Pubdate: Thu, 27 Nov 2003
Source: Simon Fraser News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003, Simon Fraser University, Media and Public Relations
Contact:  http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/sfnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1040
Author: Marianne Meadahl

ADDICTION CENTRE LAUNCHED

Criminologist Raymond Corrado (left) expects SFU will play a prominent role 
in a new $10 million research centre that will focus on addiction.

Housed at the University of Victoria, the centre for addictions research of 
B.C. involves a partnership of all four B.C. universities.

Funding is being provided by the B.C. Addictions Foundation, which was 
established at the recommendation of the B.C. addictions task force in 2001.

Corrado, an expert on youth crime, is SFU's representative on the centre 
team. He will spend the next few months canvassing SFU researchers in 
various schools and departments whose research is linked to addiction. 
"I'll be drawing our expertise from a wide range of areas including 
psychology, criminology, kinesiology and communication," says Corrado. 
"With such a wide range of ongoing and potential research, SFU will be 
well-represented in the centre's work."

The centre's mandate covers a range of addictions, everything from 
substance abuse to problem gambling. Led by University of Victoria 
psychologist Bonnie Leadbeater, it will provide the first coordinated 
effort into addiction research in B.C.

Addiction research has typically been conducted within separate 
disciplines, limiting the transfer of knowledge between researchers. 
Corrado says the centre will make it easier for those in their various 
fields to collaborate on population health research that targets the 
causes, prevention and treatment of addictions.

Expertise will include researchers with background in the biomedical causes 
of addictions, the social dimensions of addiction, particularly related to 
youth and aboriginal health, and health service delivery to remote populations.

The first year will see a special emphasis on the areas of fetal alcohol 
syndrome, addictions related to mental illness and the prevention of 
addiction among youth, an area with connections to Corrado's ongoing study 
of incarcerated juveniles, in particular, repeat offenders.

The centre's advisory board is made up of university, community and 
government partners. Research units are being established at each of the 
partner universities, including UBC, UNBC and SFU.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens