Biography
Assistant Professor in Mental Health Nursing Peter Kelly obtained his PhD from University College Cork. Prior to this, he completed his MSc in Clinical and Public Health Aspects of Addiction at Kings College London. His undergraduate nursing qualifications were obtained at the University of West London and Waterford Institute of Technology. In addition to this, he holds a Diploma in Drug Counselling Theory and Intervention Skills from University College Dublin. His research interests include substance misuse, workforce development, implementation science and mental health. His PhD study explored the relationship between organisational readiness to change and; (i) innovation adoption (ii) service user engagement, in community opiate substitute prescribing services in Ireland. He is widely published in the field of addiction and mental health. Principal teaching scholarship interests include curriculum development for professional practice and inter-professional teaching and learning. He has led the re-design and accreditation of post graduate nursing programmes and is currently the course coordinator for the mental health nursing post graduate programme at the school. He has successfully supervised and examined a number of MSc students. He has held an external examiner role in the UK and currently holds one in Ireland. Since qualifying as a mental health nurse in 2001, Peter spent the majority of his clinical career working in substance misuse treatment services where he has held posts in both Ireland and the UK as a staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner and senior manager. In 2009, as a Royal College of Nursing Steward in the UK, Peter established a national network for addiction nurses and he chaired quarterly meetings between this group and the Department of Health professional Leadership Team (UK) for two years. Peter was a founding member and the first president of The Ireland Chapter of The International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) which was founded in 2016 as the first chapter outside of the US. In his role as chapter president he contributed to the Irish National Drugs Strategy (2017) as a member of the continuum of care focus group. Peter sat as a ministerial invite to The National Oversight Committee for The National Drugs Strategy at The Department of Health as a clinical expert in nursing and substance misuse from 2022-2025. In 2023, Peter was invited to present to the Citizens Assembly on Drugs and recommendations related to his presentation were subsequently voted in to the final report. He was called as a witness before the Parliamentary Committee on Drugs in October 2024.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Kelly P, Saab M, Hurley EF, Heffernan S, Goodwin J, Mulud ZA, O Malley M,O Mahony J,Curtin M, Groen G, Ivanova S, Jorns-Presentati A, Korhonen J, Kostadinov K, Lalova V,Lahti M, Petrova G, O Donovan A, Trauma informed interventions to reduce seclusion, restraint and restrictive practices amongst staff caring for children and adolescents with challenging behaviours: A Systematic Review, Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 2023
Peter Kelly, Catherine Comiskey, Barry Mc Brien, Adam Winstock, Philip James, Nurse Prescribing of Opioid Agonist Treatment in Ireland: Evidence, Governance, and the Politics of Drug Policy Decision-Making, International Journal of Drug Policy, 149, 2026
Banka-Cullen, S.P., Comiskey, C., Kelly, P., Zeni, M.B., Gutierrez, A., & Menon, U., Nurse prescribing practices across the globe for Medication-Assisted Treatment of the Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD): A Scoping Review, Harm Reduction Journal, 20, (1), 2023, p1 - 10
Healy R., Goodwin J., Kelly, P.,, `As for dignity and respect.....me bollix': A human rights-based exploration of service user narratives in Irish methadone maintenance treatment, International Journal of Drug Policy, 110, 2022
Goodwin J., Kilty C., Kelly P., O Donovan A., White S., O Malley M.,, Undergraduate student nurses' views of online learning, Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 2022
Goodwin J., White S, O'Malley M, Hurley E, O Donovan A., Kelly P., 'It's good to have the knowledge and the confidence': Mental health student nurses' views of a medication workshop, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2022
Kelly P, Hegarty J., Dyer KR., O Donovan A, An exploration of organizational characteristics and training adoption in Irish community drug treatment services, Journal of Addiction Nursing, 2022
Kelly P., Hegarty J., Dyer KR., O Donovan A, 'They don't actually join the dots': An exploration of organizational change in Irish opiate community treatment services, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 2021
