Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Matters (CRISM)
CRISM Objectives
Identify and/or develop the most appropriate clinical and community-based interventions for substance use disorders
Provide evidence to support the enhancement of prevention and treatment services regarding substance use to decision-makers and service providers
Support improvement in the quality of care and quality of life for Canadians living with substance use
The Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Matters (CRISM) is a national research network – consisting of four regional ‘Nodes’ across Canada made of academic investigators, community-based providers, systems/policy representatives and service users - focusing on substance matters interventions funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and established in 2015. CRISM focuses on research on prevention and treatment interventions for substance matters (primarily illicit drugs and non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs), and knowledge translation of related research and evidence. CRISM is furthermore designed to facilitate communication and collaboration among substance matters researchers, service providers and policy-makers Canada-wide.Substance use disorders are pressing and complex health issues. In order to be effective, interventions require evidence-based approaches, an understanding of the biological, psychosocial, and social factors, and acknowledgment of the important impact of cultural, societal, and policy contexts. Many intervention modalities exist and are known to have excellent results, yet they have not been widely implemented.
To address these translation and implementation gaps, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), through its Institute for Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Addiction (INMHA), developed the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM). CRISM was designed to facilitate communication and collaboration across the pillars of addiction service providers, researchers, policymakers, patients, and people who use substances. CRISM is a network that consists of five regional teams (referred to as Nodes), located in BC, the Prairies, Ontario, Québec and the Atlantic regions.
CRISM BRITISH COLUMBIA | CRISM PRARIES | CRISM QUEBEC | CRISM ATLANTIC