Debbie M Cheng
Biographic Data
| ID | 5224934 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Debbie M Cheng |
| GIVEN NAMES | Debbie M |
| FAMILY NAME | Cheng |
| SIGNATURE | CHENG D M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Boston University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2206-3059 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 57 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 22 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 57 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Response to the Editor
Effect of the Communities That Heal Intervention on Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution
Objectives. To determine whether the Communities That HEAL (CTH) intervention is effective in increasing naloxone distribution compared with usual care. Methods. The HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-Term) Communities Study (HCS) is a cluster-randomized, parallel-arm, wait-list controlled implementation science trial testing the impact of the CTH intervention on increasing the use of evidence-based practices to lower opioid-related overdose …
Pilot study of tolerability and safety of opioid receptor antagonists as novel therapies for chronic pain among persons living with HIV with past year heavy drinking
Pain is common and associated with substance use among persons with HIV (PWH), yet limited management strategies exist. We assessed the feasibility, tolerability, and safety of low-dose naltrexone and standard dose nalmefene to treat chronic pain among PWH with past-year heavy alcohol use in a randomized, double-blinded, 2-arm study (planned enrollment 8 per arm). Participants were recruited in St. Petersburg, Russia between May and October 2018 …
Stigma and other correlates of sharing injection equipment among people with HIV in St. Petersburg, Russia
Stigma that people with HIV who inject drugs experience negatively impacts HIV and substance use care, but stigma's association with sharing injection equipment is not known. This is a cross-sectional analysis of data from two studies of people with HIV reporting drug injection ( N = 319) in St. Petersburg, Russia (September 2018-December 2020). We used logistic regression to examine associations between HIV stigma and substance use stigma scores…
Food Insecurity and Transmission Risks Among People with HIV Who Use Substances
The Relationship between Age at Initiation of Regular Drinking of Alcohol and Viral Suppression Status, and Depression Symptoms Among People Living with HIV in South-Western Uganda
Alcohol use is an important factor in achieving and maintaining viral suppression and optimal mental health among persons with HIV (PWH), however, the effect of age at first regular drinking on viral suppression and depression remains poorly understood. Here, using secondary data from the Alcohol Drinkers' Exposure to Preventive Therapy for Tuberculosis (ADEPT-T) study, we used logistic regression analyses to explore whether there is an associati…
Healthcare Utilization Among Persons with HIV and Unhealthy Alcohol Use in St. Petersburg, Russia
Incarceration history, antiretroviral therapy, and stigma
Bar Attendance and Alcohol Use Before and After Covid-19 Related Restrictions Among HIV-infected Adults in South-Western Uganda
Alcohol use is especially problematic for people living with HIV (PLWH) and was likely to be impacted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its restrictions. In a study of PLWH with latent tuberculosis infection, we measured unhealthy alcohol use with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), phosphatidylethanol (PEth) and bar attendance. We analyzed data collected before and after COVID-19 restrictions, and used Gener…
Exploring the Association Between Social Support and Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Persons Living with HIV in South Western Uganda
Impulsivity and linkage to HIV Care among People living with HIV in St. Petersburg, Russia
Hazardous alcohol use is associated with greater pain interference and prescription opioid misuse among persons living with HIV and chronic pain
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02564341 (Intervention, September 30, 2015) and NCT02525731 (Patient Cohort, August 17, 2015). Both prospectively registered
HIV and Substance Use Stigma, Intersectional Stigma and Healthcare Among HIV-Positive PWID in Russia
The Hepatitis C Continuum of Care Among HIV-Positive Persons with Heavy Alcohol Use in St. Petersburg, Russia
Assessing the interaction between depressive symptoms and alcohol use prior to antiretroviral therapy on viral suppression among people living with HIV in Rural Uganda
Although there is evidence of individual associations between depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use with suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH), few studies have established how the two risk factors may interact to predict viral suppression. We conducted secondary data analyses with two cohorts of Ugandan PLWH (N = 657) to investigate the hypothesized interaction between depressive symptoms (…
Provider opioid prescribing practices and the belief that opioids keep people living with HIV engaged in care
We describe HIV providers' opioid prescribing practices and assess whether belief that chronic opioid therapy (COT) keeps people living with HIV (PLWH) engaged in care is associated with differences in these practices among providers from two HIV clinics. We conducted logistic regression to evaluate the association between the belief that COT keeps PLWH engaged in care and at least one component of guideline-recommended care (i.e., urine drug tes…
Female Gender and HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors Among People Living with HIV Who Have Ever Used Injection Drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia
Alcohol Use and Unprotected Sex Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Adults
Phosphatidylethanol confirmed alcohol use among ART-naïve HIV-infected persons who denied consumption in rural Uganda
Under-reporting of alcohol use by HIV-infected patients could adversely impact clinical care. This study examined factors associated with under-reporting of alcohol consumption by patients who denied alcohol use in clinical and research settings using an alcohol biomarker. We enrolled ART-naïve, HIV-infected adults at Mbarara Hospital HIV clinic in Uganda. We conducted baseline interviews on alcohol use, demographics, Spirituality and Religiosity…
