Research

People experiencing pain are more likely to use substances, which can, in turn, intensify pain, reduce treatment effectiveness, and lower quality of life. Research in the PATH Lab investigates how pain and substance use (nicotine/tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, benzodiazepines) influence one another over time, creating a cycle that worsens both conditions.

Our research explores how psychological factors, like how people think and feel about pain, contribute to both pain and substance use. This work examines shared emotional and cognitive processes that make it harder to manage distress, such as anxiety sensitivity, pain-related fear, and catastrophic thinking about pain. These factors can increase the urge to use substances like alcohol or prescription opioids to cope. This research will guide new approaches to help individuals with chronic pain reduce or quit substance use.

Our goal is to create effective, accessible treatments for individuals experiencing both pain and substance use, including those living with cancer or chronic pain. Research from our lab has shown that pain and related factors can make quitting substances like tobacco more difficult and increase relapse risk. Building on this work, we are developing and testing tailored interventions, such as mobile health (mHealth) approaches. These projects reflect our commitment to designing scalable, evidence-based strategies that meet the unique needs of people managing both pain and substance use.

A core focus of the PATH Lab is understanding how pain and substance use intersect across diverse and underserved populations. Our research has highlighted disparities showing that pain and menthol cigarette use contribute to greater nicotine dependence among Black adults, and that pain is linked to higher rates of substance use and dependence among women, Black adults, and individuals living with HIV. More recently, our work has expanded to include individuals living with cancer, an often overlooked group in this area of research.