Addiction medicine
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder associated with changes to the brain’s reward system. Substance addictions (nicotine, alcohol, other drugs) and behavioural addictions (e.g. gambling, gaming, shopping) are recognised. Addiction is characterised by compulsion, continues use despite negative personal and social impacts, withdrawal, tolerance, and repeated attempts to control or stop use. The personal and social costs of addiction are substantial, with harms to individuals, families, communities and governments.
Addiction medicine research is a cross cutting speciality that involves the acquisition of skills to undertake biological (e.g. neurocognitive and other domains of behavioural and imaging related neuroscience), clinical (e.g. cardiovascular, infections, respiratory pathologies and other multiple morbidities), behavioural (e.g. fatal and non-fatal overdose, injecting, co-dependencies, criminal activities) social (e.g. homelessness) and policy (e.g. global health) related activities.
A programme of teaching, research, policy development, and international innovation collaboration activities is organised by the Baldacchino Lab for Addiction Medicine.
Principal Investigators
Projects of Interest
Digital Innovation in Addiction Services (DigitAS St Andrews) is transforming how addiction healthcare is delivered by generating real-world evidence to guide the design, adoption, and equitable scale-up of digital interventions.
An exploration of factors associated with, and outcomes from, harmful alcohol use in Scotland. Work packages include a systematic review, analysis of large-scale linked electronic health records, and interviews with affected individuals.
Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship, Action & Systems Hub for Addiction Medicine (IDEAS St Andrews) is a multi-disciplinary innovation hub that draws on expertise and resources across the University of St Andrews and connects with partners from the NHS, local government, academia, industry, funding and philanthropy across the UK and globally to drive and research innovation in addiction medicine.
Chronic opioid exposure (COE) is increasingly recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and adverse events. This study aims to detect and characterise the association between COE and CVD in the context of multimorbidity and modifiable risk factors.