Public Health and Regulatory Policy Research

Section Heads

Contact

Dr. Jürgen Rehm
Dr. Edward Adlaf
Public Health and Regulatory Policy Research
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
33 Russell Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S1
jurgen_rehm@camh.net
edward_adlaf@camh.net

Research Objective

Addiction and mental health trends are monitored, and risk and protective factors are identified to provide the necessary knowledge to evaluate and assess policy impact to reduce the burden of disease in our society.

Summary of Activities

The Public Health and Regulatory Policy Research Unit is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of researchers, including epidemiologists, sociologists, psychologists, pharmacologists, and criminologists. Investigators also serve as experts to governmental, non-governmental, and international agencies such as the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Research scientists describe the extent of addiction and mental health indicators in the general population and monitor trends, including: providing and disseminating accurate and timely data regarding alcohol use, other drug use, and mental health indicators among general and special populations; and monitoring and identifying risk and protective factors for alcohol, other drug use, and mental health indicators.

The three main research areas of the unit are: Surveillance and Monitoring; Epidemiology, Economic Cost and International Studies; and Policy Research.

Surveillance and monitoring

Public policy evaluation often requires the blending of both historical and current information regarding addiction and mental health indicators and outcomes. The knowledge base provides health care professionals and government officials with the information they need to evaluate existing programs, policies, and objectives.

Major studies in this area include the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) and the CAMH Monitor. The OSDUHS is the longest ongoing school survey of adolescents in Canada. It monitors drug use among students in grades 7 to 12 in over 100 elementary and secondary schools. Over the years, the survey has evolved as a broader study of trends in health and well-being.

Findings from the OSDUHS have been widely used by health, education, and government officials when setting health priorities and facilitating preventative policies, programs, and services that address the needs of youth.

Visit Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey for more information.

The CAMH Monitor has been interviewing about 2,400 Ontario adults since 1977, by phone, about addictions and mental health issues. These surveys not only identify trends in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use but also solicit public opinion regarding drug issues and policies as well as stigma related to mental illness.

Visit CAMH Monitor for more information.

Unit staff is also involved in other population health surveys, including the Canadian Campus Survey and the Canadian Addictions Survey.

Visit Other Population Health Surveys for more information.

Epidemiology, economic cost and international studies

Researchers in this area develop and employ epidemiological methods that can be used to assess the cost-effectiveness of various policies on the burden of disease associated with addiction and mental health. For example, a global study, under the umbrella of the World Health Organization, has estimated the mortality, disability, and burden of disease related to alcohol consumption and confirmed that alcohol continues to be a major risk factor far outweighing any benefits, especially in developing countries.

Policy research

Research in this area includes examining addiction and mental health policies at the federal , provincial, and community level, as well as the workplace (e.g., company substance abuse policies). For example, a study of Canadian alcohol policies between 1980 and 2000 revealed that policy decisions were not influenced by the evidence of the harms and costs associated with increased alcohol consumption. Instead of pursuing a public health and safety agenda, all levels of government were more concerned about revenue generation and other vested interests.