Alcohol and drug addiction are serious illnesses, which profoundly harm one's physical, social, occupational, and financial well-being. The cost to society as a whole is alarming. Finding effective treatments for substance abuse has, to date, been a major challenge and ongoing research in this area is crucial.

Since arriving at the Douglas Institute in 1998, Thomas G. Brown, PhD, has continued his already established research program on addictions and substance abuse. His team is focusing on the research and development of psychosocial interventions to combat substance abuse, as well as defining patient characteristics in order to optimally match individuals to the most suitable intervention.

Thomas G. Brown is the head of research at the Foster Pavilion Drug and Rehabilitation Centre at St-Philippe de La Prairie, Quebec. Thomas G. Brown and his team have conducted studies that evaluate the relative merits of several established and emerging therapeutic approaches to substance abuse, including relapse prevention, 12 step-inspired aftercare, and opportunistic brief intervention in frontline settings.

Other lines of research include the examination of the role of spouses, gender, and knowledge transfer practices that may influence treatment outcomes.