Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major public health issue that contributes to preventable illness and early deaths worldwide. In Thailand, rates of alcohol-related disease are high, yet limited research has explored how AUD and its treatment affect long-term health outcomes across different population groups. This project will bring together researchers from Canada and Thailand, including experts at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Thai Health, to accomplish the following objectives: Objective 1: Assess the feasibility of using national Thai health databases to examine the relationship between alcohol use, AUD, AUD treatment, and long-term health outcomes. This includes identifying the strengths and limitations of available data and outlining opportunities to strengthen Thailand's population health research infrastructure. Objective 2: Establish and meet with a network of key stakeholders to discuss and identify priority areas for future public health interventions and policy responses in Thailand, drawing on insights from the databases evaluated in Objective 1. Objective 3: Develop a strategic research agenda and a grant proposal focused on generating evidence to improve health outcomes among populations affected by alcohol use and AUD in Thailand. As part of this process, we will host a stakeholder workshop in Thailand and co-develop knowledge translation materials, such as policy briefs and infographics, to ensure findings are accessible and relevant to diverse audiences. By focusing on the root causes of health inequities and building equitable research partnerships, this project aligns with CIHR's goal of "moving upstream" to address structural determinants of health. It will also lay the groundwork for a larger study aimed at reducing alcohol-related harms and improving access to care in Thailand.