Danielle C Ompad

Professor of Epidemiology

Professional overview

Dr. Danielle Ompad is an epidemiologist whose work is focused in the areas of urban health, HIV, illicit drug use, and adult access to vaccines. With respect to illicit drug use, her work has spanned the entire natural history of addiction – from initiation to cessation, with particular attention paid to risk for infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and STIs.  She has primarily worked with people who use heroin, crack, cocaine, and/or club drugs.  

In New York City, she has been examining heroin cessation among current, former, and relapsed heroin users. Working with Alliance for Public Health and the Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy, she analyzes harm reduction service utilization among people who inject drugs, in order to optimize service delivery in Ukraine.  Since 2013, she has served as faculty for the Fogarty-funded New York State International Training and Research Program with the goal of building research capacity in Ukraine.

Dr. Ompad’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-funded study aims to determine if herpes simplex 1 and 2 infections explain racial disparities in HIV incidence among a cohort of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM).  In addition, Dr. Ompad and colleagues are assessing HPV infection prevalence, persistence, and clearance among this same cohort.

Education

BS, Biology, Bowie State University, Bowie, MD

MHS, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

PhD, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Honors and awards

Excellence in Public Health Teaching Award, New York University (2014)

Excellence in Public Health Teaching Award, New York University (2013)

National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse Scientific Development Travel Fellowship (2010)

Delta Omega Honorary Society, Alpha Chapter (2002)

Areas of research and study

Epidemiology

HIV/AIDS

Infectious Diseases

Social Determinants of Health

STIs

Substance Abuse

Vaccines

Publications

Publications

For the patient. Does discrimination affect the mental health of substance abusers?

Minior, T., Galea, S., Stuber, J., Ahern, J., & Ompad, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Journal title

Ethnicity & disease

Volume

13

Issue

4

Page(s)

549-550

HIV Prevalence, Risk Behaviors, and High-Risk Sexual and Injection Networks among Young Women Injectors Who Have Sex with Women

Friedman, S. R., Ompad, D. C., Maslow, C., Young, R., Case, P., Hudson, S. M., Diaz, T., Morse, E., Bailey, S., Des Jarlais, D. C., Perlis, T., Hollibaugh, A., & Garfein, R. S. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Journal title

American journal of public health

Volume

93

Issue

6

Page(s)

902-906

10.2105/AJPH.93.6.902

Racial differences in discrimination experiences and responses among minority substance users

Minior, T., Galea, S., Stuber, J., Ahern, J., & Ompad, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Journal title

Ethnicity and Disease

Volume

13

Issue

4

Page(s)

521-527

Abstract

Abstract

Objectives: Discrimination is associated with both mental and physical health, and may be a particularly important determinant of health among marginalized groups. This study assessed differences in discrimination experiences and responses to discrimination between Black and Latino active substance users in New York City. Methods: 500 Black and 419 Latino active substance users were recruited through outreach workers, service agencies, and word of mouth. We collected data about different types of discrimination experienced (eg, discrimination due to race, gender, substance use), the domains in which it occurred (eg, at work, with police), and participants' responses to unfair treatment. Results: Discrimination due to drug use was the most commonly reported type of discrimination among both Blacks and Latinos. Black respondents were more likely than Latinos to report discrimination due to their drug use (79% to 70%), race (39% to 23%), poverty (38% to 26%), gender (18% to 9%), and sexual orientation (38% to 6%). However, among those reporting discrimination due to drug use, Latinos experienced more rejection from family (81% to 70%), friends (73% to 60%), police (86% to 79%), employers (72% to 56%), and medical care professionals (29% to 18%). Black respondents were more likely to respond actively to discrimination, whereas Latino respondents were more likely to internalize experiences. Conclusions: Substantial differences exist in discrimination experiences and responses to discrimination between Black and Latino substance users. These differences may help explain racial and ethnic differences in health among marginalized populations, and identify avenues for effective, targeted intervention.

RE: A Drug Feared in the 70's Is Tied to Suspect in Killings

Ompad, D., & Vlahov, D. (n.d.). In New York Times (1–).

