Toby Seddon
@tobyseddon.bsky.social
Professor of Social Science at University College London | UCL Social Research Institute | Chair of Release | Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences | Interested in: drug policy, social science, critical theory, history | www.tobyseddon.com
Reposted by Toby Seddon
Through ethnographic fieldwork, decolonial policy analysis, and creative co-production Shadows project @shadowsnrpf.bsky.social explores how migrant families and young people with no access to public funds survive and create lives in England. Learn more: nrpfintheshadows.com
#NRPF #SocialJustice
#NRPF #SocialJustice
November 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Through ethnographic fieldwork, decolonial policy analysis, and creative co-production Shadows project @shadowsnrpf.bsky.social explores how migrant families and young people with no access to public funds survive and create lives in England. Learn more: nrpfintheshadows.com
#NRPF #SocialJustice
#NRPF #SocialJustice
Plenty of obituaries earlier this month for Henry Todd, member of the ‘microdot gang’ responsible for a large part of the global LSD supply in the 1970s. Some focus more on his second ‘career’ as a mountaineer… abenteuer-berg.de/en/himalayan...
Himalayan mountaineering community mourns the loss of “Toddfather” Henry Todd - Adventure Mountain
Henry Todd may not have been the greatest climber of his time, but he was undoubtedly an original. “As an expedition leader, mountaineer and later an oxygen provider to climbers, Henry was a pillar of...
abenteuer-berg.de
November 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Plenty of obituaries earlier this month for Henry Todd, member of the ‘microdot gang’ responsible for a large part of the global LSD supply in the 1970s. Some focus more on his second ‘career’ as a mountaineer… abenteuer-berg.de/en/himalayan...
Looking to build back up my group of PhD students. Primarily interested in supervising in the area of drug policy but open to other areas, too. Drop me an email if you have an idea. For more information about me and my work, take a look here: tobyseddon.com
Toby Seddon
Critical thinking on drugs, drug policy & drug law reform
tobyseddon.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Looking to build back up my group of PhD students. Primarily interested in supervising in the area of drug policy but open to other areas, too. Drop me an email if you have an idea. For more information about me and my work, take a look here: tobyseddon.com
Incredible piece of journalism (and beautifully written) by @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/7068...
The crumbling seaside palaces at the centre of Britain’s asylum crisis
How one hotelier built an empire from beloved community assets — and a government struggling to cope with a surge in migration
www.ft.com
September 15, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Incredible piece of journalism (and beautifully written) by @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/7068...
The steadfast determination to destroy one of the few things the UK still excels at is baffling and depressing.
Ministers ‘want to shift funds away from low-quality research’ .
Universities UK president says institutions cannot afford “unfunded hobbyist research”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Universities UK president says institutions cannot afford “unfunded hobbyist research”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Ministers ‘want to shift funds away from low-quality research’ - Research Professional News
Universities UK president says institutions cannot afford “unfunded hobbyist research”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
September 12, 2025 at 8:46 AM
The steadfast determination to destroy one of the few things the UK still excels at is baffling and depressing.
A special moment for me to see this huge announcement made on my very final day as Head of SRI. There truly is incredible work going on here that it has been a privilege to support.
A very significant day for us as our new birth cohort study is announced, the first for quarter of a century. Big congratulations to colleagues in our @clscohorts.bsky.social for all their hard work in getting this off the ground!
UKRI announces first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years #ESRC #AcademicSky
September 9, 2025 at 8:53 AM
A special moment for me to see this huge announcement made on my very final day as Head of SRI. There truly is incredible work going on here that it has been a privilege to support.
The first lecture was given by @jennywoodmanucl.bsky.social and describes her incredible research journey so far. Bookmark the page as there will be more fantastic lectures to come!
As part of the celebrations of our 10th anniversary as a UCL Department, we have launched an inaugural lecture series. You can watch the first here and there will be more to come this academic year! www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/departme...
SRI Inaugural Lectures
Inaugural lectures hosted by the UCL Social Research Institute.
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 8, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The first lecture was given by @jennywoodmanucl.bsky.social and describes her incredible research journey so far. Bookmark the page as there will be more fantastic lectures to come!
Testament not only to the brilliance of Katherine and Yang but also the incredible critical mass of sociology scholars we have at SRI.
Delighted that we have not one but two colleagues on the Sociology sub-panel for REF2029! Congratulations @ktwamley.bsky.social and @yanghu.co.uk!
September 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Testament not only to the brilliance of Katherine and Yang but also the incredible critical mass of sociology scholars we have at SRI.
