Dr Michael Kelleher
Dr Kelleher trained in addiction psychiatry at the Maudsley hospital and Institute of Psychiatry in London. He was appointed consultant psychiatrist and clinical lead to Lambeth addictions in 2003, a post he continues to hold.
In 2010 he was appointed as national clinical advisor to the National Treatment Agency and subsequently in 2013 to the same post at Public Health England’s Alcohol Drugs, Tobacco and Justice Division. In this role he supports the development of policy regarding the treatment of alcohol and drug dependent.
Prescribed drugs: The Public Health England review
Presentation link: Prescribed drugs: the Public Health England review
Presentation audio: Prescribed drugs: The Public Health England review
In 2018 The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care commissioned Public Health England to review the evidence on, and withdrawal from, prescribed medicines. The scope of the review included dependence, withdrawal and discontinuation syndrome from benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, GABA-ergic medications, opioid pain medications and antidepressants.
This area of prescribed drug dependence and withdrawal has been one of concern in England against a backdrop of higher levels of prescribing; greater awareness of withdrawal and side effects and against a backdrop of the prescription opioid crisis in the United States.
The review is due to be published in the summer of 2019.
Dr Kelleher as a member of the secretariat of this review will present the findings and recommendations.