Tara Marie Watson
Biographic Data
| ID | 4250081 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Tara Marie Watson |
| GIVEN NAMES | Tara Marie |
| FAMILY NAME | Watson |
| SIGNATURE | WATSON T M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1268-9899 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 15 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 26 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
An integrative review of mental health and substance use treatment guidance for justice-involved youth
Youth involved in the justice system (YIJS) experience disproportionately high rates of mental health and substance use concerns, yet guidance for the delivery of treatment remains fragmented. This review aims to synthesize literature describing guidance for mental health and substance use services for YIJS. We conducted an integrative literature review following methods recommended by Whittemore and Knafl. Searches of four electronic databases a…
Navigating Mental Health and Cannabis Use Post-cannabis Legalization
Through conversations with members of racialized communities, we aimed to: explore perspectives shared by members of racialized communities regarding the relationship between cannabis and mental health; develop a greater understanding of racialized community members’ mental health service interactions in relation to cannabis use and mental health; and examine whether various social identities interact to influence experiences with cannabis use an…
A qualitative study of Canadian mental health service providers’ perspectives on mental health guidelines for youth involved in the justice system
Participant Fraud in Virtual Qualitative Substance Use Research
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and amplified the use of virtual research methods. While online research has several advantages, it also provides greater opportunity for individuals to misrepresent their identities to fraudulently participate in research for financial gain. Participant deception and fraud have become a growing concern for virtual research. Reports of deception and preventative strategies have been discussed with…
Gender influences on cannabis use among treatment-seeking adults
Background Gender differences in cannabis use, related harms, and in the development and progression of cannabis use disorder have been reported. Better understanding and identifying why these differences exist is important in developing and tailoring prevention and treatment approaches.Methods This qualitative interview study explored influences of gender on cannabis use trajectories. Twenty-three adults (10 cisgender women, 12 cisgender men, 1 …
Defining a public health approach to substance use
Empirically unpacking multi-stakeholder understandings of a PHA to substance use can help to inform a more cohesive definition and build the consensus needed for more effective, coordinated, and community-led responses to substance use. Future work, especially qualitative research, will provide richer and more practical understandings of a PHA to substance use
What is a public health approach to substance use? A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis
Overpoliced and Underrepresented
Historically, overpolicing of some racialized and Indigenous groups in Canada has resulted in unequal application of drug laws contributing to disproportionate rates of charges and convictions in these populations. Criminal records severely and negatively impact an individual’s life and can perpetuate cycles of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage. On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized cannabis production, distribution, sale, and possession for…
Addressing the complex substance use and mental health needs of people leaving prison
Young People Who Use Drugs Views Toward the Power and Authority of Police Officers
Many young people who use drugs are structurally vulnerable to policing powers given the ongoing criminalization of drug possession. Police authority limits and the expression of that authority may play a significant role in police encounters among young people who use drugs. This qualitative study explores the views of young people who use drugs toward police power and authority in their recent encounters with police officers. Interviews were co…
Community-Based Mental Health and Substance Use Services for People Leaving Prison
Challenges, Skepticism, and Recommendations from Police about Working in Collaboration with Supervised Consumption Services
Background The operation of supervised consumption services (SCS), programs that offer supervised locations for the consumption of drugs such as heroin, other opioids, cocaine, other stimulants, and other drugs, is contingent on cooperative relationships with police. In this manuscript, we focus on an under studied topic: how active duty police officers understand their role with respect to SCS, and their recommendations for improving relationshi…
‘This is a health service. Leave it alone’
Background While sanctioned supervised consumption services (SCS) – monitored spaces where people can consume drugs – are exempt from drug law enforcement, local police interact with SCS in the course of their duties. Policies and protocols to guide SCS–police relationships vary internationally, but appear to be lacking in some jurisdictions.Methods We conducted focus groups with service users (n = 24) and staff (n = 21) at the first three legall…
Critical studies of harm reduction
Losing the uphill battle? Emergent harm reduction interventions and barriers during the opioid overdose crisis in Canada
Cannabis legalization in the provinces and territories
Research in carceral contexts
Prison systems, with the ability to reject or approve applications for conducting research with incarcerated populations, function as shapers of carceral knowledge and thus can potentially close opportunities for new qualitative studies as well as affect the quality and richness of the data obtained. This article describes a collaborative research process wherein access to current prisoners was not granted, and only former prisoners who were not …
Creating and sustaining cooperative relationships between supervised injection services and police
Risk creating and risk reducing
Progressive public health authorities in high-income countries have advocated supervised consumption facilities, where people who use illicit drugs can consume them in a hygienic, supervised environment, as a way of reducing drug-related risks to both people who use drugs and communities. However, the planning of such facilities has often met with strong reactions from the local community. ‘Not in my backyard’ (NIMBY) type reactions are frequentl…
The Impact of Remedial Programme Participation on Convicted Drinking Drivers’ Alcohol and Other Drug Use 6 Months Following Programme Completion
Developing national best practice recommendations for harm reduction programmes
Prisoners’ access to psychoactive medications
The politics of harm reduction in federal prisons
Design considerations for supervised consumption facilities (SCFs)
Guidelines for better harm reduction
Research in carceral contexts
Prison systems, with the ability to reject or approve applications for conducting research with incarcerated populations, function as shapers of carceral knowledge and thus can potentially close opportunities for new qualitative studies as well as affect the quality and richness of the data obtained. This article describes a collaborative research process wherein access to current prisoners was not granted, and only former prisoners who were not …
Overpoliced and Underrepresented
