The USC Institute for Addiction Science is the nation’s first university-wide transdisciplinary addiction science institute.
LEARN MOREThe USC Institute for Addiction Science is the nation’s first university-wide transdisciplinary addiction science institute.
LEARN MOREOverview
The Institute for Addiction Science (IAS) is a multi-school academic unit involving 80 faculty from 10 different schools across the university.
The goal of IAS is break down silos that have historically prevented scholars and practitioners from different disciplines from working together. To this end, IAS provides infrastructure and resources to promote novel “transdisciplinary” research, education, clinical services, and community engagement to reduce addiction locally and nationally.
OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREBackground
The USC Institute for Addiction Science supports collaborative research and education that advances science, awareness, prevention, treatment, and policy to improve the lives of those touched by addiction.
Our mission is motivated by the unfortunate truth that addiction is a wicked problem and leads to an array of recalcitrant epidemics that plague society. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, sexually transmitted infections, mental illness, violence, unplanned pregnancy, obesity, child abuse, poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and social inequities are each associated with addictive behaviors. The addiction crisis may be increasing with the proliferation of new types of tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes), commercialization of the cannabis industry, and an expanding opioid epidemic. Beyond substance misuse, addiction to digital media is interfering with the mindfulness and social connectedness of our society and food addiction is becoming increasingly accepted by the medical community as a health condition.
Given the interplay of societal, political, psychosocial, and biological influences on addiction, transdisciplinary approaches are needed to reduce the addiction epidemic. Faculty with addiction expertise are members in dozens of academic units across USC. The Institute for Addiction Science integrates and mobilizes USC’s intellectual resources while leveraging the diverse and populous backdrop of Los Angles to yield evidence with local, state, national and global implications.
OUR VISION & MISSIONOverview
The Institute for Addiction Science (IAS) is a multi-school academic unit involving 80 faculty from 10 different schools across the university.
The goal of IAS is break down silos that have historically prevented scholars and practitioners from different disciplines from working together. To this end, IAS provides infrastructure and resources to promote novel “transdisciplinary” research, education, clinical services, and community engagement to reduce addiction locally and nationally.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREBackground
The USC Institute for Addiction Science supports collaborative research and education that advances science, awareness, prevention, treatment, and policy to improve the lives of those touched by addiction.
Our mission is motivated by the unfortunate truth that addiction is a wicked problem and leads to an array of recalcitrant epidemics that plague society. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, sexually transmitted infections, mental illness, violence, unplanned pregnancy, obesity, child abuse, poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and social inequities are each associated with addictive behaviors. The addiction crisis may be increasing with the proliferation of new types of tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes), commercialization of the cannabis industry, and an expanding opioid epidemic. Beyond substance misuse, addiction to digital media is interfering with the mindfulness and social connectedness of our society and food addiction is becoming increasingly accepted by the medical community as a health condition.
Given the interplay of societal, political, psychosocial, and biological influences on addiction, transdisciplinary approaches are needed to reduce the addiction epidemic. Faculty with addiction expertise are members in dozens of academic units across USC. The Institute for Addiction Science integrates and mobilizes USC’s intellectual resources while leveraging the diverse and populous backdrop of Los Angles to yield evidence with local, state, national and global implications.
VISION & MISSION