iPATH
iNTEGRATED PATHWAY from ADDICTION to HEALTH
Addiction is a mental illness that knows no socio-economic, geographic, cultural, gender, or age boundaries.
Morbidity and mortality associated with addiction are a public health crisis in Canada, with opioid use deaths increasing at alarming rates. Alcohol and other drug problems also continue to affect large numbers of individuals and families.
Addiction also comes with enormous societal costs, placing a financial burden on public health care and social services. Moreover, would-be participants in Canada’s economy are sitting on the sidelines, burdened by addiction’s toll.
The University of Calgary is poised to make a difference. Our transformational solution is iPATH (integrated pathway from addiction to health (iPATH). With your help, we can lead ground-breaking change – starting in Calgary and rippling into our provincial and national communities.
Pillar 1: Translating a Neurobiological Understanding Into Prevention And Treatment
Lead: Dr Stephanie Borgland
The neurobiology of addiction: Understanding the root causes of how neural circuits are changed with addiction, and how these root causes might be prevented or treated.
Pillar 2: The Road To Recovery: Creating Calgary Dynamic Addiction Pathways System
Lead: Dr David Hodgins
Recovery and treatment strategies, like those developed in Pillar 1, must be evaluated and implemented within the community where addiction takes place. The complexity of individuals and services mean that communities, however, struggle to do this effectively. Our solution is to use digital technologies to meet this gap and improve outcomes is through creating the Calgary Dynamic Pathways System.
Pillar 3: Community-focused research in unique populations
Lead: Dr Valerie Taylor
Using digital technologies and other interventions adapted to address the pathway to health for unique populations including indigenous, LBGT2S+, racialized groups, rural populations, and emerging adult populations.
For more information, please contact:
Janelle Wakaruk, Executive Director of Development
University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine
t: 403.220.6161 ׀ e: jwakaruk@ucalgary.ca
ucalgary.ca/energized-by-you
Changing Lives, Together
The University of Calgary’s iPATH strategy is a bold, innovative solution to addiction and we are up to the challenge. We are poised to make a world-changing difference through our research strengths, strong partnerships and laser-sharp vision – one that will make a life-improving difference for countless individuals and families touched by addiction. Join us and, together, we can create the future of health.