Historically, overpolicing of some racialized and Indigenous groups in Canada has resulted in unequal application of drug laws contributing to disproportionate rates of charges and convictions in these populations. Criminal records severely and negatively impact an individual’s life and can perpetuate cycles of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage. On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized cannabis production, distribution, sale, and possession for…
Young People Who Use Drugs Views Toward the Power and Authority of Police Officers
Many young people who use drugs are structurally vulnerable to policing powers given the ongoing criminalization of drug possession. Police authority limits and the expression of that authority may play a significant role in police encounters among young people who use drugs. This qualitative study explores the views of young people who use drugs toward police power and authority in their recent encounters with police officers. Interviews were co…
Cannabis legalization in the provinces and territories
Effects of a computer based beginning reading program on young children
This study was an evaluation of a parent delivered, computer based beginning reading program with a group of 15 Kindergarten and Grade 1 students. Completing the Funnix program at home through a CD copy was expected to produce educationally and statistically significant improvements in phonemic awareness, letter-sound fluency, non-word decoding skills, and oral reading fluency, when compared to the outcomes for a similar group of 16 students in a…
Guidelines for better harm reduction
Design considerations for supervised consumption facilities (SCFs)
The politics of harm reduction in federal prisons
Prisoners’ access to psychoactive medications
Risk creating and risk reducing
Progressive public health authorities in high-income countries have advocated supervised consumption facilities, where people who use illicit drugs can consume them in a hygienic, supervised environment, as a way of reducing drug-related risks to both people who use drugs and communities. However, the planning of such facilities has often met with strong reactions from the local community. ‘Not in my backyard’ (NIMBY) type reactions are frequentl…
The Impact of Remedial Programme Participation on Convicted Drinking Drivers’ Alcohol and Other Drug Use 6 Months Following Programme Completion
Developing national best practice recommendations for harm reduction programmes
Creating and sustaining cooperative relationships between supervised injection services and police
Losing the uphill battle? Emergent harm reduction interventions and barriers during the opioid overdose crisis in Canada
Cannabis legalization in the provinces and territories
Research in carceral contexts
Prison systems, with the ability to reject or approve applications for conducting research with incarcerated populations, function as shapers of carceral knowledge and thus can potentially close opportunities for new qualitative studies as well as affect the quality and richness of the data obtained. This article describes a collaborative research process wherein access to current prisoners was not granted, and only former prisoners who were not …
Challenges, Skepticism, and Recommendations from Police about Working in Collaboration with Supervised Consumption Services
Background The operation of supervised consumption services (SCS), programs that offer supervised locations for the consumption of drugs such as heroin, other opioids, cocaine, other stimulants, and other drugs, is contingent on cooperative relationships with police. In this manuscript, we focus on an under studied topic: how active duty police officers understand their role with respect to SCS, and their recommendations for improving relationshi…
‘This is a health service. Leave it alone’
Background While sanctioned supervised consumption services (SCS) – monitored spaces where people can consume drugs – are exempt from drug law enforcement, local police interact with SCS in the course of their duties. Policies and protocols to guide SCS–police relationships vary internationally, but appear to be lacking in some jurisdictions.Methods We conducted focus groups with service users (n = 24) and staff (n = 21) at the first three legall…
Critical studies of harm reduction
Addressing the complex substance use and mental health needs of people leaving prison
Young People Who Use Drugs Views Toward the Power and Authority of Police Officers
Many young people who use drugs are structurally vulnerable to policing powers given the ongoing criminalization of drug possession. Police authority limits and the expression of that authority may play a significant role in police encounters among young people who use drugs. This qualitative study explores the views of young people who use drugs toward police power and authority in their recent encounters with police officers. Interviews were co…
Community-Based Mental Health and Substance Use Services for People Leaving Prison
What is a public health approach to substance use? A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis
Overpoliced and Underrepresented
Historically, overpolicing of some racialized and Indigenous groups in Canada has resulted in unequal application of drug laws contributing to disproportionate rates of charges and convictions in these populations. Criminal records severely and negatively impact an individual’s life and can perpetuate cycles of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage. On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized cannabis production, distribution, sale, and possession for…
Participant Fraud in Virtual Qualitative Substance Use Research
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and amplified the use of virtual research methods. While online research has several advantages, it also provides greater opportunity for individuals to misrepresent their identities to fraudulently participate in research for financial gain. Participant deception and fraud have become a growing concern for virtual research. Reports of deception and preventative strategies have been discussed with…
Gender influences on cannabis use among treatment-seeking adults
Background Gender differences in cannabis use, related harms, and in the development and progression of cannabis use disorder have been reported. Better understanding and identifying why these differences exist is important in developing and tailoring prevention and treatment approaches.Methods This qualitative interview study explored influences of gender on cannabis use trajectories. Twenty-three adults (10 cisgender women, 12 cisgender men, 1 …
Defining a public health approach to substance use
Empirically unpacking multi-stakeholder understandings of a PHA to substance use can help to inform a more cohesive definition and build the consensus needed for more effective, coordinated, and community-led responses to substance use. Future work, especially qualitative research, will provide richer and more practical understandings of a PHA to substance use
Navigating Mental Health and Cannabis Use Post-cannabis Legalization
Through conversations with members of racialized communities, we aimed to: explore perspectives shared by members of racialized communities regarding the relationship between cannabis and mental health; develop a greater understanding of racialized community members’ mental health service interactions in relation to cannabis use and mental health; and examine whether various social identities interact to influence experiences with cannabis use an…
A qualitative study of Canadian mental health service providers’ perspectives on mental health guidelines for youth involved in the justice system
Psychology (15 works) · Medicine (14 works) · Political science (14 works) · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes (13 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Public health (11 works) · Public relations (11 works) · Nursing (10 works) · Psychiatry (10 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (9 works)