Substance Use, Mental Health & Justice Lab
Advancing Research at the Intersection of Substance Use, Mental Health, and Justice
We create knowledge at the intersection of substance use, mental health, and justice through research, innovation, and collaboration. Our research is focussed on promoting equity, improving outcomes for vulnerable populations, and influencing policy and practice to improve mental health and substance use treatment.
Features of our recent work
Our current research
Our projects focus on addressing critical issues and creating impactful solutions. We contribute by producing high-quality forms of dissemination that advance knowledge and improvs mental health and substance use treatment.
Substance Use
Impacts of Access to Services for Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) in Older Adults
This research examines geographic disparities in diagnosis, unmet treatment needs, access to care, and impacts on treatment utilization among older adults, to inform healthcare policy improvements.
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Housing, Outreach, Partnership & Hope (HOPE) Program
In this project, we examine the impact of a housing-first model, using a cash voucher system, among individuals with opioid use disorder
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Mortality Patterns Among Individuals with Substance Use Disorders
Using data supplied by CDC, this project explores gaps in current harm reduction stategies to reduce lethal injuries related to substance use
Enhancing the Co-Responder Model for Persons with Mental Health Problems
This project aims to improve collaboration between law enforcement and mental health professionals to provide timely and effective interventions for individuals in crisis, reducing arrests and enhancing community support systems.
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Peer Support and Respite Centers
We aim to establish an evidence base in new avenues for effective mental health care alternatives to traditional mental health day programs and psychiatric hospitalization .
Mental Health
Establishing Innovative Community Supervision Through a Person-Centered Model​
In this project we are assessing fidelity, effectiveness, and outcomes of a Person-Centered Supervision model used by Officers and Staff in the State of Georgia Department of Community Supervision
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Virtual Reality De-Escalation​
This project explores the implementation of a virtual training program for improving effective crisis responses to incarcerated persons with mental illness
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Impacts of Forensic Peer Support
This arm of research explores the impact of forensic peer support models on reducing future justice involvement and improving the mental health of individuals re-entering communities.
Justice
Collaboration across academic disciplines, as well as with community and organizational partners is at the heart of our work. Our current partners include:
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Federal partners:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health Services Resources Administration, Centers for Disease Control
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National partners:
Kaiser Permenente
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State partners:
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, State of Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges
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Local partners:
Advantage Behavioral Health Services, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Athens-Clarke County Sheriff Department
Collaboration
Technical assistance
The Substance Use, Mental Health & Justice Research Lab provides expert technical assistance to researchers, organizations and communities seeking to improve outcomes in mental health, substance use, and justice systems. We offer evidence-based guidance, data-driven solutions, and tailored support in program evaluation, policy implementation, and systems analysis. Through collaborative partnerships, we help build capacity and foster sustainable change to address complex challenges at the intersections of substance use, mental health and justice.
Our team
Collaboration. Innovation. Impact