Clancy C., Kelly P., Loth C.,, Walls Are Not the Answer! Addiction Nurses Show the Way in Cross-National Collaboration, Journal of Addiction Nursing, 2019
Clancy C., Kelly P., Loth C.,, State of the Art in European Addictions Nursing Perspectives From the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands, Journal of Addiction Nursing, 2019
Kelly P, Hegarty J., Dyer KR., O Donovan A, The relationship between staff perceptions of organizational readiness to change and client outcomes in substance misuse treatment programmes: A systematic review, Journal of Substance Misuse, 2018
Foley M., Kelly P., Deluca, P., Kimergard, A.,, Advertising of Over-the-Counter Codeine-Containing Medicines in the EU: Differences in the Regulation of Advertising Between Member States, Pharmaceutical Medicine , 2018
Kelly P, Hegarty J, Barry J, Dyer KR, Horgan A., A systematic review of the relationship between staff perceptions of organizational readiness to change and the process of innovation adoption in substance misuse treatment programs., Journal of substance abuse treatment, 80, 2017, p6-25
Goodwin J., Behan L., Kelly P., Mc Carthy K., Horgan A.,, Help-seeking behaviors and mental well-being of first year undergraduate university students, Psychiatry Research, 2016
John Goodwin and Sheila White and Maria O'Malley and Emma Hurley and Aine O'Donovan and Peter Kelly, `It's good to have the knowledge and the confidence": Mental health student nurses' views of a medication workshop, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2022
Kelly Peter and J. Hegarty and R. Dyer Kyle and A. O Donovan, `They don't actually join the dots': An exploration of organizational change in Irish opiate community treatment services, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 2021, p108557
Aine Horgan, Peter Kelly, John Goodwin, Laura Behan, Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation among Irish Undergraduate College Students, Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 39, (7), 2018, p575--584
Sadie Lavelle Cafferkey, Peter Kelly, Catherine Comiskey, `Selling their souls? Nurses' understanding of addiction and recovery in acute hospital settings, British Journal of Nursing, 2024, phttps://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.
Peter Kelly, Josephine Hegarty, Kyle Dyer, Aine O Donovan, Organizational attributes and client engagement in community opiate substitute prescribing services, Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 2022, p1--14
Kelly, P, Nurse prescribing practices across the globe for medication-assisted treatment of the opioid use disorder, Harm Reduction Journal, Trinity Helath and Education International Reesearch Conference 2024, School of Nursing and Midwifery, TCD, 6th March 2024, 20, (1), Harm Reduction Journal, 2023
Kelly P, Hegarty J, Dyer KR, Donovan AO, An Exploration of Organizational Characteristics and Training Adoption in Irish Community Drug Treatment Services., Journal of addictions nursing, 2022
Kelly P., Searby A., Goodwin J., An exploration of organizational climate in community-based opiate prescribing services; a mixed methods study, Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 162, (209362), 2024, p1 - 13
Donagh O'Brien; John Richard Kelly; Peter Kelly, A Systematic Review of Mental Health Nurses' Perceptions of Their Professional Identity, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 34, (5), 2025, p1 - 19
Healy R., Goodwin J, Kelly P., `As for dignity and respect me bollix': A human rights- based exploration of service user narratives in Irish methadone maintenance treatment, Society for the Study of Addiction, Annual Conference, United Kingdom, 14th-15th Nov 2024, 2024
Annunziata K, James P, Lavelle Cafferkey S, Zeni MB, Menon U., Comiskey C, Kelly P, When we are allowed to do good things, we do great things; An Exploration of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing in Substance Use Treatment, Journal of Addictions Nursing, 2026
Walsh, O., Eustace-Cook, J., Comiskey, C., Kelly, P. and Hollywood, E., Strength in the Margins A Narrative Review of Culturally Responsive and Strengths-Based Care for Pregnant Women Who Use Substances, International Journal of Addiction Nursing, 2026
Fitzgerald, A., James, P., Hollywood, E., Comiskey, C., Reilly, R., Annunziata, K and Kelly, P., A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Barriers and Facilitators for the Implementation of School-based Substance Misuse Prevention Programmes, Global Implementation Research and Applications, 2026
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Comiskey C., Kelly P., Hennessy A., Hyland M., O Neill D.,Prakashani Banka-Cullen S., Lavelle Cafferkey S.,, A Consulation to inform the delivery of new integrated alcohol services., November 2023, 2023
Kelly P, O Hara A., O Neill D.,, Peer Engagement Toolkit and Guidelines, Trinity Colle Dublin, UISCE, December, 2024
Kelly P., O Neil D., The Development of a Toolkit & Guidelines to Support Peer Engagement, Trinty College Dublin- UISCE, December, 2024
Kelly, P, Drug Policy in Ireland: A Nursing Perspective on Design, Oversight, Implementation and Future Directions, Addiction Counsellors Ireland AGM, Ireland, Saturday, 21st June,, 2025
Pratschke J, Glanville J and Kelly P, Integrative review on place-based and other geographically defined responses to drug-related threats in communities. HRB Drug and Alcohol Evidence Review 9., HRB drug and alcohol evidence reviews, Health Research Board, 2024
Research Expertise
Projects
- Title
- Developement of a toolkit and guidelines to support peer engagement
- Summary
- Explore the importance of peer engagement in harm reduction and advocating for the active involvement of marginalized community members in decision-making processes. The findings from a report inform the development of toolkit and guidelines which was co-produced by the peer network and the academic researchers in a partnership.
- Funding Agency
- UISCE
- Date From
- July 2024
- Date To
- February 2025
- Title
- An Evaluation of the Education, Prevention, and Intervention Team (EPIT) at the Clondalkin Prevention Lab
- Summary
- Evaluation of a schools based prevention programme for substance misuse
- Funding Agency
- Clondalkin Drugs Task Force
- Date From
- 1st September 2025
- Date To
- 1st September 2028
- Title
- Determining the Utility of Sports in Preventing Youth engaging in Drug or Alcohol Use in the North Inner City
- Funding Agency
- North Inner City Drugs Task Force
- Date From
- 1st September 2025
- Date To
- 31st May 2026
- Title
- SUMIT (Substance Use & Mental Health Interventions using Digital Technology)
- Summary
- Co-occurring substance use and mental health issues (SUMHI) are a shared public health challenge. Associated stigma and access difficulties prevent people seeking help. Driven by the need to transform healthcare systems, SUMIT will provide an integrated cross-border programme of intervention research, training, and skills development,informing digitally enabled service transformation for people with SUMHI. Digital solutions are globally recognised as enabling transformation but cannot be introduced effectively without engaging and upskilling the workforce and service users
- Funding Agency
- Special EU Progammes Body
- Date From
- Sept 2025
- Date To
- Sept 2028
- Title
- Prevention of substance use disorders for the Irish population: Evaluation of a digital behaviour change service to reduce harms from alcohol and drug use
- Summary
- The Alcohol Programme in the HSE wish to establish a Collaborative Research Agreement with an academic institute to conduct an evaluation of a digital behaviour change service to reduce the harms from alcohol and drug use. This is a project funded under Sláintecare Integration Innovation Fund Round 4, Strategic Priority 18 - A Digitally Enabled Prevention Programme for Young People and Socially Excluded groups. The project will implement an innovative, online personalised self-help tool with a sample of the Irish population and specific target groups to support them in reducing their alcohol and/or drug use. The tool aims to support individuals to reduce their alcohol and/or drug use through evidence-based behavioural change techniques, interactive exercises and support
- Funding Agency
- HSE
Recognition
Representations
I provide leadership as a Board Member and Trustee of the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) Ireland Chapter, where I successfully supported the bid for Trinity College Dublin to host the IntNSA International Conference in 2027, the first time this event will be held in Europe. My academic standing is further evidenced by my recent invitation to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Addictions Nursing (2026) and my role as a peer reviewer for top-tier outlets such as the International Journal of Drug Policy. Locally, I maintain strong clinical and community links through advisory work with UISCE, ensuring my research translates into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and human rights for marginalised populations.
Acted as an external expert advisor for the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme
Presented as a witness to the Joint Committee on Drugs at The Oireachtas.
Memberships
Member of The International Nurses Society on Addictions
Registered Mental Health Nurse with The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland