Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Biographic Data

ID643240
NAMEDanelle Stevens-Watkins
GIVEN NAMESDanelle
FAMILY NAMEStevens-Watkins
SIGNATURESTEVENS-WATKINS D
AFFILIATIONSUniversity of Kentucky
ORCID0000-0003-3513-9056
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS49
TOTAL CITATIONS140
AUTHOR COUNT49
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2010
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2026
H-INDEX7

  • Gender differences in health risk factors for co-use of gabapentin and opioids among Black Americans

    Paris B Wheeler, Kaylee A Palomino et al.ARTICLEAddiction Research & Theory2026

    Background Despite recent increases in gabapentin misuse among Black Americans who use opioids, there is a dearth of research examining gabapentin misuse among this high-risk group. The current study examines associations between health-related risk factors (e.g. pain and insomnia) and gabapentin misuse among Black adults who use opioids, as well as gender differences in these associations.Method Data were derived from a mixed-methods study exami…

  • Trauma Profiles and Cocaine Use Among Formerly Incarcerated Black Men Who Co-Use Opioids and Stimulants

    Open AccessAdrienne B Smith, Valerie P A Verty et al.ARTICLEJournal of Black Psychology2026

    Trauma exposure and structural inequities contribute to mental health disparities among Black men and create barriers to care. Black men face elevated risk from opioid and stimulant co-use, including overdose from unintentional opioid exposure, yet heterogeneity in trauma exposure among men who co-use substances is understudied. Using latent class analysis, this study identified unobserved trauma subgroups and examined associations with cocaine u…

  • I’m going to use the formula God gave me”: The Role of the Black Church in Breastfeeding Support for Black Mothers

    Open AccessKaylee A Palomino, Shemeka Thorpe et al.ARTICLEMaternal and Child Health Journal2026

  • Breastfeeding Barriers Among Black Mothers: Maternal Guilt, Shame, and Other Affective Stressors

    Brittany D Miller-Roenigk, Shemeka Thorpe et al.ARTICLEWomen & Therapy2026Cited by: 1References: 3

    Black women initiate and continue breastfeeding at lower rates than any other racial and ethnic group. The current study qualitatively examines barriers to breastfeeding among Black mothers. Participants included 37 Black cisgender mothers stratified by age with varying breastfeeding experiences. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results highlighted maternal guilt, shame, and/or other affective barriers (i.e., concerns about l…

  • The research examining factors associated with the opioid crisis among urban adults (Refocus): A mixed methods study protocol

    Open AccessMona K M Goggins, Paige Orphe et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2025

    Introduction: Deaths due to opioid-related overdoses have increased across the United States. Specifically in the state of Kentucky, African Americans are the only population that continues to experience an increase in opioid-related deaths. Previous literature highlights African Americans having unique drug use patterns due to systematic barriers and how these barriers limit access to protective factors and substance use treatment. The current s…

  • “Drug Use with Racism…The Reason I Wanted to Do This Study”: Perceptions of Race and Racism’s Impact on Drug Use among Black Americans Using Opioids

    Natalie J Malone, Gabriella R Pitcher et al.ARTICLESubstance Use & Misuse2025

    Background: Several studies link racism with drug use disparities among systemically marginalized populations. However, few invite Black Americans to discuss how they perceive racism’s impact on their drug use. Objectives: To examine qualitative accounts from N=40 Black adults reporting non-medical prescription opioid use on their experiences of racism and drug use. Results: A deductive structural tabular thematic analysis informed by Jones’s (Ci…

  • Ethnic Identity and Past 30-Day Opioid Misuse: Mediating Effect of Relational Support

    Brittany D Miller-Roenigk, Danelle Stevens-WatkinsARTICLESubstance Use & Misuse2025

    INTRODUCTION: Black Americans in Kentucky are disproportionately dying from opioid overdoses compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Despite increased mortality among this population, limited research examines factors associated with recent opioid misuse among Black adults in Kentucky. Previous literature shows that relational support and ethnic identity protect racial and ethnic minority groups from substance use behaviors, but limited resea…

  • Overdose education and naloxone distribution in jails: Examining the impact of the Communities That Heal intervention in 4 states

