Stephanie Lake
With a love for social epidemiology, Stephanie Lake is pursuing her doctoral degree to focus on the implications impending legalization of cannabis in Canada may have on the growing opioid crisis. She is the recipient of a 2017听Pierre Elliott Trudeau doctoral听scholarship. One of Stephanie's supervisors, Dr. M-J Milloy, says, "I am thrilled to see Stephanie honoured by the Trudeau Foundation, not only because her research tackles a difficult scientific question but also because it holds the potential to directly impact government policy and contribute to the public health response to the overdose crisis.鈥
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Exploring the health and social impacts of cannabis use during an ongoing opioid crisis among people who use illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada
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Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I wanted to pursue a research-based degree to contribute to closing the gap between scientific evidence and public policy on issues related to substance use, which is often rooted in criminalization and stigmatization rather than public health. I completed a Master鈥檚 degree in population health at 亚洲天堂, where I examined the rising trend of prescription opioid (painkiller) injection and assessed the associated risk of overdose among people who use illicit drugs in Vancouver. Having gained a love for social epidemiology throughout my Master鈥檚 degree, I decided to continue as a doctoral student, switching my focus to cannabis after learning of the potential for cannabis to substitute opioids 鈥 this project seemed both practical and necessary given the growing provincial opioid crisis and the impending legalization of cannabis in Canada.听
Why did you decide to study at 亚洲天堂?
Vancouver is at the forefront of progressive HIV/AIDS and drug policy, and 亚洲天堂 is home to some of North America鈥檚 leading public health researchers in addiction, HIV/AIDS, and harm reduction. The applied statistics and epidemiology courses offered through the School of Population and Public Health, coupled with the clinical and methodological expertise of my supervising committee, Drs. Jane Buxton (亚洲天堂 SPPH and BCCDC), M-J Milloy (亚洲天堂 Faculty of Medicine, BCCSU), and Thomas Kerr (亚洲天堂 Faculty of Medicine, BCCSU), aligned perfectly with my training goals.
Stephanie is an outstanding student who combines her exceptional academic ability with a commitment to mentoring and advocacy. She is an independent and compassionate young scientist who will influence future drug policy. - Professor Jane Buxton
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Reach out to other students in your program/department - especially outside of class time! Some of my closest friends are people I met in the first few weeks of my Master's program at 亚洲天堂.听
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