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Master of Public Health

Addictions Concentration

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Addictions Concentration

A foundation to understand substance use, misuse, and addiction and to address the social and health-related costs of addiction

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.

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.

Read the article

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.

Addictions Sample Schedules (PDF)

Faculty

Addictions concentration lead

  • Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

    Jasjit Ahluwalia

    Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Professor of Medicine
    jasjit_ahluwalia@brown.edu
    Research Profile

School of Public Health Faculty with an Addictions Focus

(confirmed interest in serving as thesis advisors)

  • Jasjit Ahluwalia

    jasjit_ahluwalia@brown.edu
  • Sara Becker

    sara_becker@brown.edu
  • Michael Bernstein

    michael_bernstein@brown.edu
  • Kate Carey

    Kate_Carey@brown.edu
  • Rachel Cassidy

    Rachel_Cassidy@brown.edu
  • Patricia Cioe

    Patricia_Cioe@brown.edu
  • Rachel Gunn

    rachel_gunn@brown.edu
  • Carolina Haass-Koffler

    Carolina_Haass-Koffler@brown.edu
  • Sarah Helseth

    sarah_helseth@brown.edu
  • Kristina Jackson

    Kristina_Jackson@brown.edu
  • Chris Kahler

    Christopher_Kahler@brown.edu
  • Molly Magill

    Molly_Magill@brown.edu
  • Brandon Marshall

    Brandon_Marshall@brown.edu
  • Rosemarie Martin

    Rosemarie_Martin@brown.edu
  • Matthew Meisel

    matthew_meisel@brown.edu
  • Jennifer Merrill

    Jennifer_Merrill@brown.edu
  • Lauren Micalizzi

    lauren_micalizzi@brown.edu
  • Robert Miranda

    Robert_Miranda_Jr@brown.edu
  • Peter Monti

    Peter_Monti@brown.edu
  • Cara Murphy

    Cara_Murphy@brown.edu
  • Kelli Scott

    kelli_scott@brown.edu
  • Robert Swift

    Robert_Swift_MD@brown.edu
  • Jennifer Tidey

    Jennifer_Tidey@brown.edu
  • Tara White

    Tara_White@brown.edu
  • Tyler Wray

    Tyler_Wray@brown.edu

Research Centers and Institutes with Addictions Research Activities

Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity

Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine

Center for Epidemiologic Research

International Health Institute

Brown University
Providence RI 02912 401-863-1000

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Addictions Concentration