ISAP Researchers' Profiles

Cathy J. Reback, Ph.D.

Cathy J. Reback is an Associate Research Sociologist with UCLA ISAP, a Senior Research Scientist with Friends Research Institute, Inc. and a Core Scientist with the UCLA Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services (UCLA CHIPTS).  Dr. Reback’s research focuses on the intersection of sexual identity, gender identity, substance use and HIV risk behaviors. 

Currently, Dr. Reback is Principal Investigator of a NIDA-funded study evaluating contingency management with non-treatment seeking MSM substance users, Voucher-based Incentives in a Prevention Setting (VIPS), a CHRP-funded research/treatment study for gay and bisexual male methamphetamine users, Methamphetamine Abuse Treatment is HIV Prevention, and a CDC-funded study evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of an information technology (IT) communication intervention for out-of-treatment MSM methamphetamine users, Reducing Methamphetamine Use and HIV Sex-risk Behaviors in Out-of-Treatment MSM.  Additionally, Dr. Reback currently serves as the Director of seven county- and city-funded health education/risk reduction programs for high-risk MSM substance users and transgender women.

Dr. Reback has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator of ethnographic, intervention and epidemiological studies funded by NIDA, CSAT, UARP and California State Office of AIDS.  Dr. Reback has collaborated with Dr. Steve Shoptaw on major research intervention studies that evaluated behavioral therapies and HIV risk reduction for gay and bisexual male methamphetamine users.  Dr. Reback’s community and policy work includes current and past membership on numerous local and national HIV/AIDS and substance abuse task forces and advisory committees.

Education and Training

• University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1980, Sociology
• University of California, Santa Cruz, M.A., 1982, Sociology
• University of California, Santa Cruz, Ph.D., 1986, Sociology

Specialties

• HIV/AIDS
• Methamphetamine Abuse among Gay and Bisexual Males
• HIV and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Interventions
• High-risk Male-to-Female Transgender Women
• Research and Community Collaborations

Contact Info

UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Selected Publications

• Simon, P.A., Reback, C.J. & Bemis, C.C. (2000). HIV Prevalence and Incidence Among Male-to-Female Transgenders Receiving HIV Prevention Services in Los Angeles County.  AIDS, 18:2953-2955.
• Reback, C.J. Simon, P.A., Bemis, C.C. & Gatson, B. (2001).  The Los Angeles Transgender Health Study: Community Report. Report funded by the Universitywide AIDS Research Program.
• Reback, C.J. & Lombardi, E.L. (2001). HIV Risk Behaviors of Male-to-Female Transgenders in a Community-based Harm Reduction Program. In Walter Bockting & Sheila Kirk (eds). Transgender and HIV: Risks, Prevention, and Care. The Haworth Press, 59-68.
• Shoptaw, S., Reback, C.J. & Freese, T. E. (2002). Patient Characteristics, HIV Serostatus and Risk Behaviors Among Gay and Bisexual Males Seeking Treatment for Methamphetamine Abuse and Dependence in Los Angeles. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 21 (1): 91-105.
• Twitchell, G.R., Huber, A., Reback, C.J. & Shoptaw, S. (2002). Comparison of General and Detailed HIV Risk Assessments Among Methamphetamine Abusers. AIDS and Behavior, 6(2): 153-162.
• Reback, C.J., Cohen, A.J., Freese, T.E. & Shoptaw, S. (2002). Making Collaboration Work: Key Components of Practice/Research Partnerships. Journal of Drug issues, 32(3): 837-848.
• Freese, T.E., Miotto, K. & Reback, C.J. (2002) The Effects and Consequences of Selected Club Drugs. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 23: 151-156.
• Reback, C.J., Larkins, S. & Shoptaw, S. (2003) Methamphetamine Abuse as a Barrier to HIV Medication Adherence Among Gay and Bisexual Men. AIDS Care. 15: 775-785.
• Shoptaw, S. Peck, J.A., Reback, C.J. & Rotheram-Fuller, E. (2003) Psychiatric and substance dependence comorbidities, STDs, and risk behaviors among methamphetamine-dependent gay and bisexual men seeking outpatient drug abuse treatment. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. Supp 1: 161-168.
• Reback, C.J., Larkins, S. & Shoptaw, S. (2004) Changes in the Meaning of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Gay and Bisexual Male Methamphetamine Abusers Before and After Drug Treatment. AIDS and Behavior. 8: 87-98.
• Reback, C. J., & Simon P.A. (2004) The Los Angeles Transgender Health Study: Creating a Research and Community Collaboration. In Benjamin Bowser, Shiraz Mishra Cathy J. Reback & George F. Lemp (eds). Preventing AIDS: Community-Science Collaborations. New YorK: The Haworth Press, pp. 115-131.
• Peck, J.A., Reback, C.J., Yang, X., Rotheram-Fuller, E. & Shoptaw, S. (2005) Sustained Reductions in Drug Use and Depression Symptoms from Treatment for Drug Abuse in Methamphetamine-dependent Gay and Bisexual Men. Journal of Urban Health. 82: 100-108.
• Shoptaw, S., Reback, C.J., Peck, J.A., Yang, X., Rotheram-Fuller, E., Larkins, S., Veniegas, R.C., Freese, T.E. & Hucks-Ortiz, C. (2005) Behavioral treatment approaches for methamphetamine dependence and HIV-related sexual risk behaviors among urban gay and bisexual men. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.  78:125-134.
• Larkins, S. Reback, C.J., Shoptaw, S., Veniegas, R.C. (2005) Disclosure of HIV Status to Sexual Partners of Methamphetamine-dependent Gay Men. AIDS Care. 17: 521-532.
• Reback, C.J., Lombardi, E., Simon, P.A., & Frye, D.M. (2005). HIV Seroprevalence and Risk Behaviors Among Transgendered Women Who Exchange Sex in Comparison with Those Who Do Not. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality. 17: 5-22.
• Peck, J.A., Shoptaw, S., Rotheram-Fuller, E., Reback, C.J., & Bierman, B. (2005). HIV-associated Medical, Behavioral, and Psychiatric Characteristics of Treatment-seeking Methamphetamine-dependent Men Who Have Sex with Men. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 24: 115-132.
• Shoptaw, S. & Reback, C.J. (2006).  Associations between Methamphetamine Use and HIV Infection in Men who have Sex with Men: A Model for Guiding Public Policy. Journal of Urban Health. 83: 1151-1157.
• Reback, C.J., Kamien, J.B. & Amass, L. (2007). Characteristics and HIV Risk Behaviors of Homeless, Substance-using Men Who Have Sex with Men.  Addictive Behaviors. 32:647-654.

Last updated - 04/17/2008

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