Russell Newcombe

Russell D. Newcombe (1957 – 4 April 2024) was a British substance use researcher. His 1987 article "High Time for Harm Reduction" in Druglink, the magazine of the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence, helped popularize the concept of harm reduction.^[1]

Russell Newcombe
Born	1957 (1957) Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
Died	4 April 2024 (aged 66)
Occupation(s)	Researcher, harm reduction advocate

Early life and education

Russell D. Newcombe was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England in 1957.^[2][3] In 1979, Newcombe graduated from the University of Sussex, where he studied social psychology. He earned a doctorate in social psychology from the University of Kent in 1983.^[4]

Career

1983-2010: Academic and nonprofit career

After completing his doctoral studies, Newcombe took a role at the University of London as a research assistant on a project concerning secondary school policies towards smoking. From 1985 to 1987, he served as a research associate on the Wirral Misuse of Drugs Research Project team at the University of Liverpool. He next took research positions at the South Sefton District Health Authority and the Mersey Region Health Authority. Between 1991 and 1993, he managed the Alcohol, Drugs & Crime Research Project at The University of Manchester.^[4]

In 1998, Newcombe joined the Liverpool John Moores University faculty as an associate professor. He left the university in 2005 for a position at Manchester Lifeline.^[4]

2010-2024: 3D Research and independent endeavors

Newcombe founded the 3D Research Bureau in the late 1980s, with a focus on harm reduction among MDMA users in Liverpool's rave scene.^[5] In 2010, Newcombe relaunched the agency as 3D Research to pursue freelance research and advocacy.^[6]

Illness and death

Newcombe's wife, Cher Newcombe-White, announced in March 2024 that Russell had been hospitalised for terminal cancer resulting from long-term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.^[7] On 4 April 2024, Newcombe's death from lung cancer was announced on Twitter by Steve Rolles of the Transform Drug Policy Association. He was 66.^[8][3]

Key publications

• Newcombe, Russell (1987). "High time for harm reduction" (PDF). Druglink. January/February: 10–11. Retrieved 11 April 2024.

References

1. Shapiro, Harry (21 November 2017). "Guerrilla public health". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
2. "Russell D. Newcombe". FreeBMD. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
3. Jay, Mike (28 April 2024). "Russell Newcombe obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
4. n.a. "Russell Newcombe". ResearchGate. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
5. n.a. "This month's episode features a pioneer in drug harm reduction and a thriving UK label". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
6. n.a. "Home". 3D Research. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
7. @chereverywhere. "Hi. As some of you already know, my dearest husband, Dr Russell Newcombe, is in hospital with terminal cancer related to his long-term COPD. I am trying to raise money for his care and funeral through my jewellery shop. Any support is greatly appreciated". Twitter. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
8. @SteveTransform. "Desperately sad news that Russell Newcombe has died. Educator, campaigner, harm reduction trailblazer, psychonaut, and an endlessly fascinating, generous and lovely human - He will be terribly missed. RIP 😔 1/". Twitter. Retrieved 4 April 2024.^{[self-published]}

Further reading

• Goldstein, Lara (5 April 2024). "Russell Newcombe Dies - Legacy Of UK's Longtime Harm Reduction Advocate, Committed Drug Researcher". Benzinga. Retrieved 11 April 2024.