Grant: CIHR Fellowship

The study of drug use and drug treatment careers aims to identify and understand key factors influencing the development of, and transitions in, the course of drug dependence and its treatment over an individual's lifetime. An understanding of how individuals progress through drug use and drug treatment over time is required for effective, targeted treatment. The proposed research will draw upon Health administrative data on drug treatment utilization from British Columbia, Canada and California, USA as well as long-term follow up studies of drug users to uncover patterns of treatment and use as they unfold over a drug users' lifetime. Illicit drug use is predictive of elevated risks of infectious disease transmission and mortality, while prolonged drug treatment decreases these risks and improves health and social outcomes. A deeper understanding of the patterns of drug use, treatment and associated health resource utilization will enhance our ability to plan and develop patient-centered treatment for the highest-risk illicit drug users. Comparisons between British Columbia and California drug treatment provision will further develop the case for policies that increase access to effective drug treatment internationally.