    Open AccessTimothy Hunt, Carrie B Oser et al.ARTICLEHealth & Justice2025

    BACKGROUND: Opioid-related overdose is the leading cause of mortality among individuals recently released from incarceration in the U.S. Naloxone is an FDA-approved opioid antagonist medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. Despite evidence of its acceptability and effectiveness at reducing the risk of opioid overdose death after release from incarceration, only an estimated 25% of US jails provide naloxone upon release. This study…

  • Correlates of Six-Month Recidivism among Rural Incarcerated Women

    Brittany D Miller-Roenigk, Bridgette Peteet et al.ARTICLEWomen & Criminal Justice2025

    With growing rates of incarceration among women, it is crucial to understand factors associated with reincarceration. Rural incarcerated women have increased risks for strains and drug use. General Strain Theory posits that strains (drug use, psychosocial stressors) are associated with recidivism. Women experience as much, or more strain than men. The present secondary analysis examined intravenous drug use (IDU) and psychosocial factors (partner…

  • “God Did for Me What I Couldn’t Do for Myself”: Understanding Religiosity, Spirituality, and Locus of Control Among Black Americans Who Use Opioids

    Open AccessJasmine K Jester, Valerie P A Verty et al.ARTICLEJournal of Religion and Health2025

  • Navigating Access to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): Black Men Who Have Sex With Men (BMSM) Voices Living in HIV Hotspots

    Open AccessCarlos C Mahaffey, Rohan D Jeremiah et al.ARTICLEJournal of Racial and Ethnic…2025References: 60

    Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has contributed significantly to stabilizing HIV incidence rates across most populations. However, significant disparities in HIV incidence and PrEP uptake persist among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM). This study delved into the individual, sociocultural, and structural factors associated with PrEP access and uptake among 28 BMSM residing in designated HIV hotspots. Participants were recruited from communit…

  • Understanding Coping Strategies and Sociocultural Context in Black Americans' Mental Health

    Open AccessR L Peterson, C N Hargons et al.ARTICLEJournal of Racial and Ethnic…2025References: 36

  • Correlates of Transactional Sex Among Black Men and Women Who Misuse Opioids

    Open AccessShemeka Thorpe, Paige Orphe et al.ARTICLEHealth Education & Behavior2024

    The rise in opioid misuse coincides with increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV incidence. Transactional sex is an under-researched phenomenon among Black Americans who misuse opioids, and may increase their risk of STI or HIV transmission. Given the disproportionate impact of the opioid epidemic on Black Americans and the risks associated with opioid misuse, the current study aims to investigate sociostructural factors, history o…

  • Experiencing Burnout: John Henryism, Gender Role Conflict, and Anxiety Among Incarcerated Black Men

    Open AccessJardin Dogan, Danelle Stevens-Watkins et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of Offender…2024

    At the intersection of race and gender, Black men encounter conflicting and often stress-inducing gender norms. Research suggests Black men may utilize John Henryism Active Coping (JHAC), a culturally-relevant strategy to manage stress. However, little is known about how incarcerated Black men cope with gender role conflict (GRC) and resulting psychological distress. To better understand stressors and coping strategies among Black male prisoners,…

  • Rapid jail-based implementation of overdose education and naloxone distribution in response to the Covid-19 pandemic

    Open AccessCarrie B Oser, Margaret Mcgladrey et al.ARTICLEHealth & Justice2024

  • “Not knowing that I could get addicted at any moment”: Drug use initiation narratives among Black Americans

    Open AccessC N Hargons, Brittany D Miller-Roenigk et al.ARTICLEQualitative Psychology2024

    ) of drug use initiation among Black adults with recent prescription opioid misuse. Results highlight features of Black opioid users' awareness and self-representation while detailing systemic and cultural factors related to drug initiation. Results also indicate initiation ages, common substances first used (e.g., marijuana), routes of administration during initiation (e.g., smoking, swallowing), and the circumstances that lead to use. We discus…

  • Associations between traumatic life events and substance use among Black Men who are incarcerated

    Jasmine K Jester, Brittany D Miller-Roenigk et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2024

    The current study examined associations between traumatic life events, current and lifetime importance of mental health and substance use treatment, and crack cocaine use among 201 Black men who were incarcerated and nearing community reentry. Results indicated age, sexual trauma and lifetime importance of drug treatment were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of crack cocaine use. Substance abuse treatment in correctional sett…

  • The roles of vicarious trauma exposure and perceived social support in codeine syrup misuse among Black men living in prisons

