Research Focus
Areas
Interdisciplinary research spanning epidemiology, clinical science, social sciences, implementation science, and health policy — addressing the full spectrum of alcohol, drug, and addiction-related public health challenges in Uganda and the African region.
ADARC conducts interdisciplinary research across six thematic areas that collectively address the full spectrum of alcohol, drug, and addiction-related public health challenges in Uganda and the African region.
Thematic Focus Areas
Alcohol Epidemiology and Policy
Uganda bears one of the highest per capita alcohol burdens in the world. ADARC investigates the prevalence, patterns, and consequences of alcohol use across different population groups to generate data that can directly inform national alcohol policy.
Work in this area examines the social, economic, and health consequences of alcohol use, including its contribution to domestic violence, road traffic injuries, poverty, and communicable disease burden.
- Alcohol taxation, availability & regulation
- Gender dimensions of alcohol use
- Alcohol–HIV co-occurrence
- Alcohol use & non-communicable diseases
- Community-level interventions
- Policy implementation & enforcement
Substance Use Disorders: Assessment, Classification & Treatment
ADARC conducts research on the assessment and classification of substance use disorders (SUDs) using validated tools and advanced statistical approaches, including latent class analysis (LCA).
The Centre investigates pathways into substance use disorders, patient characteristics at treatment entry, and the factors associated with treatment outcomes — including retention, relapse, and recovery. The AQUALEFF study, a multi-site observational cohort study conducted across treatment facilities in Uganda, is one of ADARC's flagship research efforts in this area.
- Latent classes of SUDs
- Treatment engagement & retention
- Predictors of relapse
- Poly-substance use
- Harm reduction approaches
- Comparison of treatment modalities
Mental Health and Substance Use Comorbidities
Substance use disorders frequently co-occur with depression, anxiety, psychosis, and other mental health conditions. ADARC investigates the bidirectional relationship between mental health and substance use, with a focus on improving integrated care in Uganda's health system.
Collaborative partnerships with Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital and other clinical institutions enable research that bridges the gap between mental health services and addictions treatment.
- Depression & substance use co-occurrence
- Psychosis & addiction
- Integrated care models
- Butabika institutional collaboration
- Screening & diagnosis tools
Youth, Vulnerability, and Prevention
Young people in Uganda are at heightened risk of initiating substance use, and early initiation is associated with more severe dependence trajectories. ADARC examines social, environmental, and structural drivers of substance use initiation among youth.
Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches are used to co-create solutions with young people and their communities, evaluating the effectiveness of prevention programmes rooted in local realities.
- Alcohol & drug initiation among students
- Tobacco & gateway substance pathways
- School-based prevention programmes
- Community-based prevention
- Role of parents & community leaders
- Poverty, trauma & peer influence
Community-Based Research and Participatory Approaches
ADARC is committed to involving communities as active partners in the research process. Satellite sites in model districts serve as hubs for community-based research, surveillance, and intervention.
This approach ensures that ADARC's work is grounded in the lived realities of affected communities, and that findings are rapidly translated into locally appropriate solutions.
- Satellite district research hubs
- Community surveillance
- Participatory action research
- Local solution co-creation
- Community engagement protocols
Policy Translation and Advocacy
Generating evidence is only the first step. ADARC is committed to ensuring that research findings reach policymakers, programme implementers, health facilities, and communities.
The Centre collaborates directly with the Uganda Ministry of Health, parliamentary committees, and civil society organisations to advocate for evidence-based alcohol and drug policy reforms. Regular dissemination through public lectures, scientific conferences, media engagement, and policy briefs ensures broad uptake of ADARC's findings.
- Ministry of Health collaboration
- Parliamentary engagement
- Policy briefs & dissemination
- Media & public communication
- Civil society partnerships
- Scientific conference presence
Ongoing & Completed Studies
| Study Name | Status | Description | Lead Researcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQUALEFF Study | Ongoing | Multi-site observational cohort study on SUD treatment outcomes across facilities in Uganda. Examining retention, relapse, and recovery predictors. | Ms. Claire Biribawa / Prof. N.M. Tumwesigye |
| Latent Classes of SUD in Uganda | Ongoing | Latent class analysis identifying typologies of substance use disorder among patients entering treatment in Uganda. Findings published in peer-reviewed journal. | Ms. Claire Biribawa et al. |
| Alcohol and HIV/AIDS Co-occurrence | Completed | Epidemiological study examining the relationship between harmful alcohol use and HIV vulnerability and treatment outcomes in Uganda. | Prof. N.M. Tumwesigye |
| Gender and Alcohol Consequences in Uganda | Completed | Examined gendered patterns and consequences of alcohol consumption in Uganda. | Prof. N.M. Tumwesigye and Rogers Kasirye |
| INEBRIA Africa Chapter — Founding Activities | Ongoing | Founding of the Africa regional chapter of the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INEBRIA), hosted at MakSPH. | ADARC Team / Prof. Neo Morojele |
| Alcohol Tax Harmonisation — EAC Region | Ongoing | Technical review and policy analysis of alcohol taxation strategies across East African Community member states. | ADARC / Collaborators |
Collaborate with ADARC
We welcome partnerships with researchers, institutions, policymakers, and communities committed to advancing evidence-based responses to alcohol and drug-related challenges in Uganda and across Africa.