Research Projects

From Bench to Bedside: Translational Research in Complex Pain-Alcohol Interactions

Health Sciences Transdisciplinary Area of Excellence (MPI: Zale, Karkhanis, Mastroleo)

The goal of this study is to develop a novel translational paradigm of pain and alcohol that, quite literally, spans bench to bedside. In Aim 1, pain-relevant neural mechanisms (e.g., mu and kappa opioid receptors) of adolescent ethanol exposure will be identified using animal models. In Aim 2, associations between adolescent drinking and human laboratory pain reactivity will be investigated. In Aim 3, we will explore acceptability of integrating pain-related components into an evidence-based alcohol intervention.

The study is funded by the Binghamton University Health Sciences Transdisciplinary Area of Excellence Seed Grant Program and the Road Map Initiative, which encourages faculty to develop collaborative projects that stimulate the advancement of new ideas. The competitive, peer-reviewed seed grant program provides initial support for proposed long-term collaborative research projects that have strong potential to attract external funding.

The project began June 2019.

Pain and Alcohol Use among College Athletes

The goal of this study is to examine associations between pain (i.e., intensity and pain-related interference in athletics) and alcohol use, cannabis use, and substance-related consequences among athletes at multiple Division 1 institutions. Results have been presented at the Research Society on Alcoholism 2019 and 2020 annual meetings, and several manuscripts are under review or in preparation.

This work is spearheaded by Callon Williams, a third year graduate student who examined substance use a a component of pain-related fear-avoidance in student athletes for her Master's Thesis.

Virtual Reality for ENDS Use among College Students

The goal of this study is to examine the utility of a virtual reality simulation as a motivational intervention for electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use among college students. An existing video that simulates hospitalization for E-cigarette or Vaping-induced Lung Injury (EVALI) will be tested in focus groups with college students who use ENDS. Results of qualitative analyses will inform development of tailored intervention content.

Novel Assessment of Pain-Substance Use Relations

The goal of this study is to develop a novel assessment tool of pain-substance use relations across several domains identified in the CANUE (Catastrophizing, Anxiety, Negative Urgency, Expectancy) Model of Pain as an Antecedent for Substance Use, which we recently proposed (Ferguson, Zale, et al., 2021). This study is a collaboration with the Lead Researcher, Dr. Jeff Boissoneault, at the University of Florida.

Substance Use and Pain in College Students and Young Adults

Young adulthood is a critical developmental period for both pain and substance use. We are conducting a series of projects to examine associations between pain and the use of multiple substances (e.g., alcohol, e-cigarettes), as well as polysubstance use, among college students and young adults more broadly. Findings have been presented at scientific conferences and several manuscripts are under review or in preparation.

Increasing Cessation Motivation and Treatment Engagement among Smokers in Pain

F31DA039628 (PI: Zale; Sponsors: Ditre, Maisto; 2015-2017)

The goal of this study was to pilot test a brief intervention, tailored for smokers in pain by incorporating a novel pain/smoking psychoeducation component and personalized feedback to help develop discrepancy between continued smoking and desired pain outcomes. The tailored intervention was tested against an evidence-based intervention consistent with clinical practice guidelines. Primary outcome measures included patient knowledge of pain/smoking interrelations, self-reported motivation to engage a serious quit attempt, and engagement of available smoking cessation treatment. Data collection is complete and analyses are ongoing. Primary findings will be presented at the 25th annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco in February 2019.

Ongoing Collaborations

Dr. Zale collaborates with researchers who study pain and substance use across the United States. Collaborations range from new research projects/data collection, through data analysis and scholarly writing. Research collaborations have focused on associations between pain and nicotine/tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and prescription opioids, and the development of novel interventions to treat both pain and substance use.

Future Projects

A multi-methods approach to pain and substance use will include: (1) original laboratory investigations that utilize novel human experimental pain models, (2) observational studies of pain-substance use relations in clinical populations, (3) systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the extant literature, and (4) development and evaluation of novel interventions for pain and substance use.