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Dr Thomas Santo Jr

Postdoctoral Fellow

2019 – 2022: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Fields of Research: Epidemiology, Mental health services & Causes and prevention of crime
Title: Examining childhood trauma and comorbid mental disorders among people with opioid use disorder

2017 – 2018: Master of Public Health (MPH)

School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

2011 – 2015: Bachelor of Arts (Biological Sciences, Public Health)

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Medicine & Health

National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre

I am a Post-Doctoral Fellow with expertise in observational research and meta-analysis. My research aims to improve the treatment of substance use disorders, focusing on opioid use disorder treatment. During my PhD candidature, I conducted a mix of high-quality systematic reviews, analysis of prospective cohort data, and linkage of administrative data to examine experiences of childhood trauma and comorbid mental disorders among people with opioid use disorder. I have experience in longitudinal data analysis of data from people who primarily use heroin and those prescribed opioids for chronic pain. I have collaborated with international research groups across several projects, including seven systematic reviews and meta-analyses. To date, I have contributed as an author to nineteen articles, including seven first-author peer-reviewed publications and one technical report.

E-mail

t.santo@unsw.edu.au

Location

National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), 22-32 King St, Randwick NSW 2031

Journal articles | 2024

Leung J; Lim C; Sun T; Vu G; McClure-Thomas C; Bao Y; Tran L; Santo T; Fausiah F; Farassania G; Chan GCK; Sebayang SK, 2024, 'Preventable Deaths Attributable to Second-Hand Smoke in Southeast Asia—Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019', International Journal of Public Health, 69, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2024.1606446

Journal articles | 2024

Santo T; Gisev N; Campbell G; Colledge-Frisby S; Wilson J; Tran LT; Lynch M; Martino-Burke D; Taylor S; Degenhardt L, 2024, 'Prevalence of comorbid substance use disorders among people with opioid use disorder: A systematic review & meta-analysis.', Int J Drug Policy, 128, pp. 104434, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104434

Journal articles | 2023

, 2023, 'Errors in Results and Tables.', JAMA Psychiatry, 80, pp. 972, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2537

Journal articles | 2023

Colledge-Frisby S; Jones N; Degenhardt L; Hickman M; Padmanathan P; Santo T; Farrell M; Gisev N, 2023, 'Incidence of suicide and self-harm among people with opioid use disorder and the impact of opioid agonist treatment: A retrospective data linkage study', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 246, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109851

Journal articles | 2023

Santo T; Gisev N; Campbell G; Nelson E; Degenhardt L, 2023, 'The effects of childhood trauma and mental disorders on treatment engagement, contact with the criminal justice system, and mortality among people with opioid dependence', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 243, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109734

Journal articles | 2023

Santo T, 2023, 'Errors in Data Reported in Meta-Analysis on Opioid Agonist Treatment and Mortality', JAMA Psychiatry, 80, pp. 971 - 972, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2342

Journal articles | 2022

Leung J; Santo T; Colledge-Frisby S; Mekonen T; Thomson K; Degenhardt L; Connor JP; Hall W; Stjepanović D, 2022, 'Mood and Anxiety Symptoms in Persons Taking Prescription Opioids: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses of Longitudinal Studies', Pain Medicine (United States), 23, pp. 1442 - 1456, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnac029

Journal articles | 2022

Santo T; Campbell G; Gisev N; Degenhardt L, 2022, 'Exposure to childhood trauma increases risk of opioid use disorder among people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 230, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109199

Journal articles | 2022

Santo T; Campbell G; Gisev N; Martino-Burke D; Wilson J; Colledge-Frisby S; Clark B; Tran LT; Degenhardt L, 2022, 'Prevalence of mental disorders among people with opioid use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 238, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109551

Journal articles | 2022

Tran AD; Chen R; Nielsen S; Zahra E; Degenhardt L; Santo T; Farrell M; Larance B, 2022, 'Economic analysis of out-of-pocket costs among people in opioid agonist treatment: A cross-sectional survey in three Australian jurisdictions', International Journal of Drug Policy, 99, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103472

Journal articles | 2022

Zahra E; Chen R; Nielsen S; Tran AD; Santo T; Degenhardt L; Farrell M; Byrne J; Ali R; Larance B, 2022, 'Examining the cost and impact of dosing fees among clients in opioid agonist treatment: Results from a cross-sectional survey of Australian treatment clients', Drug and Alcohol Review, 41, pp. 841 - 850, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13437

Journal articles | 2021

Ferraro CF; Stewart DE; Grebely J; Tran LT; Zhou S; Puca C; Hajarizadeh B; Larney S; Santo T; Higgins JPT; Vickerman P; Degenhardt L; Hickman M; French CE, 2021, 'Association between opioid agonist therapy use and HIV testing uptake among people who have recently injected drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Addiction, 116, pp. 1664 - 1676, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.15316

