At a time when almost half of Americans’ lives have been affected by addiction, Saint Joseph’s University formed the Center for Addiction Recovery and Education (CARE) to address one of the nation’s most pressing issues and confront the stigma of substance use disorder through a strategic four-part mission: educate healthcare providers and the community, conduct interdisciplinary research on addiction issues, advocate for effective public policy, and activate community engagement.
Making an impact on addiction and recovery takes more than the efforts of any one group. CARE focuses on fostering meaningful dialogue and creating action by engaging a diverse but interrelated group of stakeholders.
STRATEGIC FOCUS
CARE's work promotes understanding of addiction and seeks to reduce its impact across all layers of society through a four-part mission:
EDUCATION
- Embedding addiction and recovery education in Saint Joseph’s curriculum
- Creating new academic offerings
- Providing training and educational services to professional associations and employers
RESEARCH
- Examining the root causes and impact of addiction and best practice models in recovery
- Developing intellectual property befitting an interdisciplinary thinktank
PUBLIC POLICY
- Influencing how addiction is treated and how it impacts the perception of addiction and recovery
- Promoting policies that reduce the impact of addiction on society, including model drug laws and national legislation
- Spearheading efforts to make addiction competency a workplace norm and requirement
ENGAGEMENT
- Supporting those impacted by addiction through all stages of the recovery journey
- Hosting events to bring awareness of the impact of addiction and hope for recovery
