ISAP Researchers' Profiles

Walter Ling, M.D.

Dr. Walter Ling is a board-certified neurologist and psychiatrist, licensed to practice in the state of California. He is active in both research and clinical work, having been listed in the ‘Best Doctors of America’, ‘Best Doctors in the West’, and ‘Best Doctors in Los Angeles’. He was also named by ‘Good Housekeeping’ magazine as one of the 327 best mental health clinicians in the US.

Dr. Ling is Professor-in-Residence of Psychiatry and Director of the Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP) at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA, one of the foremost substance abuse research groups in the US and worldwide. The scope of the group’s research has included the evaluation of medications and the development of psychosocial strategies for the treatment of opiate, cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, and nicotine abuse and dependence. His work in opiate pharmacotherapy has provided pivotal information for the approval of LAAM, Naltrexone, and Buprenorphine. In addition, his group conducts a wide range of epidemiological and treatment service outcome research in California and throughout the US.

He is a consultant for numerous private and public agencies, both locally, nationally and internationally. These agencies include the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the US Department of State, the UN Office of International Narcotics Affairs and the World Health Organization. His research and teaching activities have taken him throughout the US and to Europe, Asia, and Australia.

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
11075 Santa Monica Blvd. #200
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 - 02/23/2009

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