Edward Day BA, BM, BCh, DM, MRCPsych

UK government recovery champion

Dr Day is the UK government’s drug Recovery Champion. He is a clinician who has led the orientating of clinical practice towards recovery and has a research interest in recovery support services and mutual aid.

He is a Clinical Reader in Addiction Psychiatry at the Institute for Mental Health at the University of Birmingham, and a Consultant Psychiatrist with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust. Read more on this post.

He has been an expert advisor on addiction issues to Public Health England and the Department for Transport and is currently the President of the Society for the Study of Addiction.

Dr Day’s research has focused on the broad theme of effective treatment interventions for drug and alcohol dependence. This has involved a combination of projects utilising:

  • medication or psychosocial interventions
  • projects exploring methods of implementation
  • research into the organisational factors associated with effective outcomes

In 2008 he set up an MSc programme in the Treatment of Substance Misuse at the University of Birmingham and remains active in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Recovery champion

The role of Recovery Champion was announced by the government in May 2019, with the aim of bringing together expertise and best practice to help England become a centre of excellence in recovery from addiction.

This is a national leadership role focusing on key aspects of recovery from drug misuse. The Recovery Champion supports the government at national and local levels, bringing a range of stakeholders together with the aim of galvanising effective partnerships to secure effective recovery outcomes.

The Recovery Champion will work with partners in all parts of the UK to support sharing of ideas and good practice.

In partnership with Public Health England, the Recovery Champion will be focusing on:

  • promoting greater social integration
  • supporting sustained recovery
  • improving the experience of those seeking to achieve lives free from drugs

Read the Drug Recovery Champion annual report.