Walter Ling, M.D.

ISAP Researchers' Profiles

Walter Ling, M.D.

Walter Ling, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP) at UCLA, one of the foremost substance abuse research groups in the United States and worldwide. He is board certified in neurology and psychiatry, is active in research and clinical work, and has been listed in “Best Doctors in America,” “Best Doctors in the West,” and “Best Doctors in Los Angeles.” Dr. Ling’s research in opiate pharmacotherapy provided pivotal information for the approval of LAAM, naltrexone, and buprenorphine. His current research includes prescription opiate abuse and dependence, opiate-induced hyperalgesia, treatment of pain in opiate-maintained patients, including those treated with buprenorphine, and the role of buprenorphine in the management of pain in these patients. The scope of ISAP’s research has encompassed the development of medications and psychosocial strategies for the treatment of opiate, cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, and nicotine abuse and dependence. As Principal Investigator of NIDA’s Clinical Trial Network’s Pacific Region Node, Dr. Ling has extended ISAP’s research beyond the United States to Asia and the Middle East.

Education and Training

  • Chulalonghorn Univ. Med. Sch., Bangkok, Thailand, M.D., Medicine, 1963
  • Internship, Chulalonghorn Univ., Bangkok, Thailand, 1963-1964
  • Internship, Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO, 1964-1965
  • Residency, Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO, Neurology, 1965-1968
  • Residency, Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO, Psychiatry, 1968-1970

Specialties

  • Addiction Medicine
  • Pain Management and Research
  • Psychiatry and Neurology

Contact Info

UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 120
Los Angeles, CA 90025
lwalter@ucla.edu

Selected Publications

Ling W, Hillhouse M, Domier C, Doraimaini G, Hunter J, Thomas C, Jenkins J, Hasson A, Annon J, Saxon A, Selzer J, Boverman J, Bilang R. (2009). Buprenorphine tapering schedule and illicit opioid use. Addiction, 104, 236-265.

Wesson DR. Smith DR, Ling W, Sabnini S. Substance abuse: sedative, hypnotic, or anxioloytic use disorders. In: Tashman A, Kay JA, Lieberman J, First MB, Maj M, eds. Psychiatry. Vol. 1 Third ed. Chicchester, England: John Wiley & Sons; 2008:1187-1200.

Shoptaw S, Heinzerling K, Rotheram-Fuller E, Steward T, Wang J, Swanson A, DeLaGarza R, Newton T, Ling W. (2008). Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of bupropion for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.03.010.

Compton P, Ling W, Chiang N, Moody D, Huber A, Ling D, Charuvastra C. (2007). Pharmacokenetics of Buprenorphine: A Comparison of Sublingual Tablet Versus Liquid after Chronic Dosing. Journal Addiction Medicine, 1(2), 88-95.

Ling W. (2007). Why we do what we do-delivery of buprenorphine and the treatment of opioid addiction. Addiction, 102, 1908-1909. 

Rawson, R.A., Gonzales, R., McCann, M., & Ling, W. (2007). Use of methamphetamine by young people: Is there reason for concern? Addiction, 102 (7), 1021-1022.  
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Torrington M, Domier C, Hillhouse M, Ling W. (2007). Buprenorphine 101: Treating opioid dependence with buprenorphine in an office-based setting. Journal of Addictive Diseases, Vol.26 (3), 93-99.

Ling W, Rawson R, Shoptaw S. (2006), Management of Methamphetamine Abuse and Dependence, Current Science, 8:345-354.

Rawson R, McCann M, Flammino F, Shoptaw S, Mioto K, Reiber C, Ling W. (2006), A  comparison of contingency management and cognitive-behavioral approaches for stimulant-dependent individuals, Addiction, 101,267-274.

Athanos P, Smith C, White J, Somorgyi A, Bochner F, Ling W. (2006), Methadone maintenance patients are cross-tolerant to the antinociceptive effects of very high plasma morphine concentrations, Pain, 120,267-275.