Perceived discrimination, racial identity, and health behaviors among black primary-care patients who use drugs
Blacks who use drugs are at heightened risk for health problems. Discrimination experiences may contribute to these risks by influencing health behaviors. This study examined associations between discrimination, racial identity, and health behaviors (alcohol use, cigarette smoking, low physical activity, and unprotected [condomless] sex) in a sample of 203 Black primary-care patients who reported current drug use. Logistic regression analyses did…
Alcohol Types and HIV Disease Progression Among HIV-Infected Drinkers Not Yet on Antiretroviral Therapy in Russia and Uganda
HIV Stigma and Substance Use Among HIV-Positive Russians with Risky Drinking
Food Insecurity, HIV Disease Progression and Access to Care Among HIV-Infected Russians not on ART
The Relationship Between Spirituality/Religiousness and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among HIV-Infected Adults in Southwestern Uganda
Contraceptive Use Among HIV-Infected Females with History of Injection Drug Use in St. Petersburg, Russia
Town-Level Characteristics and Smoking Policy Adoption in Massachusetts
Objectives. We identified and quantified differences in sociodemographic characteristics of communities relative to the strength of local restaurant smoking regulations in Massachusetts. Methods. We examined the relationship between the strength of the 351 local restaurant smoking regulations in Massachusetts and a number of town-level characteristics, using a multinomial logistic regression model. Results. Characteristics important to the adopti…
Effect of Local Restaurant Smoking Regulations on Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Among Youths
Objectives. We examined the effect of local restaurant smoking regulations on restaurant environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths. Methods. We interviewed 3863 Massachusetts youths aged 12–17 years and ascertained how often they saw smokers in restaurants in their town. We assessed the effect of local restaurant smoking regulation strength on nonexposure to environmental tobacco smoke (seeing smokers never or only rarely). Results. Compa…
Household Smoking Bans and Adolescent Antismoking Attitudes and Smoking Initiation
Objectives. We sought to determine whether adolescents living in households in which smoking was banned were more likely to develop antismoking attitudes and less likely to progress to smoking compared with those living in households in which smoking was not banned. Methods. We completed a longitudinal 4-year, 3-wave study of a representative sample of 3834 Massachusetts youths aged 12 to 17 years at baseline; 2791 (72.8%) were reinterviewed afte…
Effects of Restaurant and Bar Smoking Regulations on Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke Among Massachusetts Adults
Objectives. We examined the association of local restaurant and bar regulations with self-reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among adults. Methods. Data were derived from a telephone survey involving a random sample of Massachusetts households. Results. Compared with adults from towns with no restaurant smoking restrictions, those from towns with strong regulations had more than twice the odds of reporting nonexposure to environment…
Alcohol Use and Unprotected Sex Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Adults
Relation between local restaurant smoking regulations and attitudes towards the prevalence and social acceptability of smoking
Strong local restaurant smoking regulations are associated with favourable smoking related social norms among youths and adults
Effect of Local Restaurant Smoking Regulations on Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Among Youths
Objectives. We examined the effect of local restaurant smoking regulations on restaurant environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths. Methods. We interviewed 3863 Massachusetts youths aged 12–17 years and ascertained how often they saw smokers in restaurants in their town. We assessed the effect of local restaurant smoking regulation strength on nonexposure to environmental tobacco smoke (seeing smokers never or only rarely). Results. Compa…
Town-Level Characteristics and Smoking Policy Adoption in Massachusetts
Objectives. We identified and quantified differences in sociodemographic characteristics of communities relative to the strength of local restaurant smoking regulations in Massachusetts. Methods. We examined the relationship between the strength of the 351 local restaurant smoking regulations in Massachusetts and a number of town-level characteristics, using a multinomial logistic regression model. Results. Characteristics important to the adopti…
Effects of Restaurant and Bar Smoking Regulations on Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke Among Massachusetts Adults
Objectives. We examined the association of local restaurant and bar regulations with self-reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among adults. Methods. Data were derived from a telephone survey involving a random sample of Massachusetts households. Results. Compared with adults from towns with no restaurant smoking restrictions, those from towns with strong regulations had more than twice the odds of reporting nonexposure to environment…
Effect of local restaurant smoking regulations on progression to established smoking among youths
Local restaurant smoking bans may be an effective intervention to prevent youth smoking
Sex Trade, Sexual Risk, and Nondisclosure of HIV Serostatus
Need and Non-Need Factors Associated with Addiction Treatment Utilization in a Cohort of Homeless and Housed Urban Poor
BACKGROUND: Research on addiction treatment utilization in indigent samples mainly has been retrospective, without measures of addictive consequences, social network influences, and motivation. Prospective assessment of factors influencing utilization could inform policy and clinical care. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify factors associated with utilization of addiction treatment and mutual help groups among substance-dependent persons with high …
Factors associated with discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients with alcohol problems
