I am a public health sociologist and my research interests are in youth drug use, harm reduction approaches to substance use, and drug policy reform. I am recognized for my expertise in qualitative, participatory, and arts-based methodologies for studying substance use in partnership with youth and families. I am also known as a scholarly voice for a public health approach to cannabis legalization, harm reduction, and drug law reform in Canada. I joined the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary in January 2016 and received tenure in July 2021. I was promoted to Full Professor in July 2025.
I was born and raised in downtown Toronto (Cabbagetown/Regent Park) and have since lived in Montreal, Saskatoon, and Vancouver. A certain generation of Canadians may know me best as Degrassi’s mean girl, Kathleen Mead 😉
