Substance use disorders are a major public health concern in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2006 22.6 million persons in the U.S. (9.2% of the adult population) were categorized as having substance abuse or dependence in the previous year. The health burden of substance use is great, and ranges from direct toxic effects, to the consequences of acute intoxication, to the sequelae of a number of chronic medical and psychiatric conditions. The social and economic burden of substance use is also substantial. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in 2002 the economic cost of drug abuse was estimated at $180.9 billion, most of which can be attributed to losses of productivity. Despite the high prevalence and the burden of substance use disorders, the majority of individuals who need treatment do not receive it.
An Institute of Medicine report released in 2006 recommended better coordination of mental health and substance-related services with general health care services. Hopkins GIM faculty work closely with their colleagues in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in several innovative treatment programs, in curriculum development and medical education, and in the following research areas: 1) Screening and brief intervention for substance use disorders in general medical settings; 2) the impact of alcohol and other drug use on adherence and health outcomes in HIV-infected persons; 3) office-based opioid agonist treatment; and 4) the impact of substance use on chronic disease management. Information about the faculty working in this research area and their projects is provided below.
Anika Alvanzo, MD, MA
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Relationship between substance use and trauma exposure, screening and brief interventions in primary care settings
Link to publication abstracts: PubMed
Geetangali Chander, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Co-Director, General Internal Medicine Fellowship Program
Research Interests: Hazardous drinking among HIV-infected and HIV at-risk individuals; co-occurring substance misuse and psychiatric disorders among HIV-infected individuals
Link to publication abstracts: PubMed
Amina Chaudhry, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Director of the inpatient substance abuse consult-liaison service
Research Interests: Identification and mangement of substance use disorders in general medicla care; integration of substance use treatment and HIV care
Link to publication abstracts: PubMed
Richard Moore, MD, MHS
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Chief Executive Officer, Moore Clinic for HIV Care
Research Interests: Health services and outcomes research in HIV/AIDS; epidemiology of substance use among HIV-infected persons
Link to publication abstracts: PubMed
J. Hunter Young, MD, MHS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Impact of substance use disorders on chronic disease management.
Link to publication abstracts: PubMed
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