    Open AccessJardin Dogan‐Dixon, Jardin N Dogan-Dixon et al.ARTICLEJournal of Community Psychology2024Cited by: 1References: 55

    Using General Strain Theory, this study investigates the effects of vicarious trauma exposure and perceived social support on nonmedical codeine syrup misuse among Black incarcerated men nearing community re-entry. Data were drawn from the Helping Incarcerated Men project, a study examining mental health, substance misuse, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors among Black men living in prisons who were within 180 days of release. …

  • The State of Your Psyche”: Black Conceptualizations of Mental Health

    Open AccessMonyae A Kerney, C N Hargons et al.ARTICLEThe Counseling Psychologist2024Cited by: 5References: 54

    Using structured-tabular thematic analysis, this study examines Black people’s conceptualizations of mental health in response to the following question: What is mental health? Sixty participants reported an array of interrelated characteristics pertaining to mental health. Five themes were identified across participant responses, including: (a) Overarching Orientation to Mental Health, (b) Integrated Parts of a Whole, (c) Dynamic Balance, (d) Ex…

  • Mental Health First Aid for Black Populations: Recommendations From the Neighborhood Healers Project

    Open AccessNatalie J Malone, Brittany Cannon et al.ARTICLEThe Counseling Psychologist2024References: 41

    Community-based participatory action research can facilitate counseling psychologists’ engagement in social justice to benefit Black people’s mental health. One way to improve Black mental health is to equip credible and trustworthy community members with mental health knowledge and skills to support other community members experiencing mental health challenges. This study presents the Neighborhood Healers Project—a community-based participatory …

  • Correlates of Psychological Distress Among African American Young Adults During the Covid-19 Pandemic

    Open AccessBrittany D Miller-Roenigk, Jasmine K Jester et al.ARTICLEJournal of Black Psychology2023

    The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affects African Americans in the United States, including disparate rates of mortality and higher mental health consequences compared to Whites. However, African American young adults are underrepresented in the literature examining psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depression) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors associated with psychological distress are important to examine among African Americ…

  • Race-Related and Mental Health Factors of Powder Cocaine Use Among Black Incarcerated Men

    Brittany D Miller-Roenigk, Paris B Wheeler et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2023

    Incarceration disproportionately impacts Black men in the United States, which can have compounding effects on mental health and substance use among this population. Cocaine use, in particular, carries higher severity of dependence and overdose risks among Black Americans, though research examining cocaine use correlates among Black incarcerated men is limited. The present study examines race-related and mental health correlates of powder cocaine…

  • My partner will think I’m weak or overthinking my pain’: How being superwoman inhibits Black women’s sexual pain disclosure to their partners

    Jardin Dogan, Shemeka Thorpe et al.ARTICLECulture Health & Sexuality2023

    Black women experience persistent sexual pain that may often last longer than White women. Despite the value of sexual communication to alleviate sexual pain concerns, many women do not disclose sexual pain to their partners. Limited research explores barriers to disclosing sexual pain to partners among Black women. This study seeks to fill this gap. Relying on an integration of Sexual Script theory and Superwoman Schema, the study explored the b…

  • Concordance between Self-Reported Drug Use and Urinalysis in a Sample of Black American Women

    Christopher J McLouth, Carrie B Oser et al.ARTICLESubstance Use & Misuse2022

    BACKGROUND: Obtaining accurate drug use data is important in the field of substance use research. Urinalysis, considered gold standard, can be costly or infeasible, whereas self-report is quick and easy, but susceptible to imperfect recall or misrepresentation. It is important to determine the concordance between self-report and urinalysis, and better understand the contexts and participant characteristics that influence self-report accuracy. The…

  • Polysubstance use among frequent marijuana users: An examination of John Henryism Active Coping, psychiatric symptoms, and family social support among African American incarcerated men

    Paris B Wheeler, Danelle Stevens-Watkins et al.ARTICLEJournal of Ethnicity in Substance…2022

    Incarcerated African American men who use marijuana are vulnerable to polysubstance use, which is associated with greater risk for negative health and psychosocial outcomes than marijuana use alone. It is imperative to understand risk and protective factors for polysubstance use among this vulnerable population to inform the development of culturally tailored substance use interventions. The current study examined the association between John Hen…