Understanding the full spectrum of addiction
Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research recognizes five years
How do you know if someone’s love for a good meal is more than just being a passionate gourmand? Are they eating to excess? Could it be an addiction? Is that even possible?
Smart phones are a great tool to keep us connected, but some people can’t imagine functioning without one. Is that ‘normal’ in this age of technology, or is it becoming a troubling dependency?
Since its launch in 2014 the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research (PBCAR) has been working to better identify and understand the causes of addiction, with a goal of improving treatment and outcomes. Although substance use and alcohol have been a primary focus, the Peter Boris Centre is also investigating growing areas of concern, some of which have not yet been recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). These areas of research include gambling, binge eating, internet use, sun tanning, and food addiction, and are examples of the forward thinking work currently in development.
“Our research is showing growing areas of non-substance based addiction that would have been overlooked in the past,” says Dr. Iris Balodis, Assistant Professor, Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University.
Through the study of genetics, neuroimaging, experimental psychology and clinical research the centre has become an international leader in the field of addictions, generating almost 200 publications and $38 million in externally funded research projects.
“In the past five years, the collaborative work produced by the clinical staff at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and our research faculty at McMaster University has well exceeded our expectations,” says James MacKillop, Research Chair/Director, Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University.
Peter Boris was the youngest son of Owen and Marta Boris and he struggled with addiction for much of his life. A transformative gift by the Boris Family established this centre and provides a living tribute to Peter who passed away at 44.
“This Centre is the only one in the world that is named for one of the victims of addiction. By identifying Peter, we remember that addiction is not just a statistic, but an affliction of real people, their families and our society,” says MacKillop. “By giving a name to addiction, we combat the entrenched and pervasive stigma around it.”
Learn more about the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research on their website: fhs.mcmaster.ca/pbcar.