IHCCM - Faculty

Robin A. Pollini is an epidemiologist whose research focuses on reducing the public health impact of injection drug use. Dr. Pollini has conducted studies on overdose risk factors and reasons for inappropriate response to overdose; factors that facilitate and impede drug treatment participation; and barriers to treatment of blood borne infections. Her most recent efforts focus on characterizing structural-level factors that increase HIV transmission risk among injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico. Prior to earning her MPH and PhD degrees from the Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Pollini worked as an immunization policy specialist for both the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the United South and Eastern Tribes.

Selected Publications:

Case P, Ramos R, Brouwer KC, Firestone-Cruz M, Pollini RA, Fraga MA, Patterson TL, Strathdee SA. At the borders, on the edge: use of injected methamphetamine in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (accepted).

O'Toole TP, Pollini RA, Gray P, Jones T, Bigelow G, Ford D. Factors identifying high and low frequency health services utilization among substance using adults. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (accepted).

Pollini RA, McCall L, Mehta S, Celentano DD, Vlahov D, Strathdee SA. Response to overdose among injection drug users. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2006; 31:261-264.

Pollini RA, McCall L, Mehta SH, Vlahov D, Strathdee SA. Non-fatal overdose and subsequent drug treatment among injection drug users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2006; 83:104-110.

Pollini RA, O'Toole TP, Ford D, Bigelow G. Does this patient really want treatment? Factors associated with baseline and evolving readiness for change among hospitalized substance using adults interested in treatment. Addictive Behaviors 2006; 31:1904-1918.

O'Toole TP, Pollini RA, Ford D, Bigelow G. Physical health as a motivator for substance abuse treatment among medically ill adults: Is it enough to keep them in treatment? Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2006; 31:143-150.

Wang C, Vlahov D, Galai N, Cole S, Bareta J, Pollini R, Mehta S, Nelson E, Galea S. The effect of HIV infection on overdose mortality. AIDS 2005; 19:935-942.

Strathdee SA, Latka M, Campbell J, O'Driscoll PT, Golub ET, Kapadia F, Pollini RA, Garfein RS, Thomas DL, Hagan H; Study to Reduce Intravenous Drug Exposures Project. Factors associated with interest in initiating treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among young HCV-infected injection drug users. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2005; 40:S304-12.