The Greek and Jewish traditions knew about passion and its devastating effects. They also understood the deleterious consequences of substance abuse. Pascasius published in 1561 a monograph on the disease model of pathological gambling. Very modern in his view, some scholars see him as the father of cognitive therapy. His work was forgotten. His rediscovery situates the history of the disease model of addictions in 1561. What were Canadian scientists doing while the US and UK were subsidizing large studies on treatment effectiveness in addictions? They were validating treatment effectiveness, exploring co-occurring disorders and looking at traumatic stress disorders among persons in treatment for an addiction. In the last decade, the availably of synthetic opioids has changed the black-market and is causing a high-rate of overdose deaths-more than 52 000 deaths since 2016. All Canadians are at risk given the powerful properties of these drugs. About a decade ago, Internet was made available worldwide. Many papers described the deleterious effects of long screentime on child development. Online gambling has increased as has youth betting. Publicity on social networks and advertising is difficult to stop. Private or unlicensed operators use the risk-taking propension of adolescent brains. There is a dearth of prevention programs in this country that aim at specific small groups.
Louise Nadeau, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, was awarded the Order of Canada (2018) and the Ordre national du Québec (2017). She is an elected fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2016) and the Royal Society of Canada (2015). Dr. Nadeau's research focused on the prediction of recidivism among high-risk drivers under the influence, on co-occurring disorders in the addictions, gambling and Internet addiction. She works presently on the history of the addictions, a publication of 1561 having changed the history of the disease model of addictions.
Louise Nadeau was, among other boards, vice-chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Governing Council (2000-2006) and a member of the Conseil de l'Université de Montréal (2016-2020), the Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (2010-2018), the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (2013-2016) and its Advisory Committee of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (2008-2013).
Dr. Nadeau was awarded, among others, the Prix du Québec Marie-Andrée Bertrand 2012, the most prestigious award by the Gov. of Québec in science; Prix Pierre-Dansereau 2013 for the social commitment of a scientist by l'ACFAS; Prix de la Ministre in graduate teaching (2022). She was the Personality of the Week in La Presse (2012.12.31) and her photo stood at the metro Place d'Armes.
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