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APRIL UPDATE FROM THE INSTITUTE
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Welcome to the April Issue of the IAS Newsletter!
Happy Spring! IAS is very excited to share the latest developments in our research, education, and community engagement groups.
But first, we are thrilled to announce several new additions to the team! Please extend a warm welcome to the institute’s new Administrative Assistant, Katelyn Jimenez! Katelyn is a Cum Laude graduate from Cal State University, Los Angeles. She received her BA in Communications with an emphasis in Mass Communications along with two minors in Social Media and Entertainment Marketing. Katelyn has interned and volunteered with the East Los Angeles Women’s Center, Scooter Braun Projects, College Track, and Power California during her time in undergrad. Her interest in communications stems from her desire to help solve human communication problems by providing a perspective people don’t often receive from people & womxn of color.
IAS has also welcomed new faculty members Jo Marie Reilly, MD, Stuart Murray, PsyD, and Michael Jakowec, PhD!
Michael Jakowec, PhD is an Associate Professor of Research Neurology at the USC Keck School of Medicine. The primary focus of research in Dr. Jakowec's laboratory is to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in neuroplasticity in the injured brain with the emphasis on the basal ganglia, a region of the brain responsible for motor behavior. Currently, his laboratory is exploring the interactions between the neurotransmitter systems involving dopamine, glutamate and serotonin and finding ways to manipulate them to enhance motor behavior. To achieve this goal, animal models of basal ganglia injury using the neurotoxicant MPTP are being used to investigate intrinsic neuroplasticity as well as using both pharmacological and behavioral modification including intensive treadmill exercise to alter the course of response to injury. Dr. Jakowec will be joining the Mechanisms & Treatment Development (formerly the Biopsychosocial Mechanisms) group at IAS!
Jo Marie Reilly, MD, MPH is a Professor of Family Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine. She is the Director of the Keck School of Medicine Primary Care Initiative, Associate Director of the Introduction to Clinical Medicine Course, and Family Medicine Pre-Doctoral Director. Dr. Reilly’s publications and research interests include innovations in student and resident education, the primary care pipeline, physician well-being, care for the underserved, arts, humanities and narrative medicine and women and children’s health care. She is currently running an addiction medicine online elective course for 3rd and 4th year KSOM med students.
Stuart Murray, PsyD is the Della Martin Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where he serves as Director of the Eating Disorders Program, and Director of the Translational Research in Eating Disorders laboratory. He has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders for over a decade, and has authored more than 150 scientific manuscripts, books and book chapters, and has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally. Dr. Murray's program of research utilizes behavioral, psychophysiological and neuroimaging methods to (i) elucidate the mechanisms that underpin eating disorder psychopathology, and (ii) develop precision treatment approaches to optimize patient outcomes.
We are very much looking forward to Dr. Murray's, Dr. Reilly’s and Dr. Jakowec’s future collaborations with IAS!
The IAS March Distinguished Speaker Series featured prominent epidemiologist, Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH on the topic of “Monitoring of Seizure Data to Inform Surveillance of Fentanyl Use in the United States.” Dr. Palamar discussed the efficacy of seizure data as an indicator of fentanyl use/availability and presented trends in seizures caused by fentanyl powder and pills through 2022. He also presented new findings suggesting that fentanyl seizure rates can predict mortality rates. If you missed it, you can watch the Zoom recording here!
As always, we are very appreciative of your continued support of the Institute for Addiction Science and look forward to continuing to share our ongoing and upcoming projects and activities with you.
Warmest Regards,
Adam Leventhal, John Clapp, Daryl Davies, Ricky Bluthenthal, Terry Church, Vickie Williams, Loba Ojo, and Jillian Boelke
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Don’t forget to register for the Early Career Addiction Science Showcase! This event showcases early career researchers’ cutting-edge research in addiction science and is open for all to attend. Empirical findings that have not been previously published are showcased at an annual event with podium presentations by each researcher. Topics include, but are not limited to: Clinical research, epidemiology, health policy/regulatory science, pharmacology, pre-clinical research, social and behavioral sciences, prevention/treatment research, and concepts in etiology. Click here to register to attend the showcase on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 11am-3pm PST!
This is a FINAL REMINDER to apply to the USC Master of Addiction Science program. Applications are due on May 1, 2023! The USC MAS is designed for students interested in transdisciplinary and inter-professional approaches to the study of addiction. By interacting with instructors and peers from a variety of disciplines and professions, students in the MAS program will obtain a broader and deeper understanding and set of skills that considers addiction from the ‘cell to society perspective.’ As such, MAS graduates will be poised to take the knowledge and skills gained in the program back to their respective current or future professions to enhance interdisciplinary and inter-professional collaboration.
In other education news, the USC Rising STARS program has officially launched and is welcoming its first cohort! The program has accepted 6 students who are currently being matched with their mentors. We are so excited to see these students thrive and contribute to the future of the field of addiction science.
IAS member, Steve Sussman, PhD is also shaping the future of addiction scientists. Dr. Sussman will be teaching a course in Fall 2023 called PM 599 – Stigma. This course is open to all graduate students and may be of particular interest to MPH program students. The 4-unit course will be held on Wednesdays from 11am-1:30am PST. Keep a look out in the USC Schedule of Classes!
On June 9, 2023 there will be an Addiction Science Research Training Retreat at the California Endowment from 8:00am – 5:00pm PST. Hosted by Charles Drew with collaborators from UCLA and UCI, this 2 nd annual event will feature five training programs in Southern California, two of which involve USC IAS.
- Univ. Southern California Institute for Addiction Science
- CA State Univ. San Bernardino Smoke and Tobacco Outreach and Prevention Scholars (STOPS) program
- UCLA T32 Program in the Translational Neuroscience of Drug Abuse
- UC Irvine T32 Training Program in Substance Use and Use disorders
- Drew Medical University
Keynote Speakers:
- Adam Leventhal, PhD – Director of USC Institute for Addiction Science
- Wilson Compton, MD MPE – Deputy Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse
We encourage you to invite any research trainees you work with to attend this retreat as this will be a wonderful opportunity for trainees to learn more about the addiction science research training programs that are going on in Southern California as well as network with other leaders in the field. There is no cost to attend and the invite is open to everyone, not just trainees. Email Vickie Williams at victoria.williams.0@usc.edu to RSVP. |
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IAS 2022 Distinguished Speaker Series - May 2023 Speaker Event:
Julia Dilley, PhD
University of Washington
This talk will be in-person at the Soto Street Building Room 116
1845 N. Soto Street Los Angeles, CA 90032
Lunch and parking provided.
(Please see receptionist upon arrival and she will provide you with a parking permit to place on your dashboard.)
(virtual attendance via zoom will also be available)
Registration link coming soon.
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Marshall University has two open positions in their Psychology department. Marshall University is located in Huntington, WV, which is heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic. As such, there are excellent opportunities here for addictions researchers and clinicians, including some ongoing interdisciplinary efforts in both the university and the community. There are two tenure-track Assistant Professor positions available, with a third to be posted soon. The first position requires a degree in clinical or counseling psychology and includes teaching in the PsyD program as well as opportunities to work with undergraduates. The second is open regarding area, with a preference for individuals interested in teaching courses at all levels related to methodology and statistics. The third position should be posted soon and will also require a degree in clinical or counseling psychology and include teaching in our PsyD program. Please feel free to share this information with any students, post-docs, etc. who may be interested!
Research Team - Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences is in search of: A dependable, flexible, and detail-oriented person is needed to join a research team at the University of Southern California to participate in new pilot studies related to substance use, including studies related to cannabis use during pregnancy. These studies are investigating harm reduction approaches to substance use, including how expanding cannabis legalization may worsen existing maternal health disparities.
Employment Involves:
(1) Data collection. Conducting one-on-one interviews and focus groups with study participants (e.g., people who inject drugs, women who use cannabis during pregnancy, young women who vape, health providers and midwives);
(2) Data analysis. Conducting data analysis (e.g., thematic analysis, grounded theory using ATLAS.ti);
(3) Project management. Supporting all study-related project and data management (e.g., Institutional Review Board submissions and related protocols, managing and storing data according to HIPAA, managing
transcription of data).
Excellent English writing and speaking skills are required, and bilingual in English and Spanish writing and speaking skills are ideal. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational capabilities, superb problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks. Opportunities for mentorship and support in writing manuscript writing and peer-reviewed publications are available. Flexible hours on some evenings and weekends may be needed (e.g., conducting research interviews to accommodate study participants’ schedules). The majority of the work will be conducted remote from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday). Prior experience in a research environment is preferred.Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the social sciences or in a health related field is preferred.
For more information or to apply, please email Rachel Carmen Ceasar, PhD, Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences at rceasar@usc.edu.
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PUBLICATIONS FROM IAS FACULTY
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Below are selected publications from the previous month (March 2023) from faculty members and scholars of the Institute for Addiction Science.
Berg, C. J., Romm, K. F., Barker, D. C., Schleicher, N., Johnson, T. O., Wang, Y., Sussman, S., & Henriksen, L. (2023). Changes in the point-of-sale among vape shops in 6 US metropolitan areas over time, 2018-2021. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntad046
Brevers, D., Billieux, J., de Timary, P., Desmedt, O., Maurage, P., Perales, J. C., Suárez-Suárez, S., & Bechara, A. (2023). Physical exercise to Redynamize interoception in Substance Use Disorders. Current Neuropharmacology, 21. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159x21666230314143803
Cho, J., Sussman, S., Kechter, A., Vogel, E. A., Barrington-Trimis, J. L., Unger, J. B., & Leventhal, A. M. (2023). Alcohol use and life stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study of young adults. Journal of Substance Use, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2023.2183909
Do, E. K., Aarvig, K., Donovan, E. M., Barrington-Trimis, J. L., Vallone, D. M., & Hair, E. C. (2023). E-cigarette device type, source, and use behaviors of youth and young adults: Findings from the Truth Longitudinal Cohort (2020–2021). Substance Use & Misuse, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2188555
Lambdin, B. H., Wenger, L., Bluthenthal, R., Bartholomew, T. S., Tookes, H. E., LaKosky, P., O’Neill, S., & Kral, A. H. (2023). How do contextual factors influence naloxone distribution from syringe service programs in the USA: A cross-sectional study. Harm Reduction Journal, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00755-4
Montero-Zamora, P., Vos, S. R., Unger, J. B., Zeledon, I., Lee, R., Soto, D. W., Brown, E. C., Duque, M., Garcia, M. F., Scaramutti, C., Ertanir, B., & Schwartz, S. J. (2023). Perceived negative political climate among Hispanic/latino adolescents before and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election: Associations with internalizing symptoms and substance use. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 94, 101790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101790
Rahman, T., Rogers, C. J., Albers, L. D., Forster, M., & Unger, J. B. (2023). Adverse childhood experiences, acculturation, and risky sexual behaviors in Hispanic young adults: Findings from Project Red. The Journal of Sex Research, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2023.2184762
Sinclair, D. L., Sussman, S., Vantomme, L., Florence, M., Savahl, S., & Vanderplasschen, W. (2023). Service providers’ perceptions of substitute addictions in the Western Cape, South Africa. Journal of Drug Issues, 002204262311595. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220426231159550
Smith, K. E., Wang, W. L., & Mason, T. B. (2023). Facets of impulsivity and reward in relation to binge‐eating disorder course of illness among children: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13789
Tackett, A. P., Dai, H. D., Han, D.-H., Vogel, E. A., Coreas, S. I., Jafarzadeh, N., Gonzalez Anaya, M. J., Patel, D., Peraza, N., Mason, T. B., & Leventhal, A. M. (2023). Appeal of e-cigarette flavors: Differences between never and ever use of combustible cigarettes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 109849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109849
Tsui, J., Sloan, K., Sheth, R., Ewusi Boisvert, E., Nieva, J., Kim, A. W., Pang, R. D., Sussman, S., & Kirkpatrick, M. (2023). Implementation Planning for Equitable Tobacco Treatment Services: A mixed methods assessment of contextual facilitators and barriers in a large comprehensive cancer center. Translational Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibac122
Walters, S. M., Liu, W., Lamuda, P., Huh, J., Brewer, R., Johnson, O. D., Bluthenthal, R. N., Taylor, B., & Schneider, J. A. (2023). A national portrait of public attitudes toward opioid use in the US: A latent class analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4455. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054455
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PUBLICATIONS FROM IAS FACULTY
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This section highlights a few news articles from the month highlighting research or programming from an IAS member or IAS research program, as well as articles related to addiction science.
Fentanyl Fuels Surge in Deaths Among Those Who Are Homeless
The Wall Street Journal, March 27th, 2023
What is Fentanyl and Why Is It So Dangerous?
The Wall Street Journal, March 29th, 2023
FDA Makes Overdose-Reversal Drug Narcan Available Over-the-Counter
The Wall Street Journal, March 29th, 2023
Telemedicine Startups Wary of Regulatory Shift in War on Opioid Addiction
The Wall Street Journal, March 30th, 2023
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Trietler Addiction Science SCupport
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Continue the USC Day of SCupport by visiting the Trietler Family's donation page! By making a gift to the USC Institute for Addiction Science, you will be transforming and unifying the field of addiction science and substantially improving the lives of those touched by addiction. Thank you for your donation!
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