Rawson, R.A., Obert, J.L., McCann, M.J., & Ling, W. (2005) The Matrix Model of Intensive Outpatient Alcohol & Drug Treatment: A 16-week individualized program. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Shoptaw, S., Watson, D.W., Reiber, C., Rawson, R.A., Montgomery, M.A., Majewska, M.D., & Ling, W. (2005). Randomized controlled pilot trial of cabergoline, hydergine and levodopa/carbidopa: Los Angeles Cocaine Rapid Efficacy Screening Trial (CREST). Addiction, 100 (Suppl. 1), 78-90.

Doran C, Holmes J, Ladewig D, Ling W. (2005) Buprenorphine Induction and Stabilization in the Treatment of Opiate Dependence, Heroin Addiction and Related  Clinical  Problems; 7(1): 7-18.

Farrell M, Gowing L, Marsden J, Ling W, Ali T. (2005). Effectiveness of drug dependence treatment in HIV prevention, International Journal of Drug Policy, 16S, S67-S75.

Ling W, Compton P, (2005). Recent advances in the treatment of opiate addiction, Clinical Neuroscience Research, 5, 161-167.

Ling W,Amass L, Shoptaw S, Annon J, Hillhouse M, Babcock D, Brigham G, Harrer J, Reid M, Muir J, Buchan B, Orr D, Woody G, Krejci J, Ziedonis D, Buprenorphine Study Protocol Group. (2005). A multi-center randomized trial of buprenorphine-naloxone versus clonodine for opioid detoxification: findings from the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network, Addiction; 100, 1090-1100.

Vocci, F., & Ling, W. (2005). Medications development: Successes and challenges. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 108, 94-108.

Amass L, Ling W, Freese T, Reiber C, Annon J, Cohen  A, McCarty D, Reid M, Brown L, Clark C, Zeidonis D, Krejci J, Stine S, Winhusen T, Brigham G, Babcock D, Muir J, Buchan B, Horton T. (2004). Bringing Buprenorphine-Naloxone Detoxification to Community Treatment Providers: The NIDA Clinical Trials Network Field Experience. The American Journal on Addictions, 13:S42-S66.

Wesson DR, Ling W.  Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) (2003).  Journal of Psychoactive Drugs:35(2); 253-259.

Ling, W., Rawson, R.A., & Anglin, M.D. (2003). Pharmacology, practice, and politics: A tale of two opiate pharmacotherapies. In J.L. Sorensen, R.A. Rawson, J. Guydish, & J.E. Zweben (Eds.), Drug abuse treatment through collaboration: Practice and research partnerships that work (pp. 107-119).

Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Compton P, Charuvastra VC, Ling W (2003). Effect of oral ketorolac and gender on human cold pressor pain tolerance. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology; 30(10): 759-763.

Rawson RA, Huber A, McCann M, Shoptaw S, Farabee D, Reiber C, & Ling W (2002).  A comparison of contingency management and cognitive-behavioral approaches during methadone maintenance treatment for cocaine dependence.  Archives General Psychiatry; 59(9):817-24.

Ling, W., & Smith, D. (2002). Buprenorphine: blending practice and research. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment; 23(2):87-92.

Ling W., Huber A., Rawson R.  (2001).  New Trends in opiate pharmacotherapy: a review.  Drug and Alcohol Review, 20, 79-94.

Rawson RA, Huber A, Brethen P, Obert JL, Gulati V, Shoptaw S, Ling W (2001).  Status of methamphetamine users 2-5 years after outpatient treatment.  Journal of Addictive Diseases; 21(1).

Rawson RA, Anglin MD, Ling W (2001).  Will the methamphetamine problem go away?  Journal of Addictive Diseases; 21(1).

Newton TF, Ling W, Kalechstein AD, Uslander J, Tervo K (2001).  Risperidone pre-treatment reduces the euphoric effects of experimentally administered cocaine.  Psychiatry Research; 102(3):227-33.

Last updated - 11/04/2011

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