May 15, 2018
Vancouver alumni learn about U91快色 research study on students' use of cannabis
From left, Linh Nguyen, Jenna Baumgartner (BN鈥08) and Dianne Tapp, dean, Faculty of Nursing
Just over 20 U91快色 alumni and guests gathered in Vancouver in April to connect and learn more about recent exciting developments in the Faculty of Nursing. This year, the faculty鈥檚 annual trek west was opened up to U91快色 alumni from different faculties in order to share the thought-provoking research of Jacqueline Smith (BN'09, PhD'15).
Dean Dianne Tapp brought greetings from the university and was followed by Smith who spoke about her nine years working with families with addictions and her research into the gaps experienced in health care in this area.
鈥淔amilies with mental health issues are showing up more and more in emergency units and we need to figure out how we can better help them,鈥 she said. 鈥淐omplex problems such as adolescent addiction and its impact on the family require complex solutions.鈥
In advance of the legalization of cannabis, one of Smith鈥檚 current studies surveyed 4,000 U91快色 students about their use of the drug. 鈥淐anadian youth have the highest rates of usage in the western world,鈥 explained Smith, who is principal investigator of the 91快色's Campus Experience with Cannabis Survey.
鈥淲e want to survey our students, pre-legalization, to understand how they perceive the risk and what services they would access if their use became problematic. We hope to use our results to inform existing or new student wellness initiatives on the U91快色 campus.鈥
Smith also presented at an alumni event the previous evening in Victoria.