Dear Friends,
As I welcome 2021 with open arms, I want to convey to all of you a message of hope. When I reflect on the challenges and tragedies of 2020, I am inspired by the tremendous resiliency that I have seen from my colleagues, patients, community, and this country. Now, more than ever, our team is dedicated to ending the tragedy of addiction, in honor of the lives lost and to those who continue to suffer.
Prior to the pandemic, I could never have fathomed the many changes to our Center in such a short period of time:
- Our research investigators adapted their research protocols and continued to make important new discoveries and contributions to the field.
- Our faculty mentors remained dedicated to training their addiction psychiatry and post-doctoral research fellows remotely, so they can continue on their paths to become the next generation of clinicians and scientists.
As we set our sights on the year ahead, now is the time to start thinking about addiction and recovery in the post-COVID-19 era. I am very concerned about the worsening addiction crisis in this country, which has been fueled by a myriad of pandemic-related stressors. As the pandemic continues, so will the need for new discoveries, approaches to prevention, and access to addiction treatment.
We are geared up, with a renewed vision of what we can accomplish, despite the setbacks. We have a bright future ahead of us and I know now, more than ever, that there is nothing that can stand in our way.
Sincerely,
Professor & Director, U-M Addiction Center
