The Atlantic COmmunity AddictionS Treatment (COAST) study is a multi-year CIHR-funded study led by a team of academics and community knowledge users from accross Canada.

The aim of the study is to better understand how policies and practices of publicly-funded drug addiction treatment programs in Atlantic Canada (i.e. detox, opioid assisted treatment) act as barriers and/or facilitators of accessing and staying in treatment. Interviews were conducted with people who use substances (Phase 1), family members of people who use substances and community-based organization staff (Phase 2), and physicians and directors of publicly-funded drug addiction treatment programs (Phase 3).

Findings from the study are being shared in academic and community settings.