevent such problems developing in the first place. Taking two case studies involving alcohol and gambling, Professor Moss will discuss research which has evaluated and informed the development of public health messages which seek to encourage responsible or moderated engagement in drinking and gambling. The limitations of such approaches will be considered, in view of other public health interventions, and some of the future directions for how we might develop more effective means of preventing addictive behaviour-related harms will be outlined.

Biography

Professor Antony Moss is Professor of Addictive Behaviour Science in the Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research, and Director of Education and Student Experience, in the School of Applied Sciences. Professor Moss completed his undergraduate and doctoral education at London South Bank University in the Department of Psychology and, with the exception of two years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Addictive Behaviours Unit at St George’s Medical School, has enjoyed working at LSBU ever since in a number of roles.

Professor Moss’ research interests are somewhat diverse, ranging from the development of theoretical models which attempt to synthesise evidence in the diverse field of addiction science, to highly applied research developing and evaluating national public health campaigns, to work which aims to understand the experience of marginalised, vulnerable, or underrepresented groups in addictive behaviours research.

In addition to his responsibilities at LSBU, Professor Moss holds and has held a number of influential external positions as a Trustee (Alcohol Change UK; New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group), Committee Member (Drinkaware, Research and Impact Committee), and Scientific Adviser (GambleAware, Safer Gambling Campaign Board).