Kora DeBeck

Kora DeBeck is a Distinguished Professor of Substance Use and Drug Policy in the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University, a CIHR Applied Public Health Chair, and Dorothy Killam Fellow. She is also a Research Scientist with the BC Centre on Substance Use and Principal Investigator of the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS), a longitudinal cohort tracking over 1,200 street-involved youth.

Her research focuses on substance use policy, health services for marginalized populations, and the structural drivers of drug-related harms. She has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles challenging ineffective drug enforcement models and advocating for policy reforms.

Recent publications analyze trends in opioid use, harm reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic, drug decriminalization, and youth-focused interventions. Her work consistently addresses social inequities through data-driven approaches to the toxic drug crisis.

• CIHR Applied Public Health Chair
• Dorothy Killam Fellow
• Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar Award
• Distinguished SFU Professorship

She has secured over $50 million in research funding, including $21M as principal investigator for ARYS. Her lab collaborates with healthcare providers, community organizations, and policymakers to translate research into practice.