Nick Heather 1938–2025

Brian 'Nick' Heather was a true giant of the alcohol and addiction field, having published over 500 articles and over 20 books including the classic 'Radical Perspectives in Psychology' and the groundbreaking 'Controlled Drinking'. He was indefatigable in advancing understanding and treatment of alcohol problems well into his eighties, especially in challenging the disease model of addiction. A passionate, principled man within and outside of his work, he had a love of football and jazz, and is survived by his wife, Jean, four sons and six grandchildren.  

Nick Heather was born in London in 1938 and was the son of an off-licence manager. In his late teens he joined the Royal Air Force under one of the last phases of National Service, posted mostly in Germany. His early working life was transient before his clinical psychology training paved the way for his work in the addictions field. Working in Scotland in the 1970s, he was a founding member of the New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group in 1976. He was at the forefront of advancing alcohol treatment, controlled drinking research, and a pioneer of 'brief interventions', responsible for one of the world's first clinical trials in GP practices. Brief interventions are now a key component of efforts to reduce alcohol problems across the world. 

In 1987, he was appointed as the founding Director of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and played a key role in establishing it as a world-leading centre. He returned to England in 1994, moving to Newcastle where he spent the rest of his career, and despite 'retirement' in 2003, his significant contributions continued unabated. He was the founding President of the International Network for Brief Interventions on Alcohol and helped to establish the Addiction Theory Network. In 2017, he was awarded the Jellinek memorial prize for outstanding contributions to the alcohol field. His most recent work included leadership of an extensive volume titled Evaluating the Brain Disease Model of Addiction (2022).

Nick was uncompromising in his commitment to good scientific practice, even where it necessitated challenging the status quo or handling uncomfortable findings. He had an extensive, broad-ranging knowledge, including of philosophy of science, a direct and honest style, and the capacity to be cautious and to admit not knowing the answer when called for. These traits shine through in a 2007 interview in which he was asked how he'd like to be remembered: 'as somebody who has made a contribution to the understanding and treatment of addictions in general and alcohol problems in particular – simple as that'. 

Nick's scientific legacy goes beyond his direct scientific achievements and even the many networks he established, because he was an incredibly generous mentor and friend to so many who came after him. One colleague reflected that he was "both kind and genuinely interested in the views of other people - even while making sure he kept you on your toes". In the words of his wife Jean, he was a 'real character' and will be sorely missed by all his family, friends and colleagues.