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Researchers' Profiles

Mary-Lynn Brecht, Ph.D.

Mary-Lynn Brecht, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Mary-Lynn Brecht, Ph.D., Research Statistician. Dr. Brecht is a researcher and statistical support specialist for the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs. She recently completed a long-term follow-up of methamphetamine users examining drug use and recovery trajectories. Topics of other recent projects have included HIV risk behaviors among methamphetamine users, long-term outcomes of treatment for methamphetamine use, and needs assessment among service providers for technical assistance and training related to problem gambling. She directs the Statistical Support core for the ISAP Center for Advancing Longitudinal Drug Abuse Research. She is an adjunct professor in the UCLA School of Nursing where she also directs the Research Office Design and Data Core. She has had extensive training and experience in the development/adaptation, application, and integration of quantitative research methodologies, particularly those for longitudinal analyses, with emphasis in the areas of drug-abuse, health systems, and treatment evaluation research.

  • Stanford University, B.S., Statistics, 1966
  • Stanford University, M.A., Education, 1967
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Ph.D., Research Methods/Evaluation, 1979
  • Research & statistical methods, especially for longitudinal analysis and substance abuse etiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Treatment evaluation
  • Methamphetamine abuse

  1. Herbeck, D., Brecht, M-L, & Lovinger, K. (in press). Mortality, causes of death and health status among methamphetamine users. Journal of Addictive Diseases

  2. Brecht,  M.-L. & Herbeck, D. (2014) Pregnancy and fetal loss reported by methamphetamine-using women. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment. 8, 25-33. PMCID: PMC4011724.

  3. Herbeck, D., Brecht, M.-L., Christou, D., & Lovinger, K. (2014) A qualitative study of methamphetamine users’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators of drug abstinence. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 46, 215-225. PMID:24685563

  4. Brecht,  M.-L., & Herbeck, D. (2014) Time to relapse following treatment for methamphetamine use: a long-term perspective. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 139, 18-25. PMCID: PMC4011724.

  5. Brecht, M.-L. & Herbeck, D. Methamphetamine use and violent behavior: user perceptions and predictors. (2013) Journal of Drug Issues. 43, 468-482. NIHMSID: 516268. PMCID: in process.

  6. Brecht, M.-L., Lovinger, K., Herbeck, D., & Urada, D. (2013) Patterns of treatment utilization and methamphetamine use during first ten years after methamphetamine initiation. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 44: 548-556. PMCID: PMC3602162.

  7. Herbeck, D. & Brecht, M.-L. (2013) Substance use and mental health characteristics associated with cognitive functioning among adults who use methamphetamine. Journal of Addictive Diseases. 32, 11-25. PMCID: PMC3601587.

  8. Herbeck, D., Brecht, M.-L., &  Pham, A. (2012). Racial/ethnic differences in health status and morbidity among adults who use methamphetamine. Psychology, Health, & Medicine, DOI:10.1080/13548506.2012.701754. PMCID: PMC3644375.

  9. Maxwell, J. & Brecht, M.-L. (2011) Methamphetamine: here we go again? Addictive Behaviors. 36, 1168-73. PMCID: PMC3243901

  10. Brecht, M.-L. & Urada, D (2011) Treatment Outcomes for Methamphetamine Users: California Proposition 36 and Comparison Clients. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 43, 68-76.

  11. Brecht, M.-L., Huang, D., & Hser, Y.-H. (2010) Introduction to the special issue on "Approaches and issues in longitudinal analysis of substance use and related behaviors." Journal of Drug Issues, 40, 1-6. PMCID: PMC3602976

  12. Brecht, M.-L., Stein, J., Murphy, D., Evans, L., & Longshore. D. (2009) Predictors of intention to change HIV sexual and injection risk behaviors among heterosexual methamphetamine-using offenders in drug treatment: A Test of the AIDS Risk Reduction Model. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 36, 247-266. PMID: 18214688. PMCID: PMC3695827

  13. Brecht, M.-L., Huang, D., Evans, E., & Hser, Y.-I. (2008) Polydrug use and implications for longitudinal research: ten-year trajectories for heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 96(3), 193-201. PMCID: PMC3566664

  14. Brecht, M.-L., Greenwell, L. & Anglin, M. D. (2007) Substance Use Pathways to Methamphetamine Use Among Treated Users. Addictive Behaviors, 32, 24-38.

  15. Brecht, M.-L., O’Brien, A., von Mayrhauser, C., & Anglin, M. D. (2004) Methamphetamine use behaviors and gender differences.  Addictive Behaviors, 29(1), 89-106.