In May 2006, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) was invited by the Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia (CARBC) to become a CARBC Collaborating Centre. This invitation recognizes the commonality of interests between the two centres and formalizes their existing and active collaboration.
CCSA is committed to growing and strengthening partnerships in the substance abuse and addictions field. CCSA has pledged to work with CARBC to share information and resources about research and events, to identify opportunities and funding for joint projects, to promote professional development among staff by encouraging staff exchanges and visits, and to increase the profile of both organizations through cross-marketing and joint publication of collaborative work.
Joint CCSA-CARBC initiatives
- CCSA and CARBC are collaborating, along with a number of other partners, on the development of a national alcohol strategy for Canada. A final report outlining the strategy and recommendations is scheduled for release in fall 2006.
- CCSA and CARBC will co-author a forthcoming paper based on data from the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS), released in 2005, and CARBC's research on Canadian drinking patterns. As a CAS partner, CARBC helped fund the project.
- CARBC's Communication and Resource Unit is collaborating at the provincial level with CCSA on the Health, Education and Enforcement in Partnership Program (HEP), a national initiative to foster multi-sectoral collaboration on drug policy and prevention.
Collaborating Centre status has been offered on a three-year term and is renewable by mutual consent.