An Open Access article published in the Health Behavior and Policy Review Journal.
Authors:
Asfand B. Moosa, BS
Christina M. Segura, BS
Ammar D. Siddiqi, MPH
Hinal Patel, BDS, MPH
Tzuan A. Chen, PhD
Anastasia Rogova, PhD
Marcy Zere, BA
Ezemenari M. Obasi, PhD
Lorraine R. Reitzel, PhD, FAAHB, FSRNT
Objective:
Addiction to alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs (ATOD) remains a leading cause of cancer and a contributor to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, disproportionately affecting marginalized and minoritized groups. Social and structural inequities increase these risks. A diverse scientific workforce is necessary to mitigate ATOD-related health disparities; yet, underrepresentation persists in ATOD research. Helping Everyone Achieve a LifeTime of Health – Future Addiction Scientist Training (HEALTH–FAST) is a NIDA funded research education program to reduce ATOD-related disparities by training future scholars in addiction science and health equity.
Methods:
From 2021-2023, eight Doctoral Scholars, two Postdoctoral Fellows, and six Early-Stage Investigators were trained in the HEALTH-FAST Program.
Results:
Participants showed gains in research knowledge, research self-efficacy, and research preparation. As of April 2025, scholars produced 160 peer-reviewed publications and 41 grants.
Conclusions:
HEALTH-FAST can serve as a model research education program to train historically excluded scholars and diversify the ATOD health equity research workforce to address health disparities.
Source: Health Behavior and Policy Review, Volume 12, Number 3, September 2025, pp. 1956-1974(19)
Publisher: Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd.
Article Link: https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.12.3.5