Adam Vaughan

As a health-criminologist, Dr. Adam Vaughan’s research portfolio focuses on the complex and evolving intersection between mental health, substance use, and the involvement of the criminal justice system.

Vaughan is currently developing a policy framework which focuses on the integration of policy and programing across BC to reduce health policy feedback loops and improve the overall response to the current opioid crisis. Understandably, health-policy development during the current crisis has relied heavily on front-end solutions to reduce overdose rates and related fatalities (e.g. naloxone distribution programs, harm reduction facilities). Unfortunately, the complexity of the opioid crisis often goes beyond the drug itself with ‘up-stream’ social, legal, and medical issues often being associated with substance use and can result in various feedback loops that may further exacerbate the front-line crisis.

A coordinated and collaborative framework for policy and programming that continues to support front-end challenges facing individual patients/families, health authorities, and emergency responders is imperative. Mid- and up-stream health policy (e.g. prescription policies, public health initiatives) needs to be integrated into larger framework as a way of developing a more sustainable method for responding to the current crisis and other future challenges.

For an up-to-date list of publications by Dr. Vaughan, please see ResearchGate.

Affiliation

University: Simon Fraser University
Faculty: Arts and Social Sciences
Department: Criminology
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Research locations: BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute & Women’s Hospital Research Institute