Emma Childs, PhD

Dr. Emma Childs’ research is dedicated to improving an understanding of behavioral mechanisms important in the progression from light recreational drug use to more regular heavier drinking indicative of early substance use disorder (SUD). A primary area of interest is in studying how powerful associations are formed between drugs and cues (i.e., the people, places and paraphernalia which surround drug use. These links are especially persistent and can cause a relapse even after long periods of abstinence, thus they constitute a major barrier to longterm recovery. Treatments and interventions that target drug-cue associations could halt the development of severe SUD and to prevent relapse. Another research focus is on the individual factors that contribute to heavy substance use and severe SUD. For example, genetic, personality, environmental (including stress) and biological (including sex) factors can all influence an individual’s risk to develop a substance use disorder. Dr. Childs is currently conducting studies that examine the influence of natural and synthetic ovarian hormones on subjective, cognitive, and motivational effects of drugs and alcohol.