James A Swartz, PhD

Professional Interests

Treatment for alcohol and other substance use disorders
Integrating behavioral and primary health care
Epidemiology of health conditions among persons with serious mental illnesses
Health and behavioral health care for LGBTQ populations
Preventing opioid overdoses and prescription drug abuse
Developing data monitoring systems for substance use and substance use-related issues

Teaching Experience

Mental Health Policy
Program Evaluation
Introductory and Intermediate Statistics
Research Methods

Practice Experience:

Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic therapy with adults

Recent Peer-Reviewed Articles

Watson, D. P., Swartz, J. A., Magee, L. A., Bray, B. C., Phalen, P., Medcalf, S., Brucker, K., & McGuire, A. B. (2024). Latent class analysis of emergency department patients engaged in telehealth peer recovery coaching and associations of identified classes with post-discharge outcomes. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. Online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209282

Watson, D.P., Ray, B., Phelan, P., Duhart Clarke, S. E., Taylor, L., Swartz, J. A., & Gastala, N. (2023). Fentanyl exposure and detection strategies utilized by clinical trial participants seeking linkage to opioid use disorder treatment at a syringe service program. Journal of Medical Toxicology. Online publication. doi: 10.1007/s13181-023-00979-7

Swartz, J.A., Franceschini, D., & Scamperle, K. (2023). Mental health and substance use disorder comorbidities among Medicaid beneficiaries: Associations with opioid use disorder and prescription opioid misuse. AIMS Public Health, 10(3), 658-677. https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.20230

Swartz, J.A., Lieberman, M., Jimenez, A.D., Mackesy-Amiti, M.E., Whitehead, H.D., Hayes, K.L., Robison-Taylor, L., & Prete, E. (2023). Current attitudes toward drug checking services and a comparison of expected with actual drugs present in street drug samples collected from opioid users. Harm Reduction Journal, 20, 87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00821-x

Whitehead, H.D., Hayes, K.L., Swartz, J.A., & Lieberman, M. (2023). Development and validation of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of 53 benzodiazepines in illicit drug samples. Forensic Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forc.2023.100512

Swartz, J.A., Mackesy-Amiti, M.E., Jimenez, A.D., Robinson-Taylor, L., & Prete, E. (2023). Feasibility study of using mobile phone-based experience sampling to assess drug checking by opioid street drug users. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 9:9. Online publication. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01321-2

Whitehead, H.D., Hayes, K.L., Swartz, J.A., Prete, E., Robison-Taylor, L., Mackesy-Amiti, M.E., Jiminez, A.D., & Lieberman, M. (2023). Validated method for the analysis of 22 illicit drugs and their metabolites via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in illicit drug samples collected in Chicago, IL. Forensic Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forc.2023.100475

Swartz, J.A., Lin, Q., & Kim, Y. (2022) A measurement invariance analysis of selected Opioid Overdose Knowledge Scale (OOKS) items among bystanders and first responders. PLOS ONE. Online publication. https://doi.1371/journal.pone.0271418

Smith, D.C., Begum, S., Carrington, A.A., Campbell, C.C., Taylor, S.E., Reinhart, C.A., & Swartz, J.A. (2022). Adolescent cannabis use among youth in zip codes with medical dispensaries. Cannabis, 5(3), 36-46. Doi: 10.26828/cannabis/2022.03.004

Smith, D., Begum, S., Carrington, A., Campbell, C., Taylor, S., Reinhart, C. & Swartz, J. (2022) “Adolescent cannabis use among youth in zip codes with medical dispensaries.” Cannabis. https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/124

Watson, D., Swartz, J.A., Robison-Taylor, L., Mackesy-Amiti, M. E., Erwin, K., Gastala, N., Jimenez, A. D., Staton, M. D., & Messmer, S. (2021). Syringe service program-based telemedicine linkage to opioid use disorder treatment: Protocol for a randomized control trial of the STAMINA intervention. BMC Public Health, 21, 630. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10669-0

Hotton, A. L., Perloff, J., Paul, J., Parker, C., Ducheny, K., Holloway, T., Johnson, A. K., Garofalo, R., Swartz, J.A., & Kuhns, L. M. (2020). Patterns of exposure to socio-structural stressors and HIV care engagement among transgender women of color. AIDS & Behavior, online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-02874-6

Swartz, J.A., & Beltran, S. J. (2019). A comparison of prescription opioid availability and opioid overdose-related mortality rates in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states. Addiction, online publication. doi.org/10.1111/add.14741

Horn, K., & Swartz, J.A. (2019). A comparative analysis of lifetime medical conditions and infectious diseases by sexual identity, attraction, and concordance among women: Results from a national U. S. survey. International. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(8), online publication. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16081399

Swartz, J.A., Ducheney, K., Holloway, T., Stokes, L., Willis, S., & Kuhns, L. M. (2019). A latent class analysis of chronic health conditions among HIV positive transgender women of color. AIDS and Behavior. doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02543-3

Labash, A. K., & Swartz, J.A. (2018). Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with trauma exposure among Latina immigrants in primary medical care. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work. Online publication. doi: 10.1080/15313204.2018.1449691

Swartz, J.A., & McCarty-Caplan, D. (2017). A longitudinal study of the patterns of stimulant and amyl nitrite use and sexual behavior pre- and post-HIV seroconversion among MSM. Aids & Behavior. Online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10461-017-2008-y

Swartz, J.A., & Horn, K. (2017). A comparative analysis of lifetime medical conditions and infectious diseases by sexual identity, attraction, and concordance among men: Results from a national U. S. survey. Medical Research Archives, 5, 1-17.

