Dr. Deborah Hasin is a distinguished scholar whose pioneering work has fundamentally advanced the understanding of substance use disorders and their psychiatric comorbidities. She currently serves as Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in the Department of Psychiatry, holding a joint appointment in the Mailman School of Public Health's Department of Epidemiology. Dr. Hasin earned her PhD in epidemiology from Columbia University in 1986, following academic training that included a BA from the University of California and an MS from Columbia. Throughout her illustrious career, she has established herself as a leader in substance abuse research, founding and directing the NIDA-funded Substance Abuse Epidemiology Training Program while also directing the Substance Dependence Research Group in the Department of Translational Epidemiology at Columbia University.
Dr. Hasin's research has profoundly shaped the field through her extensive work on time trends and state-level influences on cannabis use, cannabis use disorder, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorders. She has authored over 550 publications that have redefined diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders in both general population and clinical samples, significantly contributing to the development of DSM-5 definitions. Her development of the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM) has become a gold standard instrument used in numerous studies worldwide to assess the relationship between substance use and psychiatric disorders. This innovative diagnostic tool has been instrumental in advancing research methodology and improving the accuracy of diagnosing comorbid conditions, thereby enhancing treatment approaches for individuals with substance use disorders.
Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Hasin has held numerous leadership positions that have shaped the direction of substance abuse research nationally and internationally. She served as President of the American Psychopathological Association and is currently President of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence for 2023-2024, demonstrating her sustained influence in the field. Dr. Hasin was the text editor for the Substance Use Disorder sections of DSM-5-TR, playing a pivotal role in refining diagnostic criteria for mental health professionals worldwide. Her ongoing work continues to address critical issues in substance use epidemiology, including the development of the PRISM-5-OP measure for assessing opioid addiction in chronic pain patients, reflecting her commitment to translating research into practical applications that address evolving public health challenges.