Publication year

2003

Social circumstances of initiation of injection drug use and early shooting gallery attendance: Implications for HIV intervention among adolescent and young adult injection drug users

Fuller, C. M., Vlahov, D., Latkin, C. A., Ompad, D. C., Celentano, D. D., & Strathdee, S. A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Journal title

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Volume

32

Issue

1

Page(s)

86-93

10.1097/00126334-200301010-00013

Abstract

Abstract

To determine correlates of early shooting gallery (SG) attendance and HIV prevalence and incidence among new injection drug users (IDUs), baseline data from a prospective cohort study of street-recruited IDUs aged 15 to 30 years and injecting ≤55 years were used to identify early high-risk practices and salient social circumstances associated with early SG attendance to help in the design of innovative intervention strategies. Of 226 IDUs, 10.6% were HIV-seropositive, and HIV incidence was 6.6 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 2.2-13.3). Median age was 25 years, and most participants were African American (64%) and female (61%). Using multiple logistic regression, early SG attendees were three times as likely to be HIV-seropositive and twice as likely to be initiated by an older IDU. Early SG attendees were also five times more likely to share injection equipment and over three times more likely to report a high-risk injecting network soon after initiating injection. These data suggest that young new IDUs who attend SGs early tend to be initiated by older high-risk IDUs and to share and inject within a high-risk social setting early on as well. Hence, older IDUs may serve as a bridge group to SGs, transmitting HIV from older to younger IDUs.

High-risk behaviors associated with transition from illicit non-injection to injection drug use among adolescent and young adult drug users: A case-control study

Fuller, C. M., Vlahov, D., Ompad, D. C., Shah, N., Arria, A., & Strathdee, S. A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2002

Journal title

Drug and alcohol dependence

Volume

66

Issue

2

Page(s)

189-198

10.1016/S0376-8716(01)00200-9

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: The goal of our study was to elucidate characteristics of persons likely to transition into injection drug use so that an identifiable group with high-risk for blood-borne infection may be targeted for interventions. Methods: An age-matched case-control analysis was performed from a cohort study in Baltimore, 1997-1999, of street-recruited non-injection and injection drug users (IDUs), aged 15-30. Cases were IDUs injecting ≤2 years and controls were age-matched persons who used non-injection heroin, cocaine or crack. At baseline, all were interviewed about prior year-by-year behaviors; analysis using conditional logistic regression was based on information for the year prior to injection onset for the case and the same calendar time for the controls as well as recent behaviors for both groups. Results: Of 270 participants, most were African American (78%), female (61%), and HIV seroprevalence was 7% at baseline. IDUs were significantly more likely than controls to be non-African American (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.09) and report high school dropout (AOR=2.32), early sex-trading (AOR=2.72), and recent violence victimization (AOR=9.28). Conclusion: Given that new injectors are at high-risk for HIV and hepatitis yet difficult to reach for prevention efforts, our data suggest some categories to use to target non-injectors who are likely to transition into injection use.

Lack of behavior change after disclosure of hepatitis C virus infection among young injection drug users in Baltimore, Maryland

Ompad, D. C., Fuller, C. M., Vlahov, D., Thomas, D., & Strathdee, S. A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2002

Journal title

Clinical Infectious Diseases

Volume

35

Issue

7

Page(s)

783-788

10.1086/342063

Abstract

Abstract

We evaluated behavior change after disclosure of a positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test result among a cohort of young injection drug users (IDUs). Participants underwent semiannual interviews, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV antibody testing, and pretest and posttest counseling. We used X2 statistics to study changes in the frequencies of high-risk behaviors from baseline to a 6-month follow-up visit among 46 IDUs who had a positive HCV test result and among 60 IDUs who did not have a positive HCV test result or who were unaware of their test result. No significant differences were detected between the 2 groups. Both groups continued to share syringes, needles, and other injection paraphernalia. These findings suggest that young IDUs may not be aware of the risk of HCV infection and highlight the urgent need for post-HCV test guidelines and behavioral interventions to reduce ongoing high-risk behavior that perpetuates the risk of HCV transmission.

Factors associated with adolescent initiation of injection drug use

Fuller, C. M., Vlahov, D., Arria, A. M., Ompad, D. C., Garfein, R., & Strathdee, S. A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2001

Journal title

Public Health Reports

Volume

116

Page(s)

136-145

10.1093/phr/116.S1.136

Abstract

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which demographic, sexual, and non-injection drug use practices predict adolescent initiation of injection drug use. Methods. Street recruited injection drug users 15-30 years of age in Baltimore, Maryland, who initiated injection within five years of study enrollment, completed a questionnaire that included a year-by-year history regarding the five years prior to initiation of injection. Factors associated with initiation during adolescence (≤21 years of age) versus young adulthood (>21) were determined using logistic regression. Results. Of 226 participants, most were female (61%) and African American (64%). Median age of participants was 25; median age at initiation of injection was 23. Factors significantly associated with adolescent initiation in multivariate analysis included race other than African American, and practices prior to initiating injection including condom use, lack of cocaine use, exclusive crack smoking just prior to initiation, and smoking marijuana. Adolescent initiates also had shorter durations of illicit drug use prior to initiating injection. Conclusion. Short-term non-injection drug use, particularly exclusive crack smoking, was associated with adolescent initiation of injection drug use. Early prevention efforts targeting this high-risk group of younger drug users are warranted in order to delay or prevent onset of injection drug use.