Substance Use and Brain Injury (SUBI)

The Substance Use and Brain Injury (SUBI) bridging project was initially funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in 2005. This project resulted in the development of the first edition of the SUBI Workbook and Provider Manual in collaboration with the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Subsequent funding from the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation supported research and cross-training workshops that were conducted across Ontario. The SUBI materials have been adapted for use in the US, Europe, and Australia. In 2023, the SUBI materials were updated with funding coordinated by the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) in the US, with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, Mid-America Technology Transfer Center, and the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators.

The SUBI materials have been used as a starting point for adapting addictions programming to meet the needs of people living with the effects of brain injury. There is evidence that accommodating neurocognitive impairment reduces treatment drop about by as much as 50% (Collings, Allan and Munro, 2022). In addition to providing training across North America, CHIRS continues to collaborate with researchers in Australia to study the adaptation of evidence-based practices to individuals living with acquired brain injury.

Downloadable Resources

Download the SUBI Client Workbook (PDF)

Download the TBI & Substance Use Disorders Toolkit (PDF)

Related Publications

Collings S, Allan J, Munro A. Improving treatment for people with cognitive impairment and substance misuse issues: Lessons from an inclusive residential treatment program pilot in Australia. Disabil Health J. 2022 Jun;15(2S):101295. Doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2022.101295. Epub 2022 Mar 1.

Allan, J., Collings, S., & Munro, A. (2019). The process of change for people with cognitive impairment in a residential rehabilitation program for substance problems: a phenomenographical analysis. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-019-0200-y

Funded Initiatives

2025 – 2030

Gullo, M. J. (Griffith), Gullo, H. L. (UQ), Ponsford, J. (Monash), Simpson, G. (USyd), Schneider, K. (Griffith), Fleming, J. (UQ), Wong, D. (La Trobe), Ownsworth, T. (Griffith), Dawe, S. (Griffith), Russell, T. (UQ), Gould, K. (Monash), Mitchell, J. (Griffith), Turner, B. (UniSC), Byrnes, J. (Griffith), & Lemsky, C. (CHIRS, Canada). Co-designing and evaluating a tailored program for substance use disorder in young people with acquired brain injury. Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative – 2024 Alcohol and Other Drugs. AU$2,339,462.31

2024-2025

Gullo, M. J., & Gullo, H. L., Ponsford, J., Fleming, J., Wong, D., Ownsworth, T., Reid, N., Dawe, S., Russell, T., Brown, H., Mitchell, J., Lion, K., Piatkowski, T., Lemsky, C., Beaulieu-Bonneau, S., Doig, E., Turner, B., Kendall, M., Griffin, J., Bell, R., Gould., K., Schneider, K. Co-designing and piloting a tailored program for managing alcohol use in acquired brain injury. Metro South Health Research Support Scheme Project Grant. AU$122,193