Journal articles | 2021

Grebely J; Tran L; Degenhardt L; Dowell-Day A; Santo T; Larney S; Hickman M; Vickerman P; French C; Butler K; Gibbs D; Valerio H; Read P; Dore GJ; Hajarizadeh B, 2021, 'Association between Opioid Agonist Therapy and Testing, Treatment Uptake, and Treatment Outcomes for Hepatitis C Infection among People Who Inject Drugs: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', Clinical Infectious Diseases, 73, pp. E107 - E118, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa612

Journal articles | 2021

Peacock A; Tran LT; Larney S; Stockings E; Santo T; Jones H; Santomauro D; Degenhardt L, 2021, 'All-cause and cause-specific mortality among people with regular or problematic cocaine use: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Addiction, 116, pp. 725 - 742, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.15239

Journal articles | 2021

Santo T; Campbell G; Gisev N; Tran LT; Colledge S; Di Tanna GL; Degenhardt L, 2021, 'Prevalence of childhood maltreatment among people with opioid use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 219, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108459

Journal articles | 2021

Santo T; Clark B; Hickman M; Grebely J; Campbell G; Sordo L; Chen A; Tran LT; Bharat C; Padmanathan P; Cousins G; Dupouy J; Kelty E; Muga R; Nosyk B; Min J; Pavarin R; Farrell M; Degenhardt L, 2021, 'Association of Opioid Agonist Treatment with All-Cause Mortality and Specific Causes of Death among People with Opioid Dependence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', JAMA Psychiatry, 78, pp. 979 - 993, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.0976

Journal articles | 2020

Larance B; Degenhardt L; Grebely J; Nielsen S; Bruno R; Dietze P; Lancaster K; Larney S; Santo T; Shanahan M; Memedovic S; Ali R; Farrell M, 2020, 'Perceptions of extended-release buprenorphine injections for opioid use disorder among people who regularly use opioids in Australia', Addiction, 115, pp. 1295 - 1305, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.14941

Journal articles | 2020

Larney S; Peacock A; Tran LT; Stockings E; Santomauro D; Santo T; Degenhardt L, 2020, 'All-Cause and Overdose Mortality Risk among People Prescribed Opioids: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', Pain Medicine (United States), 21, pp. 3700 - 3711, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/PM/PNAA214

Journal articles | 2020

Larney S; Tran LT; Leung J; Santo T; Santomauro D; Hickman M; Peacock A; Stockings E; Degenhardt L, 2020, 'All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality among People Using Extramedical Opioids: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', JAMA Psychiatry, 77, pp. 493 - 502, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4170

Journal articles | 2020

Santo T; Larance B; Bruno R; Gisev N; Nielsen S; Degenhardt L; Campbell G, 2020, 'Correlates of indicators of potential extra-medical opioid use in people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain', Drug and Alcohol Review, 39, pp. 128 - 134, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13021

Journal articles | 2019

Gisev N; Nielsen S; Campbell G; Santo T; Mant A; Bruno R; Cohen M; Hall WD; Larance B; Lintzeris N; Farrell M; Degenhardt L, 2019, 'Antidepressant Use among People Prescribed Opioids for Chronic Noncancer Pain', Pain Medicine (United States), 20, pp. 2450 - 2458, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnz009

Journal articles | 2019

Lintzeris N; Santo T; Nielsen S; Degenhardt L; Campbell G, 2019, 'Estimating Centre for Disease Control and Prevention-defined overdose risk in people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain: implications for take-home naloxone provision', Internal Medicine Journal, 49, pp. 1054 - 1055, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/imj.14386

Journal articles | 2019

Stockings E; Tran LT; Santo T; Peacock A; Larney S; Santomauro D; Farrell M; Degenhardt L, 2019, 'Mortality among people with regular or problematic use of amphetamines: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Addiction, 114, pp. 1738 - 1750, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.14706
Conference Presentations | 2024

Santo Jr T, 2024, 'Global coverage of interventions to prevent and manage injecting drug use related harms in prisons: a systematic review', presented at 2024 NDARC Annual Research Symposium, Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney NSW, 20 September 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwVO9ONBuE8&t=4333s

Conference Posters | 2024

Santo Jr T, 2024, 'Modelling the impact of opioid agonist treatment on suicide-related deaths among people with opioid use disorder', Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney NSW, presented at 2024 NDARC Annual Research Symposium, Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney NSW, 20 September 2024

Conference Posters | 2024

Santo Jr T, 2024, 'Socio-demographic characteristics and treatment experiences of people with opioid dependence in New South Wales, Australia', Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney NSW, presented at 2024 NDARC Annual Research Symposium, Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney NSW, 20 September 2024

