Judy Castañeda's research primarily focuses on substance use, mental health, and the complexities which lead to the co-occurrence of both conditions. Her research has covered topics such as barriers for Canadian police in responding to emergency calls involving severe emotional and psychological distress; experiences of self-medication with both licit and illicit substances to address symptoms of low mood; and the geographic patterns of opioid-related overdose deaths in British Columbia. Her research often takes an interdisciplinary approach which incorporates psychosocial, criminological, and public health perspectives. Judy specializes in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, with a high priority placed on incorporating the voices of those with lived experience of substance use and/or mental illness.
PhD Candidate