Although mortality rates among HIV-infected populations have declined with the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), patients with substance use disorders have benefited less from these therapies. While adherence to ART has been well studied, less is known about factors associated with discontinuation of ART. The aim of this study is to investigate predictors of discontinuation of ART in HIV-infected patients with alcohol problems, …
Implications of Cannabis Use and Heavy Alcohol Use on HIV Drug Risk Behaviors in Russian Heroin Users
Cannabis and heavy alcohol use potentially increase HIV transmission by increasing risky drug behaviors. We studied 404 subjects entering treatment for heroin dependence, in St. Petersburg, Russia. We used the HIV Risk Assessment Battery (RAB) drug subscale to measure risky drug behavior. Although all heavy alcohol users had risky drug behaviors, their drug RAB scores did not differ from non-heavy alcohol users in unadjusted or adjusted analyses.…
Effect of smoking regulations in local restaurants on smokers’ anti-smoking attitudes and quitting behaviours
Although local restaurant smoking regulations did not increase smoking cessation rates, they did increase the likelihood of making a quit attempt among smokers who had previously tried to quit, and seem to reinforce anti-social smoking norms among smokers who already viewed smoking in bars as socially unacceptable
Risk of Mortality during Four Years after Substance Detoxification in Urban Adults
Correlates of Any Condom Use Among Russian Narcology Patients Reporting Recent Unprotected Sex
Household Smoking Bans and Adolescent Antismoking Attitudes and Smoking Initiation
Objectives. We sought to determine whether adolescents living in households in which smoking was banned were more likely to develop antismoking attitudes and less likely to progress to smoking compared with those living in households in which smoking was not banned. Methods. We completed a longitudinal 4-year, 3-wave study of a representative sample of 3834 Massachusetts youths aged 12 to 17 years at baseline; 2791 (72.8%) were reinterviewed afte…
Impact of parental home smoking policies on policy choices of independently living young adults
A household smoking ban in the parental home appears to lead youths to prefer smoke-free living quarters once they leave home
Alcohol Use and Sex Risk Behaviors Among HIV-Infected Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and HIV-Infected Male Clients of FSWs in India
Transactional sex risk and STI among HIV-infected female sex workers and HIV-infected male clients of FSWs in India
To describe sex risk behaviors of HIV-infected female sex workers (FSWs) and HIV-infected male clients of FSWs, to evaluate associations between risky transactional sex and number of unprotected transactional sex episodes, and to assess the association between unprotected transactional sex and self-reported sexually transmitted infection (STI). Adult HIV-infected FSWs (n = 211) and HIV-infected male clients (n = 205) were surveyed in Mumbai about…
Recent cigarette smoking and HIV disease progression
The association between smoking and HIV disease progression has been examined in several studies; however, findings have been inconsistent. We examined the effect of recent cigarette smoking on CD4(+) T cell count/μl (CD4 count) and HIV RNA concentration (HIV viral load (VL)) among two HIV-infected cohorts with alcohol problems in Massachusetts in the periods 1997-2001 and 2001-2006 using a prospective cohort design and linear mixed models. Smoki…
Operating characteristics of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) for identifying unhealthy alcohol use in adults with HIV infection
Unhealthy alcohol use (the spectrum of risky use through dependence) is common in HIV-infected persons, yet it can interfere with HIV medication adherence, may lower CD4 cell count, and can cause hepatic injury. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), often measured as %CDT, can detect heavy drinking but whether it does in people with HIV is not well established. We evaluated the operating characteristics of %CDT in HIV-infected adults using cr…
Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with painful symptoms in HIV-infected adults
The study aim was to assess whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) was associated with painful symptoms among patients with HIV. Using data from a prospective cohort of HIV-infected adults with alcohol problems, we assessed the effects of HCV on pain that interfered with daily living and painful symptoms (muscle/joint pain, headache and peripheral neuropathy). Exploratory analyses assessed whether depressive symptoms and inflammatory cytokines mediated …
Prevalence and Correlates of Non-Disclosure of HIV Serostatus to Sex partners among HIV-Infected Female Sex Workers and HIV-infected Male Clients of Female Sex Workers in India
Nondisclosure of HIV Infection to Sex Partners and Alcohol’s Role
Associations between partner violence perpetration and history of STI among HIV-infected substance using men in Russia
Studies document a significant association between victimization from intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV among substance using women in Russia and elsewhere, but no study has examined IPV perpetration and STI among Russian men or HIV-infected men in Eastern Europe. This study was designed to assess the association between lifetime history of IPV perpetration and STI (lifetime and current) among subs…
Associations of Sex Trafficking History with Recent Sexual Risk among HIV-Infected FSWs in India
Depressive Symptoms and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Initiation Among HIV-Infected Russian Drinkers
Risk factors for recent nonfatal overdose among HIV-infected Russians who inject drugs
Overdoses and HIV infection are common among Russians who inject drugs, yet risk factors have not been studied. We analyzed baseline data of 294 participants with 30-day injection drug use from an HIV secondary prevention trial for persons reporting "heavy" alcohol use (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA] risky drinking definition) and risky sex in the past 6 months. The outcome was any self-reported overdose in the previou…
Medicine (56 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (36 works) · Internal Medicine (36 works) · Demography (33 works) · Environmental health (33 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (33 works) · Public health (31 works) · Logistic regression (30 works) · Health psychology (26 works) · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV (26 works)