Conference Abstracts | 2024

Santo T; Gisev N; Campbell G; Colledge-Friday S; Wilson J; Tran LT; Lynch M; Martino-Burke D; Taylor S; Degenhardt L, 2024, 'Prevalence of comorbid substance use disorders among people with opioid use disorder: A systematic review & meta-analysis', in International Journal of Drug Policy, Vol. 128, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104434

Reports | 2023

Asare-Doku W; Stolk S; Peacock AMY; Shakeshaft A; Waller E; Nathan S; Economidis G; Ravulo J; Meo-Sewabu L; D'Este C; Thapa P; Abbott T; Satour T; Tulele L; Wilson K; Doran C; Mhey-Rivas T; Macpherson G; Lynch M; Taylor S; Santo T; Graham D; Baillie G; Tran A; Aiken A; Harwood E; Turner A; Reeve R; Degenhardt L; Farrell M, 2023, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Kava Pilot Program, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, https://www.odc.gov.au/resources/publications/monitoring-and-evaluation-kava-pilot-program

Conference Abstracts | 2022

Colledge-Frisby S; Jones N; Degenhardt L; Farrell M; Kwa J; Padmanathan P; Santo T; Hickman M; Gisev N, 2022, 'Suicide and self-harm among people prescribed opioid agonist treatment in New South Wales: A retrospective data linkage study', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 41, pp. S47 - S48, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000862018700083&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Theses / Dissertations | 2022

Santo Jr T, 2022, Examining childhood trauma and comorbid mental disorders among people with opioid use disorder, https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/entities/publication/3ae006dc-6e2d-4567-91ce-9dc8d0b1dcd2/full

Conference Abstracts | 2022

Santo T; Gisev N; Campbell G; Degenhardt L, 2022, 'Associations with childhood trauma and comorbid mental disorders among people with opioid dependence', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 41, pp. S124 - S125, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000862018700214&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Papers | 2022

Santo T; Campbell G; Gisev N; Martino-Burke D; Wilson J; Colledge-Frisby S; Clark B; Tran LT; Degenhardt L, 2022, 'Prevalence of mental disorders among people with opioid use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis', in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109551

Conference Abstracts | 2021

Santo T; Clark B; Hickman M; Grebely J; Campbell G; Sordo L; Chen A; Tran LT; Bharat C; Padmanathan P; Cousins G; Dupouy J; Kelty E; Muga R; Nosyk B; Jeongmin ; Pavarin R; Farrell M; Degenhardt L, 2021, 'ASSOCIATION OF OPIOID AGONIST TREATMENT WITH ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY AND SPECIFIC CAUSES OF DEATH AMONG PEOPLE WITH OPIOID DEPENDENCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 40, pp. S131 - S131, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000715073200320&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Papers | 2021

Santo T; Gisev N; Campbell G; Degenhardt L, 2021, 'EXPOSURE TO CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND OPIOID USE DISORDER AMONG PEOPLE PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS FOR CHRONIC PAIN: A LATENT CLASS AND DISCRETE-TIME ANALYSIS', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, pp. S131 - S132, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000715073200321&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Abstracts | 2019

Larance B; Degenhardt L; Grebely J; Nielsen S; Bruno R; Dietze PM; Lancaster K; Larney S; Santo T; Shanahan M; Memedovic S; Ali R; Farrell M, 2019, 'PERCEPTIONS OF EXTENDED-RELEASE BUPRENORPHINE INJECTIONS FOR OPIOID DEPENDENCE PRIOR TO AVAILABILITY IN AUSTRALIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY OF PEOPLE WHO USE OPIOIDS REGULARLY', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 38, pp. S63 - S64, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000494890100159&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Abstracts | 2019

Santo T; Larance B; Campbell G; Bruno R; Gisev N; Lintzeris N; Nielsen S; Blyth F; Mattick RP; Degenhardt L, 2019, 'CORRELATES OF ABERRANT BEHAVIOUR IN A COHORT OF PEOPLE PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS FOR CHRONIC NON-CANCER PAIN', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 38, pp. S92 - S92, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000494890100232&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Abstracts | 2019

Tran LT; Peacock A; Stockings E; Larney S; Santo T; Santomauro D; Jones H; Farrell M; Degenhardt L, 2019, 'MORTALITY IN PEOPLE WHO USE STIMULANTS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 38, pp. S99 - S99, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000494890100249&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Abstracts | 2019

Tran LT; Santo T; Degenhardt L; Santomauro D; Peacock A; Stockings E; Larney S, 2019, 'MORTALITY IN PEOPLE WHO USE OPIOIDS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 38, pp. S99 - S99, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000494890100250&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Award	Organisation	Year
Wayne Hall Publication Award	National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)	2022
Highest Ranked Abstract for Epidemiology & Public Health Research.	International Network on Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU)	2021
NDARC Excellence in Higher Degree Research Award	National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)	2021
Commonwealth Supported Place	The University of Sydney	2017
Magna cum laude honours & Rutgers Academic Excellence Award	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey	2015

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