Holly Wood-Blake shares some practical first steps for addiction researchers to communicate evidence, contribute expertise, and build relationships.
Addiction science can play an important role in shaping policy. But for early career researchers, the route from producing evidence to influencing a decision can feel difficult to navigate. It is not always clear who to approach, when to engage, or what policymakers need from researchers.
You don’t need to be a senior academic or have an established public profile to begin contributing. Policy influence is often built gradually: by understanding the policy environment, learning to communicate evidence clearly, and developing relationships with people working on relevant issues.
Understand how policy is made
‘Policymakers’ are not one single audience. In the addiction field, the term might refer to any combination of civil servants in public health or criminal justice, ministers, MPs, local government commissioners, and NHS bodies.
Each group has its own process and pressures. Evidence is just one factor in their decision-making, sitting alongside political priorities, public opinion, budgets, practical constraints, and their own beliefs and experiences. Recognising this does not mean compromising the evidence – it means understanding the context in which it will be considered.
A good start is following developments beyond the academic literature. Read government strategies, parliamentary committee reports, and consultations. Notice which questions are receiving attention, who is contributing, and where evidence appears to be missing or being misinterpreted.
Make your own research useful and accessible
Policymakers rarely have time to read a full journal article. Being able to explain your research clearly – without jargon while retaining nuance – is therefore a valuable skill.
Consider how you would summarise your work in a few sentences: What problem does it help us understand? What did you find? What might the findings mean for policy or treatment? What does the research not tell us?
Useful formats might include a short briefing, a blog, or a presentation. Wherever possible, be specific about the implications of your findings. ‘More research is needed’ may be true, but that alone isn’t very helpful for policymakers looking to solve a problem. Consider whether your evidence could inform an aspect of service provision, help identify overlooked needs, or help policymakers avoid an unintended consequence.
If you would be happy for policymakers to contact you about your research, you can make that clear on your publications or public profiles.
Look for practical opportunities to contribute
You don’t necessarily need to wait until the end of a project to get involved. You could respond to a consultation, submit evidence to a parliamentary inquiry, join a relevant network, or contribute to a policy roundtable discussion.
Your university’s research impact team is a good place to ask about making connections with policymakers. It’s also worth following charities and organisations in the sector on social media, where they will often promote networking events and influencing opportunities.
Don’t overlook opportunities to contribute at a local level. Local authorities, public health teams, and service commissioners make important decisions about treatment and prevention, and they may be more accessible than national policymakers.
When approaching someone in policy directly, keep the message focused. Explain why your work is relevant to an issue they are already considering, such as a new strategy or funding decision.
Build relationships
Policy influence is very rarely the result of a single report or meeting. It usually comes from being a trusted source of relevant and credible information.
That means listening to policymakers talking about their work as well as sharing your own. Ask what decisions are coming up, and where the uncertainties lie. Staying in touch when you have something genuinely useful to offer can be more effective than making contact only to promote a publication.
It is also worth thinking broadly about different types of impact. Your research may not lead directly to a national policy change, but it could shape how an issue is discussed, support a charity’s influencing work, or change the questions policymakers ask.
Explore policy as a career
Researchers move into policy roles across government, public health bodies, charities, think tanks, funders, and membership organisations. Job titles include policy adviser, research and policy officer, public affairs officer, and impact manager.
Research skills such as analysing complex information, assessing evidence, writing clearly, and managing projects are highly transferable. Experience of collaboration, facilitation, and communicating with non-academic audiences can strengthen your position further.
You don’t need to choose between being an addiction researcher and having policy influence. Whether you want to build engagement into an academic career or move into a dedicated policy role, the same starting point applies: get to know the audience, make the evidence useful, and start building relationships around the issues that matter to you.
Five questions to help you think like a policy influencer
1. How would you explain your research to someone outside academia? In three or four sentences, explain your research in plain language. What are the key findings, and what might they mean for policy or treatment? Briefly mention one limitation – something your research cannot tell us.
2. Where does your work connect with current policy priorities? Identify some strategies, consultations, parliamentary inquiries, or local plans relevant to your topic. Which key question or decision could your research help inform?
3. Who could find your research useful? List two or three relevant organisations or teams, including at least one local contact. Consider charities, treatment services, public health teams, or commissioners. What connection can you see between their work and yours?
4. How easy is it for someone to understand your expertise and contact you? Review your LinkedIn or university profile. Does it explain your research interests in plain language? Is it clear how to get in touch? Identify one improvement you could make.
5. What can you do next? Choose one small action to take in the next month. Be specific: what will you do, by when, and what support might you need?
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