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Mapping drug epidemiology futures.
Sarah Larney1, Hannah Jones2, Tim Rhodes3
1Centre de Recherche du CHUM and Université de Montréal, Canada.
The International Journal on Drug Policy
|July 29, 2021
Summary
The future of drug epidemiology involves a syndemic and relational approach, focusing on both potential drug benefits and harms. This requires innovative causal inference methods for complex drug policy evidence.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Drug Policy Research
Background:
- Epidemiology is crucial for evidence-based drug policy.
- The field faces evolving challenges in understanding drug effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore future directions for drug epidemiology.
- To highlight key areas for methodological and conceptual innovation.
Main Methods:
- Speculative essay outlining future research trajectories.
- Emphasis on integrating 'syndemic' and 'relational' frameworks.
- Focus on advancing causal inference methodologies for complex data.
Main Results:
- Proposes a 'positive epidemiology' considering drug benefits beyond harm.
- Advocates for observational studies to test causal inference beyond associations.
- Acknowledges potential tensions between relational approaches and causal inference methods.
Conclusions:
- Future drug epidemiology requires a nuanced, relational perspective.
- Methodological innovation is key to understanding complex drug-related causation.
- Balancing harm and benefit assessment is essential for comprehensive drug policy.