Five years ago today, I joined UCL and the unique academic powerhouse that is the UCL Social Research Institute. It’s been a fantastic and enriching experience and I look forward to many more years here! @sriucl.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk
September 1, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Five years ago today, I joined UCL and the unique academic powerhouse that is the UCL Social Research Institute. It’s been a fantastic and enriching experience and I look forward to many more years here! @sriucl.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk
Reposted by Toby Seddon
Applications are still open for our exciting new taught MSc in Sociology, being offered for the first time in September!
Take a look here...
www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...
Take a look here...
www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...
a man is sitting at a desk in front of a computer and smiling .
ALT: a man is sitting at a desk in front of a computer and smiling .
media.tenor.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Applications are still open for our exciting new taught MSc in Sociology, being offered for the first time in September!
Take a look here...
www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...
Take a look here...
www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...
Exhibit A: drugs.
Prohibitions are not spells.
Law is not magic.
When you prohibit a thing, all that means is the thing may be attended by different legal consequences than before.
The thing is not extinguished by a mere prohibition: it can continue but in a different way with different (and unforeseen) effects.
Law is not magic.
When you prohibit a thing, all that means is the thing may be attended by different legal consequences than before.
The thing is not extinguished by a mere prohibition: it can continue but in a different way with different (and unforeseen) effects.
August 5, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Exhibit A: drugs.
Quite the take on what’s happening in the sector. Being (very) generous, I could say that not *all* of it is wrong…
Opinion: A systemic realignment is under way that, while painful, could lead to more efficient and adaptable HE provision in the UK, say Jonathan Barton and Mike Boxall
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
The UK funding crisis may just see the emergence of a stronger sector
A systemic realignment is under way that, while painful, could lead to more efficient and adaptable provision, say Jonathan Barton and Mike Boxall
www.timeshighereducation.com
August 5, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Quite the take on what’s happening in the sector. Being (very) generous, I could say that not *all* of it is wrong…
Reposted by Toby Seddon
A fantastic opportunity in our amazing department! Come and join us as Director of our Centre for Longitudinal Studies www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
July 31, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A fantastic opportunity in our amazing department! Come and join us as Director of our Centre for Longitudinal Studies www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Excited to read a new paper – based on the title and the authors – then…. finding out it seems unaware of swathes of relevant literature and consequently claims novelty for ideas that have been discussed for decades. Not exactly a good advert for that journal’s peer review and editorial processes.
July 30, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Excited to read a new paper – based on the title and the authors – then…. finding out it seems unaware of swathes of relevant literature and consequently claims novelty for ideas that have been discussed for decades. Not exactly a good advert for that journal’s peer review and editorial processes.
A year ago, I wrote this Policy Brief on tackling the public health crisis of drug-related deaths. The need for action is even more acute 12 months later. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Drug-related deaths: a shared approach to a public health crisis
A joined-up. public health approach can help reduce drug-related deaths and support communities in building a better future. Toby Seddon for the Policy Thinking series.
www.ucl.ac.uk
July 14, 2025 at 8:46 AM
A year ago, I wrote this Policy Brief on tackling the public health crisis of drug-related deaths. The need for action is even more acute 12 months later. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Fascinating story of psychedelic capitalism outpacing idealism at a canter
Inside the race to turn 5-MeO-DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelic drugs in the world into a pharmaceutical.
Who Will Own the ‘God Molecule’?
Inside the race to turn 5-MeO-DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelic drugs in the world into a pharmaceutical.
nymag.com
June 27, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Fascinating story of psychedelic capitalism outpacing idealism at a canter
Reposted by Toby Seddon
late to this but easily the best thing that's been written on the history of ketamine to date. i dream of visiting john lilly's archive at stanford...
June 26, 2025 at 9:31 AM
late to this but easily the best thing that's been written on the history of ketamine to date. i dream of visiting john lilly's archive at stanford...
Reposted by Toby Seddon
Episode 5: Cannabis starts in the Paramount dancehall and ends with True Romance. Featuring @tobyseddon.bsky.social and @iandunt.bsky.social.
morejamtomorrow.com
morejamtomorrow.com
June 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Episode 5: Cannabis starts in the Paramount dancehall and ends with True Romance. Featuring @tobyseddon.bsky.social and @iandunt.bsky.social.
morejamtomorrow.com
morejamtomorrow.com
Reposted by Toby Seddon
I am finally reunited on a podcast with @rostaylor.bsky.social, where I basically just gibber away about what it's like to get stoned and lose decades of your life
morejamtomorrow.com/episode/cann...
morejamtomorrow.com/episode/cann...
Cannabis
Cannabis. It’s illegal in the UK without a prescription – and despite decriminalisation abroad, it’s likely to stay that way. When did people start smoking...
morejamtomorrow.com
June 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I am finally reunited on a podcast with @rostaylor.bsky.social, where I basically just gibber away about what it's like to get stoned and lose decades of your life
morejamtomorrow.com/episode/cann...
morejamtomorrow.com/episode/cann...
It was a pleasure to contribute to this episode! Have a listen if you're interested in learning more about #cannabis and its regulation.
More Jam Tomorrow ep 5 is out!
I talk to UCL prof @tobyseddon.bsky.social and former stoner @iandunt.bsky.social about how it got to Britain, why it’s banned and whether it should be legalised.
Also feat @seththevoz.bsky.social as a very worried Jim Callaghan.
morejamtomorrow.com/episode/cann...
I talk to UCL prof @tobyseddon.bsky.social and former stoner @iandunt.bsky.social about how it got to Britain, why it’s banned and whether it should be legalised.
Also feat @seththevoz.bsky.social as a very worried Jim Callaghan.
morejamtomorrow.com/episode/cann...
Cannabis
Cannabis. It’s illegal in the UK without a prescription – and despite decriminalisation abroad, it’s likely to stay that way. When did people start smoking...
morejamtomorrow.com
June 19, 2025 at 11:01 AM
It was a pleasure to contribute to this episode! Have a listen if you're interested in learning more about #cannabis and its regulation.
New word learned today: hortatory (intended to urge/encourage someone to do something). Every day's a school day!
June 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
New word learned today: hortatory (intended to urge/encourage someone to do something). Every day's a school day!
Reposted by Toby Seddon
Simon Jenkins hit it on the head.
"The reality is that the divide in Britain is not between those “in favour” of cannabis and those against. It is between those who care about the impact of criminalisation and those who don’t"
Cannabis change is needed NOW
"The reality is that the divide in Britain is not between those “in favour” of cannabis and those against. It is between those who care about the impact of criminalisation and those who don’t"
Cannabis change is needed NOW
Sadiq Khan is right: Britain must decriminalise cannabis – or remain in the dark ages | Simon Jenkins
Criminalising drugs ruins lives and wastes police resources. Many other countries have realised this – so when will UK politicians, asks Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins
www.theguardian.com
June 7, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Simon Jenkins hit it on the head.
"The reality is that the divide in Britain is not between those “in favour” of cannabis and those against. It is between those who care about the impact of criminalisation and those who don’t"
Cannabis change is needed NOW
"The reality is that the divide in Britain is not between those “in favour” of cannabis and those against. It is between those who care about the impact of criminalisation and those who don’t"
Cannabis change is needed NOW
Reposted by Toby Seddon
Many of our students already have an established career in research or policy. So there’s learning for teachers as well as for students during our discussions about evidence for decision-making. If this sounds interesting, see our MSc Social Policy (Evidence Synthesis) www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...
Social Policy (Evidence Synthesis) MSc
The Social Policy (Evidence Synthesis) MSc has a specialist focus on advanced methods for evidence synthesis and the systematic review of research. You will also study social policy and the place of r...
www.ucl.ac.uk
June 6, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Many of our students already have an established career in research or policy. So there’s learning for teachers as well as for students during our discussions about evidence for decision-making. If this sounds interesting, see our MSc Social Policy (Evidence Synthesis) www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...
Finished writing my presentation, titled 'Drugs and the Anthropocene'! Looking forward to discussion and sharing ideas in Manchester next week. #ISSDP2025 #drugs #drugpolicy
The #ISSDP2025 Conference in Manchester, UK is fast approaching, featuring:
• Keynote speeches from 1) Dr. Kojo Koram, leading expert in drug laws, race & inequalities; 2) Mat Southwell, first generation of harm reduction workers;
• #HumanRights & #DrugPolicy Panel from 🇨🇭🇮🇪🇵🇭🇬🇧
• Keynote speeches from 1) Dr. Kojo Koram, leading expert in drug laws, race & inequalities; 2) Mat Southwell, first generation of harm reduction workers;
• #HumanRights & #DrugPolicy Panel from 🇨🇭🇮🇪🇵🇭🇬🇧
June 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Finished writing my presentation, titled 'Drugs and the Anthropocene'! Looking forward to discussion and sharing ideas in Manchester next week. #ISSDP2025 #drugs #drugpolicy
Nice obituary for Bert Brooker, who played an important but largely unsung role in keeping heroin prescribing in Britain alive: doi.org/10.1136/bmj....
Bert Brooker: psychiatrist and polar adventurer who advocated the “British system” of prescribing heroin
In the early 1980s the UK felt the blast of a new wind blowing from the US, bringing with it calls for prohibition in response to president Ronald Reagan’s war on drugs.
Opposition was brewing among ...
doi.org
June 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Nice obituary for Bert Brooker, who played an important but largely unsung role in keeping heroin prescribing in Britain alive: doi.org/10.1136/bmj....