The At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS – pronounced ‘Arise’) began in 2005 to evaluate existing programs and services for street-involved youth who use unregulated drugs. For over nearly two decades, the study has enrolled more than 1,000 young participants with lived experience and connected with them on an ongoing basis through study interviews. This research aims to inform drug policy and improve the health and well-being of high-risk and underserved youth.The ARYS study is supported by a diverse team of professionals, including interviewers, nurses, data analysts, and peer research associates. It also serves as a valuable training ground for students completing their masters, PhD, and postdoctoral studies, who play a crucial role in the ARYS cohort team.
Erica McAdam, a UBC PhD student and the ARYS Cohort Research Manager spoke with us about her time with ARYS and how it has helped her establish a career in drug policy research.
Q: How did you get involved in drug policy?
I did my Bachelor’s degree in law at Carleton University in Ottawa where I was first introduced to drug policy and the criminal justice system. I became interested in learning about decriminalization of personal possession and jurisdictions around the world who have implemented decriminalization to reduce the harms stemming from drug prohibition.
I first met Dr. Kora DeBeck, the Principal Investigator of ARYS, through my time at Simon Fraser University completing the Masters of Public Policy program. Dr. DeBeck taught the foundational policy analysis course. I started working with ARYS as a research assistant as part of my co-op with Dr. DeBeck. After about a year or so, I subsequently became the Cohort Research Manager, and eventually decided to pursue my PhD at UBC.
I became passionate about conducting evidence-based research that supports the health and well-being of young people who use drugs. Through this work, I’ve also found that drug policy attracts compassionate, understanding, and justice-oriented people. This is the first position where I’ve felt like I am a part of a community.
Q: What research are you currently working on?
I'm currently a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia in the Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, studying the intersection of epidemiology and public policy. For my doctoral work, I hope to evaluate the effects of innovative policy interventions to reduce overdose mortality among young people who use drugs, particularly in the context of the ongoing toxic drug crisis. This includes policies like the decriminalization of personal possession and prescribed alternatives programs. Evaluation research is really needed in this topic as other jurisdictions across Canada seek to implement policies to curb overdoses.
We recently published a study in the Harm Reduction Journal, which investigated the prevalence and factors associated with engaging in sex work during the COVID-19 pandemic among people who use drugs in Vancouver. We found that engagement in sex work appeared to have declined during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic among participants who received government income support, like the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). These findings suggest that recent of income support might have contributed to reductions in engagement in sex work among people who use drugs. This is important because prior research suggests that many people who use drugs engage in sex work on a survival basis, and that they would forgo engagement in sex work if they did not need money to purchase drugs and survival necessities.
Our study emphasizes what much other research has demonstrated previously, that economic marginalization is endemic among people who use drugs. It also highlights that providing government financial assistance may reduce the need to engage in sex work, which is desirable for those folks who are engaging to survive. It highlights that low barrier funding from the government is a really great way to support people use drugs and those living in poverty, especially during a global pandemic.
Q: Why do you think drug policy research is in important, and what impact do you hope it makes?
Drug policy research is critically important, particularly as the toxic drug crisis continues to drive high levels of mortality and morbidity. Our work helps build an evidence base to guide public policy and public health responses aimed at improving outcomes for young people who use drugs. With ARYS operating since 2005, we are able to draw on rich longitudinal data to inform these efforts. In an increasingly polarized environment, it is essential to ground public discussions and policymaking in rigorous research evidence, helping to shape more informed, compassionate, and effective approaches to substance use.
Q: What's something that you feel like you've learned while working at ARYS with Dr. Kora DeBeck?
When I was growing up, my peers often talked about wanting to become nurses, doctors, or lawyers —traditional careers that never quite resonated with me. I struggled throughout my 20s. I felt lost, while those around me seemed so certain and excited about their career paths.
When I started working with ARYS and Kora, it immediately felt like the right fit. Coming from outside public health, the learning curve was steep. At times, I doubted whether I was capable. Kora has taught me how to have confidence in myself. She is an incredible mentor and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work with her. I can’t overstate how much she has supported and inspired me.
Being part of ARYS has been transformative. It brings together all the issues I care deeply about. For the first time, I feel truly aligned with my work. I feel incredibly privileged—not just to have found this path, but to be in a position where I can contribute meaningfully to addressing these urgent issues.
To learn more about ARYS and the team: