Research & Interest

Dr. Reback is both a researcher and community provider. She is a Research Sociologist with Friends Research Institute and an Associate Research Sociologist with UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs. In 1994, Dr. Reback founded the Prevention Division of the Van Ness Recovery House, which provides HIV and substance abuse prevention programs to out-of-treatment substance users, and continues to serve as its Director. Her research interests focus on the intersection of HIV risk behaviors, substance use, sexual identity and gender identity among two marginalized and extremely vulnerable populations: MSM methamphetamine users and male-to-female transgenders. Dr. Reback was one of the first researchers in the country to link the rise in HIV infection among MSM to sexual risk behaviors while using methamphetamine. She has served as Principal Investigator or Co-principal Investigator on ethnographic, epidemiological, intervention and clinical studies as well as numerous city- and county-funded projects. Dr. Reback has an extensive background in conducting community/research collaborations, evaluating behavioral treatment therapies, designing and implementing street-based intervention programs for out-of-treatment substance users, and managing large-scale HIV prevention and intervention programs. Additionally, Dr. Reback collaborates with local community-based organizations to adopt, tailor, and transfer evidenced-based interventions into community settings. Dr. Reback’s community work includes current and past membership on Los Angeles County Methamphetamine Work Group; CSAT Methamphetamine Work Group; CSAT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Work Group; Los Angeles County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Health Advisory Group; the Transgender HIV Youth Consortium; Los Angeles County HIV Prevention Planning Committee; HIV Drug and Alcohol Task Force of the HIV Commission on Health Services of Los Angeles; The Los Angeles Transgender Task Force.

Selected Publications

• Shoptaw, S. & Reback, C.J. (2007). Methamphetamine Use and Infections Disease-related Behaviors in Men who have Sex with Men:  Implication for Interventions.  Addiction, 102(Suppl. 1): 130-135. 

• Reback, C.J., Kamien, J.B., & Amass, L. (2007). Characteristics and HIV risk behaviors of homeless, substance-using men who have sex with men.  Addictive Behaviors, 32(3): 647-654.

• Shoptaw, S. & Reback, C.J. (2006). Associations between Methamphetamine Use and HIV Infection in Men who have Sex with Men: A Model for Guiding Public Policy.  Journal of Urban Health, 83(6): 1151-1157.

• Reback, C.J., Lombardi, E. Simon, P.A. & Frye, D.M. (2005). HIV seroprevalence and risk behaviors among transgendered women who exchange sex in comparison with those who do not. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 17: 5-22

• Larkins, S., Reback, C.J., Shoptaw, S., Veniegas, R.C. (2005). Disclosure of HIV status to sexual partners of methamphetamine-dependent gay men, AIDS Care. 17: 521-532.

• Shoptaw, S., Reback, C.J., Peck, J.A., Yang, X., Rotheram-Fuller, E., Larkins, S., Veniegas, R.C., Freese, T.E. & Hucks-Ortiz, C. (2005). Behavioral treatment approaches for methamphetamine dependence and HIV-related sexual risk behaviors among urban gay and bisexual men, Drug and Alcohol Dependence.  78:125-134.

• Peck, J. A., Reback, C. J., Yang, X., Rotheram-Fuller, E., & Shoptaw, S.  (2005). Sustained reductions in drug use and depression symptoms from treatment for drug abuse in methamphetamine-dependent gay and bisexual men.  Journal of Urban Health. 82: 100-108.

• Reback, C.J., Larkins, S. & Shoptaw, S. (2004). Changes in the meaning of sexual risk behaviors among gay and bisexual male methamphetamine abusers before and after drug treatment.  AIDS and Behavior, 8: 87-98.

• Reback, C.J., Larkins, S. & Shoptaw, S. (2003). Methamphetamine abuse as a barrier to HIV medication adherence among gay and bisexual men. AIDS Care, 15: 775-785.