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Dr Thomas Santo Jr
Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr Thomas Santo Jr

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 | 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, pp. 109734, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109734
    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
  • 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; 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 REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 41, pp. S124 - S124, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000862018700213&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 | 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