Center for Alcohol & Drug Studies & Services

Welcome to the Center for Alcohol and Drug Studies and Services

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Studies and Services is a project of the San Diego State University School of Social Work. Originally named the Center on Substance Abuse, the Center was established in 1985 by Dr. Anita S. Harbert to address alcohol and other drug-related problems at San Diego State University and in the larger community.

The Center specializes in research and evaluation design with an emphasis on socio-behavioral research and applied evaluation. Our multi-disciplinary staff have decades of experience in research and evaluation and are highly committed to scientific excellence.

The Center serves as an umbrella organization for several alcohol and drug related research initiatives and services, including the SDSU Driving Under the Influence Program, a County of San Diego contracted program to provide drinking driver education and counseling services in the Central Judicial District of San Diego County.

We invite you to learn about us through our website.

Sociodemographic and Drug Use Severity Differences Between Medical Marijuana Users and Non-Medical Users Visiting the Emergency Department
Susan I. Woodruff, PhD, Audrey M. Shillington, PhD, MSW

In the United States, the annual cost of drug abuse due to lost productivity, crime, and health care is estimated to be $193 billion.1 Such use places a significant burden on the healthcare system because drug users (including cannabis users) are more likely than non-drug users to use the emergency department (ED) as a primary source of medical care.2–4 ED settings have gained interest as venues for drug misuse prevention and intervention, with researchers and practitioners attempting to capitalize on the intersection of need and opportunity within these settings.

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