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David Best

David Best is Professor of Criminology at the University of Derby.
He has an under-graduate degree in psychology with philosophy, a Masters degree in criminology and a PhD in the psychology of addictions. He has authored or co-edited seven books on addiction recovery, and desistance from offending.
He has also written more than 200 peer-reviewed journal publications and around 70 book chapters and technical reports.
Previous employers include the Institute of Psychiatry (Kings College London), Strathclyde University, Birmingham University, Monash University, Sheffield Hallam University, the National Treatment Agency and the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit.
His current research activities are around:
- recovery pathways (Scotland, England, Belgium, Netherlands)
- recovery capital and its measurement (US, UK, New Zealand)
- social identity theory and its implications for recovery (Australia, UK)
- recovery and desistance (UK)
Drug courts (New Zealand):
- addiction treatment effectiveness particularly in prison settings (UK)
- prison and community connections (UK)
- family experiences of addiction and recovery (US, UK)

Title: Putting ‘Justice’ in Recovery Capital: Yarning about Hopes and Futures with Young People in Detention
Author(s): Hamilton, S., Maslen, S., Best, D., Freeman, J., O’Donnell, M., Reibel, T., Mutch, R., Watkins, R
Date of publications: 2020
Publication type: Journal article
Author(s): Hamilton, S., Maslen, S., Best, D., Freeman, J., O’Donnell, M., Reibel, T., Mutch, R., Watkins, R
Date of publications: 2020
Publication type: Journal article

Title: Does the effectiveness of mutual aid depend on compatibility with treatment philosophies offered at residential rehabilitation services?
Author(s): D. Best, V. Manning, S. Allsop, D. I. Lubman
Date of publications: 2020
Publication type: Journal article
Author(s): D. Best, V. Manning, S. Allsop, D. I. Lubman
Date of publications: 2020
Publication type: Journal article

Title: Social group membership before treatment for substance dependence predicts early identification and engagement with treatment communities
Author(s): Haslam, C., Best, D., Dingle, G., Staiger, G., Savic, M., Bathish, R., Mackenzie, J., Beckwith, M., Kelly, A., Lubman, D.
Date of publications: 2019
Publication type: Journal article
Author(s): Haslam, C., Best, D., Dingle, G., Staiger, G., Savic, M., Bathish, R., Mackenzie, J., Beckwith, M., Kelly, A., Lubman, D.
Date of publications: 2019
Publication type: Journal article

Title: Strengths-Based Approaches to Crime and Substance Use From Drugs and Crime to Desistance and Recovery
Author(s): David Best, Charlotte Colman
Date of publications: 2019
Publication type: Book
Author(s): David Best, Charlotte Colman
Date of publications: 2019
Publication type: Book

Title: Pathways to desistance and recovery: The role of the social contagion of hope
Author(s): David Best
Date of publications: 2019
Publication type: Book
Author(s): David Best
Date of publications: 2019
Publication type: Book