Skip to main content
Skip to main content
University of Houston
  • Become a Member
  • Give to HRI
  • Contact Us

HEALTH Research Institute

  • About
    • Annual Report
  • Research
    • Basic Biomedical Science
    • Community-based Implementation Strategies
    • Mental Health and Substance Use and Abuse
    • Social Determinants of Health Behavior
  • Programs
    • H-Town CHAT
    • TOUCH
    • TTTF
    • UHAND
    • Pilots
  • People
    • Leadership
    • Executive Board
    • CAB
    • Our Team
    • Fellows
    • Mentees 2017
    • Mentees 2018
    • Affiliates
    • Become A Member
  • News
    • Newsletters
  • Conference
  • Join Our Team
  1. Home
  2. Mental Health and Substance Use and Abuse
  3. Substance Use and Abuse

Substance Use and Abuse

Substance abuse dramatically affects health outcomes. We analyze the connection between substance use and abuse and how it causes chronic, and even deadly, illnesses. For example, though illicit drug use a serious health concern, nicotine is extremely harmful. It is the single most abused substance in the world -- an estimated 40 million Americans are addicted to nicotine in spite of its well-publicized deadly affects. Our research aims to study the cycle of substance use and abuse and developed strategies to break the cycle for all.

Subtance Abuse Research Lab
Substance Use and Abuse

Featured Publications

  • Racial and gender inequities in the implementation of a cannabis criminal justice diversion program in a large and diverse metropolitan county of the USA
  • Tobacco-related knowledge following a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace program within behavioral health facilities: Identifying organizational moderators
  • Evaluation of the Taking Texas Tobacco Free Workplace Program within behavioral health centers
  • Organizational Characteristics and Readiness for Tobacco-Free Workplace Program Implementation Moderates Changes in Clinician’s Delivery of Smoking Interventions within Behavioral Health Treatment Clinics
  • Clinician Training in the Adaptation of a Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Workplace Program in Agencies Serving the Homeless and Vulnerably Housed

Latest News

Photo by lil artsy for Pexels showing a woman smoking a cigarette
Lung Cancer Care: New NOSI grant awarded to HEALTH-RCMI researchers to help expand lung cancer screenings and interventions
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., according to the American Lung…
Photo by Kindel Media for Pexels
Reducing Harm from Cannabis Use: New Mobile Intervention designed by UH researcher slated to help Black American Cannabis Users
Recent data suggests that 30 percent of those who use Cannabis may have some degree of Cannabis Use…
Photo by Cotton Bro for Pexels
How to Talk to College Students about Alcohol Addiction and Binge Drinking
Dr. Ezemenari Obasi speaks on NPR member station Houston Public Media with reporter Matthew Harab
Portrait of Brooke Kauffman
New NOSI grant awarded to RESTORE Lab Researcher Brooke Kauffman to study Latinx Smokers and the Impact of Microaggressions on Smoking Behavior and Relapse
Discrimination can be enacted in overt and intended ways, but it can also occur in many subtle…
Image of red confetti on a black background with text in a condensed, bold typeface (in all caps) that reads, "Four Pilot Grants Awarded to HEALTH-RCMI Researchers and Early-Stage Investigators"
Four Pilot Grants Awarded to HEALTH-RCMI Researchers and Early-Stage Investigators
To nurture the research paths of early-stage investigators, pilot project grants are tailored to…
UH Health Research Institute


Houston, TX 77204
(713) 743-7684

    Quick Links

  • Become a Member
  • HRI Support Staff
  • UH Research Calendar
  • UH Research Thrusts: Accessible Health Care
  • Join Our Team

Connect With Us

Read our Newsletter



©2022 University of Houston. All rights reserved.

  • Report a problem with this page
  • Texas.gov
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • TRAIL
  • Fraud Reporting
  • Fraud & Non-Compliance Hotline
  • Linking Notice
  • Privacy Notice
  • Open Records/Public Information Act
  • Institutional Résumé
  • Required Reports
  • Electronic & Information Resources Accessibility
  • Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Awareness
  • University Policies