About
Canada is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. The number of deaths from overdose has more than doubled over the past decade. In light of recent advances in treatment and despite now having life-saving interventions, these tools are woefully underutilized. For example, one study from the US showed that fewer than 35% of adults with opioid use disorder received treatment in the prior year. One major reason for this gap is the insidious role of stigma. Such beliefs often stem from a moral model that invites blame and prejudice toward individuals with addiction. These beliefs infuse almost every aspect of society and have a direct impact on the treatment of substance use disorder.
It is time for more thoughtful dialogue around substance use disorders. Modern neuroscience research has revolutionized our understanding of the complex biological processes that contribute to both the onset and maintenance of these illnesses. To this end, our team created the OASIS project (Overcoming and Addressing Stigma in Substance Use Disorders): an educational intervention for medical professionals, people with lived and living experience, and the broader public.
If you or your team would like to participate, we invite you to contact us for more information.
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Research
OASIS is a half-day, case-based educational and experiential intervention that incorporates active learning strategies, including opioid use disorder (OUD)-focused vignettes and facilitated small-group discussions. Each component is designed to address prevalent misconceptions and beliefs related to OUD and is developed in accordance with best practices in scientific communication.
OASIS is now embedded in the following 3Ps of the population.
OASIS is also delivered as part of programming within addiction and mental health treatment facilities. Currently, monthly sessions are held at the Henwood Treatment Centre in Edmonton. Future initiatives aim to evaluate the impact of OASIS on clinical outcomes among inpatient populations receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), with a focus on reductions in substance use and improvements in psychosocial functioning associated with decreased stigma.
OASIS is now embedded within the University of Alberta’s health professions training: incorporated into the MD Program curriculum (2024) and Pharmacy curriculum (2025). In 2025, OASIS was also delivered as an interdisciplinary seminar in mixed medical/pharmacy small groups, reinforcing interprofessional learning through shared case discussion.
OASIS is also designed as a public-facing educational intervention. In 2023, it was delivered to members of the general public at the University of Alberta. OASIS has also been presented in collaboration with other groups, such as Kickstand at the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton.
Meet the Team
Jeremy Weleff
DO
Dr. Jeremy Weleff, DO is a clinician-researcher and educator in psychiatry at the University of Alberta, with an adjunct appointment at Yale School of Medicine. His work focuses on addiction and substance abuse disorders, psychiatric epidemiology, and social determinants of health. He also collaborates with the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute on community-engaged research aimed at supporting vulnerable populations.
Dr. Weleff is a key researcher in OASIS (Overcoming and Addressing Stigma In Substance Use Disorders), an ongoing study within the TIME4MH Initiative, that evaluates a community-facing educational intervention designed for clinicians and individuals with lived experience of opioid use, to reduce stigma and barriers to care, and improve treatment engagement and outcomes.
Prior to joining the University of Alberta, Dr. Weleff completed advanced training in public psychiatry and addiction psychiatry fellowships at Yale-affiliated programs, where he developed expertise in complex clinical care and innovative therapeutic approaches.
Dr. Weleff maintains active involvement in scholarly networks and services as a peer reviewer and research collaborator internationally, reflecting his ongoing commitment to advancing psychiatric science and improving mental health outcomes worldwide.
David Ross
MD, PhD
Dr. David A. Ross is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta. The primary focus of his academic work is on designing, implementing, and disseminating innovative educational resources. He is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative, the goal of which is to help integrate cutting-edge neuroscience into psychiatry. Through this work, he has helped create a set of shared curriculum resources that are now in use at more than 200 programs around the world.
Dr. Ross is the Founding Director of the TIME4MH Initiative and helps lead the ANCHOR-MH and OASIS pillars, which aim to: enhance access to care; improve mental health outcomes, especially with historically underserved communities; and reduce stigma towards psychiatric illness.
Tanushka Anand
BSc
Tanushka holds a Bachelor of Science degree in both biological sciences and psychology from the University of Alberta. She is currently pursuing her MSc in psychiatry under the supervision of Dr. Jeremy Weleff and Dr. David Ross, with research focused on understanding the mechanisms that underlie stigma reduction in psychiatric illnesses.
Prior to joining the Weleff Lab, she coordinated operations for two multimodal MRI research studies.
Outside of her academic work, Tanushka enjoys hiking, reading, and playing badminton.
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