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Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs & Mental Health

Building the evidence base for what works

Our Impact

See all Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs & Mental Health Impacts

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  • 53M adults harmed by another's drinking, according to ARG research
  • 539 California cities & counties—every jurisdiction in the state—assessed on their local cannabis regulations
  • 200+ hospitals have adopted the CA Bridge model to provide Medication Assisted Treatment 24/7

Our Work

PHI is building the evidence base for what works to reduce the rates of substance use and mental health issues, with nationally recognized epidemiological research and an eye on inequities across populations. We also focus on substance use-related concerns such as physical injury, violence and mental health issues, and on improving interventions in primary care and treatment settings. PHI examines the role of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status in drinking and drug use. We evaluate treatment readiness and access. And we work on tobacco addiction and policy approaches to reduce its spread.

PHI Priority

Building Health Equity

Using an intersectional research analysis can identify health inequities that are otherwise lost or hidden in the data. A 2024 study from PHI's Alcohol Research Group found that completion rates for alcohol treatment are significantly lower for racially and ethnically minoritized women. When examining race and gender disparities separately, results were consistent with previous studies. But when using an intersectional approach, researchers uncovered a much broader range of disparities, particularly for minoritized women—pointing to the need for solutions that target the unique challenges and barriers to treatment faced by women of color, including limited treatment access, childcare, discrimination, job flexibility and lack of culturally tailored services.

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New Study: ED Buprenorphine Linked to Sustained Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Patients who get their first dose of buprenorphine in the Emergency Department (ED) are more likely to remain engaged in opioid use disorder treatment 30 days post-discharge, finds a new study from PHI's CA Bridge—reinforcing EDs as critical access points to highly effective, life-saving medication for addiction treatment.

read the study

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