JPHMP presents Preventing America’s Next Drug Epidemic: A Multidisciplinary Approach, a new series designed to introduce the many facets of substance abuse, and how integrating the work of multiple partners may be the best approach towards prevention and treatment. This series will feature posts that integrate information from interviews in written, audio, and video format, as well as evidence-based research articles that may altogether inform best practices for tackling this current epidemic, as well as preventing future ones.

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Elena Vidrascu, MSc, is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Psychology & Neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill. Her primary field of interest is substance and alcohol use disorder prevention, with goals to disseminate information to the public and to influence policy change to push for more integrative approaches towards prevention and treatment. In her spare time she enjoys playing tennis, hiking, doing puzzles, and cuddling with her kitten Maple.

Read all columns in this series:

• Social Distancing “Isn’t Working” for Some Young People — Why Not?
• Mindfulness and Dis-ease: Managing Mental Wellness
• The Free Prescription Doctors Are Writing to Lower Anxiety and Stress
• Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Yes, Teens Smoking Marijuana Too Much Can Hurt You
• Sound Healing, Part 2: A Conversation with Alexander Tuttle
• Sound Healing for Treatment of Chronic Pain, Anxiety, Stress, and Drug Addiction, Part 1: An Introduction
• Screen Time and Content Might Increase Youth’s Risk to Future Substance Abuse, Part II
• Screen Time and Content Might Increase Youth’s Risk to Future Substance Abuse, Part I
• The Opioid Epidemic: Where Do the Numbers Stand and Where Can We Focus Our Efforts? A Video and Interview
• Could a Dose a Day of Meaningful Social Interactions Help Keep Drug Addiction Away?
• Mike Connors on Treating Youth & Young Adults Struggling with Substance Abuse and Addiction