James A Swartz, PhD

Professional Interests

• Epidemiology of and treatment for alcohol and other substance use disorders
• Public health effects of legalizing adult use cannabis
• Integrating behavioral and primary health care
• Epidemiology of health conditions among persons with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders
• 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

Swartz, J. A., & Franceschini, D. (2025). Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in the US, 2016-2022. JAMA Network Open,8(11). Online publication. doi: 10.1177/29768357251372

Franceschini, D., Watson, D. P., Swartz, J. A., Dewey, J., Mackesy-Amity, M. E., Taylor, L., Staton, M., Zhao, P., Messmer, S., Jimenez, A. D., & Gastala, N. (2025). Syringe service program-based telemedicine linkage to opioid use disorder treatment: Results from a mixed-method pragmatic randomized trial of the STAMINA intervention. Substance Use: Research and Treatment. doi: 10.1177/29768357251372

Marino, N. M., Call, A., Franceschini, D., & Swartz, J. A. (2025). Barriers providers face to prescribe buprenorphine as MOUD that can inform critical supports after the removal of the DATA-Waiver. Journal of Opioid Management. doi: 10.5055/jom.0932

Swartz, J. A., & Franceschini, D. (2025). High on hemp: The proliferation of public health implications and policy debate over regulating hemp-derived psychoactive products. Policy Spotlight, Institute of Government and Public Affairs, University of Illinois System. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.11554.34247

Swartz, J. A., Franceschini, D., Marino, N. M., Call, A., Rosenberger, L., & Whitehouse, S. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to prescribing buprenorphine for treating opioid use disorder among emergency department and other practice setting physicians. Aims Public Health. 12(1). 56-76. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025005

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

Swartz, J. A., Zhao, P., Jacobucci, R., Watson, D. P., Mackesy-Amiti, M. E., Franceschini, D., & Jimenez, A. D. (2024). Associations among drug acquisition and use behaviors, psychosocial attributes, and opioid-involved overdoses. BMC Public Health, 24. Online publication. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19217-y

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

Books and Book Chapters

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. (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.

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

Essays

Swartz, J. A. (June 2024). Stolen moments. Adelaide Literary Magazine, 64.

Editorial Reviews

AIDS and Behavior
AIDS Care
American Journal on Addictions
American Journal of Epidemiology
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
BMJ Open
Contemporary Drug Problems
Criminal Justice and Behavior
Crime and Delinquency
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Evaluation and Program Planning
International Journal of Drug Policy
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
International Journal of Preventive Medicine
Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation
Journal of Research and Policy
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Justice Quarterly
LGBT Health
Medical Care
PLOS One
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
Psychiatric Services
Psychological Medicine
Social Services Review
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.

• BMC Public Health, guest editor for special collection, Progress on Reducing Opioid-Related Harms (2024 – present).
• American Public Health Association abstract reviewer (2016 - present).
• AIMS Public Health editorial board member (2015 - present).
• BMC Public Health – Health behavior, health promotion, and society
  editorial board member (2020 – present).
• Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse member (2007 – 2012).
• Cook County Health/Chicago Department of Public Health Behavioral Workforce Steering Committee (2023-2024)
• Society for Social Work and Research abstract reviewer (2009 – present).

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. (2025, November). Evaluation study of the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. University of Illinois Chicago, SPARKS talk, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2025, August). Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act 2025 annual report. Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, Chicago, IL.

Giangrande, E., Franceschini, D., & Swartz, J. A. (2025, July). Opioid overdose in older black men: Community perspectives on risk and resilience in change. Presentation at the annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, New Orleans, LA.

Swartz, J. A. (2025, April). Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee Meeting: CRTA evaluation update. Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2025, April). The effects of the Illinois Cannabis Regulation & Tax Act. University of Illinois Institute for Government and Public Affairs, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A., & Franceschini, D.  (2024, September). Highlights from the 2024 Annual Report on Cannabis Use in Illinois. 5^th Annual Southern Illinois Hemp/Cannabis Symposium. Carbondale, IL.

Swartz, J. A., Franceschini, D., & Han, Y. (2024, August). Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act 2024 annual report. Illinois Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee, Chicago, IL.

Swartz, J. A. (2024, July). The opioid epidemic: A review of the current landscape and effective interventions. Presentation for the Council on Social Work Education Clinical Support System Webinars Program, Chicago, IL.

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 fatalities. As with the earlier project, this prevention program aims to expand the capabilities of locally based overdose prevention infrastructure 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.

One Hope United (OHU) Hope Houses Study.
The project's goal is to determine if the OHU model meets the clearinghouse criteria for being an evidence-based practice. The project will be conducted over 18 months, beginning July 1, 2025, and will employ a quasi-experimental design to assess established homes in Florida, as well as an implementation study of new homes that are currently being built in Illinois. The UIC researchers will be joined by Co-Principal Investigators Lisa Schelbe of Florida State University and an investigative team from the National Opinion Research Center.

Development of a Treatment Program Ratings System for Substance Use Treatment.
This project will develop a ratings system for treatment program quality and effectiveness, to be used by the Illinois Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, treatment providers, and consumers. The system will be implemented via a dedicated Internet portal. Funding is provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery