Research
LSU Smoking and Substance Use Clinical Research Laboratory
My graduate students work closely together although they represent a range of interests within the area of addictive behaviors. Each student proposes and conducts a master's thesis, an interim project, and dissertation. They also coordinate and contribute to many ongoing studies in the lab. They are highly productive in presenting research at conferences such as Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco, Society of Behavioral Medicine, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, and Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy. Weekly lab meeting with my graduate students and undergraduate research assistants provide the opportunity to discuss relevant literature and our ongoing projects.
Current research studies include:
- Opiate withdrawal and nicotine dependence among opioid users in detox
- Distress tolerance among inpatient substance abusers
- When are inpatient substance abusers "ready" to quit smoking?
- E-cigarette use among college students:
- How do perceived risks and benefits of e-cigarettes influence use behavior?
- Electronic cigarette purchase task revised: A study of behavioral economics
- Intervention methods for e-cigarette use in college students
- Addressing smoking in the Brief Alcohol Screening Interview for College Students (BASICS)
Aaron Waters, M.A. (left) and Zachary Harmony, M.A. (right) present the findings from their study titled, "Shifts in e-cigarette use and perceptions among college students: A 3-year analysis", at the annual Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco conference in New Orleans, LA, February 2020.
Shelby Stewart, M.A. present the findings from her study titled, "The influence of hormonal contraceptive use on smoking, anxiety, and cessation attempts in college females", at the annual Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco conference in New Orleans, LA, February 2020.
Dr. Copeland (left), Dr. Kendzor a former Copeland lab member (middle), and Aaron Waters, M.A. (right) present the findings from Aaron’s Master’s thesis project, “Underlying mechanisms linking contingency management with smoking cessation in a socioeconomically disadvantaged population”, at the annual Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco conference in Baltimore, MD, February 2018.