The Addictions Concentration provides an interdisciplinary foundation to understand substance use, misuse, and addiction and to address the social and health-related costs of addiction. This concentration is designed to prepare MPH students for careers in addiction prevention, program evaluation, and research.
Master of Public Health
Addictions Concentration
Harm reduction
Brown is at the forefront of the future of public health, with researchers joining local partners to combine evidence, insight, and a commitment to impact to bring harm reduction tools to Rhode Island communities.
Program Snapshot
Competencies
MPH candidates in this concentration will develop core competencies prior to graduation. Required skills and topics include:
- Explain how the misuse of substances impacts population health.
- Compare how different biopsychosocial models explain why individuals develop addiction.
- Analyze how social determinants affect vulnerability to addiction using the socioecological model.
- Appraise approaches to prevent harms from substance use.
- Synthesize evidence for the effectiveness of substance use disorder treatments.
- Evaluate the impacts of substance use-related policies on population health.
- Produce an addictions science research product that demonstrates mastery of scholarly writing.
Courses
Foundational Courses
Students must complete both of the following courses:
- PHP1550, Substance Use and Vulnerability to Addiction (Fall)
- PHP1551, Substance Use Prevention, Treatment & Policy Spring)
Perspectives on Addiction
Students choose one of the following courses:
- PHP1540, Alcohol Use and Misuse (every other Fall)
- PHP1610, Tobacco, Disease and the Industry: cigs, e-cigs and more (Spring)
- PHP1890, The Craving Mind (Fall)
Methods for Addictions Research
Students following the qualitative analytic sequence (PHP2506/PHP2060/PHP2061) must take the following methods for addiction course: PHP2061, Qualitative Analysis, and Public Health Research
Students following the quantitative analytic sequence (PHP2507/PHP2508 or PHP2510/PHP2511) must select two of the following methods for addictions courses (students following the qualitative analytic sequence choose 1 of the following):
- PHP1810, Community- Engaged Research in Public Health
- PHP2015, Foundations of Spatial Analysis in Public Health
- PHP2030, Clinical Trials Methods
- PHP2040, Survey Research Methods
- PHP2060, Qualitative Methods (This counts as a core course for students following the qualitative analytic sequence, so it can't be counted as the second Addictions Methods Course)
- PHP2300, Behavioral Research Methods
- PHP2340, Behavioral and Social Science Theory for Health Promotion
- PHP2360, Developing + Testing Theory-Driven, Evidence-Based Psychosocial and Behavioral Health Interventions
Thesis
Students in the Addictions Concentration must complete their thesis focused on an Addictions topic with an advisor approved by the Addictions Concentration Lead. See below for potential thesis advisors and a list of Centers that support addictions research.
Faculty
Addictions concentration lead
-
Jasjit Ahluwalia
Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Professor of Medicine
School of Public Health Faculty with an Addictions Focus
(confirmed interest in serving as thesis advisors)