Swartz, J.A., & Tabahi, S. (2016). Community-based mental health treatment use by jail detainees with serious mental illnesses. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. Online publication. doi: 10.1080/14999013.2016.1255283

Mayer, J., Mayer, T., Stabile, B., Kane-Willis, K., Metzger, S., Neill, K. A., & Swartz, J.A. (2016). Medical system rant and response: Perspective of a substance abuse counselor. World Medical and Health Policy. Online publication. doi: 10.1002/wmh3.200

O’Grady, C., & Swartz, J.A. (2016). The effects of insurance status and medical need on community-based health care access among jail detainees with serious mental illnesses. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Online publication. doi: 10.1177/0093854816642814

Swartz, J.A. (2016). A multigroup latent class analysis of chronic medical conditions by HIV serostatus among men who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior, 20, 2418-2432. doi: 10.1007/s10461-016-1381-2

Hirshfield, S., Downing Jr., M. J., Horvath, K. J., Swartz, J.A., & Chiasson, M. A. (2016). Adapting Andersen’s behavioral model of health service use to examine risk factors for hypertension among U.S. MSM. American Journal of Men’s Health. In press.

Books and Book Chapters

Swartz, J.A. (2017). Randomized controlled trials in substance abuse treatment research: Fundamental aspects and new developments in random assignment strategies, comparison/control conditions, and design characteristics (pp. 43-63). In J. VanGeest, T. Johnson, & S. Alemagno (Eds.) Research methods in the study of substance abuse. New York, NY: Springer.

Horn, K., & Swartz, J.A. (2020). A comparative analysis of lifetime medical conditions and infectious diseases by sexual identity, attraction, and concordance among women: Results from a national U.S. survey (pp. 19-32). In C. Meads (Ed.) Health and wellbeing in sexual orientation and gender identity. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/books978-3-03928-369-9

Swartz, J.A. (2012). Substance abuse in America: A documentary and reference guide. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Editorial Reviews

AIDS and Behavior
American Journal on Addictions
American Journal of Men’s Health
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
American Journal of Public Health
AIMS Public Health
Archives of General Psychiatry
Behavior and Social Issues
BMC Public Health
Criminal Justice and Behavior
Contemporary Drug Problems
Crime and Delinquency
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
International Journal of Drug Policy
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation
Justice Quarterly
LGBT Health
Medical Care
PLOS One
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
Psychiatric Services
Psychological Medicine
Substance Use and Misuse
World Medical and Health Policy

NIH Reviewer

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Special Emphasis Panel reviewer.
National Institutes of Health Center for Scientific Review ad hoc panel reviewer.

BA, University of Notre Dame
MA, Loyola University Chicago
PhD, Northwestern University

American Psychological Association
Society for Social Work Research
American Public Health Association

Swartz, J. A., Franceschini, D., Robison, L., & Madan, S. (2023, August). Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act 2023 annual report.  Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, Chicago, IL.

Watson, D. P., Magee, L. A., Swartz, J. A., Phalen, P., & McGuire, A. B. (2023, June). Identifying latent classes of emergency department patients receiving telehealth peer recovery coach services for substance use disorder and assessing class predictors and outcomes. Presentation at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Denver, CO.

Swartz, J. A. (2023, May). Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act 2023 brief report.  Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, Chicago, IL.

Watson, D., Dewey, J., Staton, M. D., Swartz, J. A. (2022, October). “I bought some on the streets, and it worked”: Accessing non-prescribed buprenorphine and methadone in the time of COVID-19. Presentation at the 13^th National Harm Reduction Conference. San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Swartz, J. A., Franceschini, D., Robison, L., & Madan, S. (2022, August). Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act 2022 annual report.  Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2022, March). Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act evaluation study (and some other stuff) . Presentation at the UIC “East-West Research Mixer”. Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2020, October). Adaptation of a paper analytical device to test street drugs to reduce opioid overdoses and related fatalities. Annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, online presentation.

Swartz, J. A. (2020, October). Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: Data requirements. Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2020, March). UIC’s response to the opioid epidemic. UIC Alumni Association, Oak Brook, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2020, January). Use of item response theory methods to analyze performance of the opioid overdose use knowledge scale. UIC Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2019, April). Combating drug addiction and the opioid crisis. Presentation to the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program, UIC School of Public Health, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2019, March). Effective strategies for addressing the opioid epidemic. Panel discussant at the UIC School of Public Health Annual Alumni Learning Series, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2019, January). A latent class analysis of chronic health conditions among HIV positive transgender women of color. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, San Francisco, CA.

Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act Evaluation (CRTA) Study
This study engages in data collection, analysis, and project evaluation under the guidance of the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery and the Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee. The overall goals are to determine the public health impacts of legalizing recreational cannabis use and to assess the implementation, efficacy, and effectiveness of substance misuse and mental health treatment and prevention programs developed with funding from the CRTA.

Prevent Prescription Drug Opioid-Related Overdose Fatalities (PDO-2) Evaluation.
This 5-year project is an extension and continuation of an earlier project to prevent opioid-related overdoses and fatalties. As with the earlier project, this prevention program seeks to expand locally based overdose prevention infrastructure capabilities in communities of high need. The PDO-2 evaluation is focused on documenting the efforts to prevent opioid overdoses and related fatalities among Illinois residents 18 years or age or older who receive Narcan/naloxone, overdose prevention and reversal education, and other services provided by the five participating Cook County sites.