Vale Professor Nick Heather

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) joins colleagues and friends in mourning the passing of Professor Nick Heather.

Professor Heather joined NDARC as its inaugural director in October 1987. His impressive record in addictive behaviours with a focus on alcohol, brief interventions and controlled drinking, drove much of the Centre’s early research program.

Professor Heather challenged the conventional disease model of alcoholism and substance addiction and was instrumental in developing the brief interventions for excessive drinking, an approach used broadly by health professionals worldwide. He published more than 500 scientific articles, books, book chapters and other publications, with an emphasis on the treatment of alcohol problems.

In 2017 he won the Jellinek Award for his outstanding contribution to research.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the colleagues, friends and family of Professor Heather.