David S. Fink, PhD
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Assistant Professor of Medicine (General Medicine)DownloadHi-Res Photo
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Assistant Professor of Medicine (General Medicine)
Biography
David Fink, PhD, MPH is a substance use and psychiatric epidemiologist whose research broadly aim to develop and apply rigorous causal inference methodologies to study the causes of addiction and mental illness, with a particular focus on estimating the effects of federal and state policies and programs. His research in mental health, substance use, and health policy are united by a desire to not just understand but reshape the structural, societal, and interpersonal factors that shape health and well-being over the life course. He received his Masters in Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics from San Diego State University and his PhD from Columbia University where his research focused on understanding the effects of cannabis legalization and prescription drug monitoring programs on drug-related morbidity and mortality. He is currently an assistant professor in Department of Internal Medicine at Yale, where he is funded by NIDA to investigate the effects of more flexible telehealth guidelines for buprenorphine prescribing for opioid use disorder.
Last Updated on April 22, 2025.
Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral research fellow
- New York State Psychiatric Institute (2025)
- PhD
- Columbia University, Epidemiology (2020)
- MPhil
- Columbia University, Epidemiology (2016)
- MPH
- San Diego State University, Epidemiology/Biostatistics (2009)
- BA
- San Diego State University, Anthropology (2004)
Research
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Overview
David Fink, PhD, MPH is a social epidemiologist whose research applies a multi-level life course perspective, coupled with rigorous causal inference methodologies, to understand the causes of addiction and mental illness and estimate the effects of policies and programs. His research in mental health, substance use, and health policy are united by a desire to understand and address structural, societal, and interpersonal factors that shape health and well-being over the life course.
Medical Research Interests
Mental Health; Mortality; Population Health; Psychosocial Functioning; Public Health; Social Determinants of Health; Statistics; Substance-Related Disorders; Systematic Review; Veterans; Veterans Health
Public Health Interests
Substance Use, Addiction; Mental Health; Health Policy; Epidemiology Methods
ORCID
0000-0003-1531-1525
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of David S. Fink's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of David S. Fink's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics David S. Fink is interested in exploring.
Gregg Gonsalves, PhD
Haidong Lu, PhD
Christopher T Rentsch, PhD, FISPE
David Fiellin, MD
Fan Li, PhD
101Publications
2,788Citations
Veterans
Substance-Related Disorders
Mental Health
Veterans Health
Public Health
Social Determinants of Health
Publications
2025
Cannabis Legalization and Cannabis Use Disorder by Sex in Veterans Health Administration Patients, 2005–2019
Wisell C, Hasin D, Wall M, Alschuler D, Malte C, McDowell Y, Olfson M, Keyes K, Cerdá M, Maynard C, Keyhani S, Martins S, Mannes Z, Livne O, Fink D, Bujno J, Stohl M, Saxon A, Simpson T. Cannabis Legalization and Cannabis Use Disorder by Sex in Veterans Health Administration Patients, 2005–2019. Substance Use & Misuse 2025, 61: 296-306. PMID: 40952119, PMCID: PMC12836143, DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2025.2554866.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationCannabis use disorder prevalenceCannabis use disorderVeterans Health Administration primary careVHA Corporate Data WarehouseU.S. Veterans Health AdministrationVeterans Health Administration patientsMental health visitsCorporate Data WarehouseDifference-in-differences analysisUse disorderCannabis legalizationEvidence-based treatmentsBinomial regression modelsPrimary careHealth visitsSociodemographic covariatesMedical providersHealth AdministrationFemale veteransEmergency departmentRecreational cannabis lawsAdministration patientsDiagnostic prevalenceVeteransCannabis legalization and cannabis use disorder in United States Veterans Health Administration patients with and without psychiatric disorders, 2005–2022: a repeated cross-sectional study
Hasin D, Malte C, Wall M, Alschuler D, Simpson T, Olfson M, Livne O, Mannes Z, Fink D, Keyes K, Cerdá M, Maynard C, Keyhani S, Martins S, Sherman S, Saxon A. Cannabis legalization and cannabis use disorder in United States Veterans Health Administration patients with and without psychiatric disorders, 2005–2022: a repeated cross-sectional study. The Lancet Regional Health - Americas 2025, 48: 101155. PMID: 40678370, PMCID: PMC12267076, DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2025.101155.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationCannabis use disorder prevalenceCannabis use disorderConfidence intervalsVA centersVeterans Health Administration primary careVA Centers of ExcellencePsychotic-spectrum disordersVeterans Health Administration patientsCannabis legalizationElectronic medical record dataPsychiatric disordersMental health visitsDiD estimatesNon-Hispanic whitesMedical record dataCross-sectional studyUse disorderAssociation of StateHospice/palliative carePrevalence of cannabis use disorderPrimary careHealth visitsRecreational cannabis legalizationSubstance addiction treatmentCannabis Legalization and Opioid Use Disorder in Veterans Health Administration Patients
Mannes Z, Wall M, Alschuler D, Malte C, Olfson M, Livne O, Fink D, Keyhani S, Keyes K, Martins S, Cerdá M, Sacco D, Gutkind S, Maynard C, Sherman S, Saxon A, Hasin D. Cannabis Legalization and Opioid Use Disorder in Veterans Health Administration Patients. JAMA Health Forum 2025, 6: e251369. PMID: 40512510, PMCID: PMC12166489, DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.1369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationVeterans Health Administration patientsMedical cannabis lawsOpioid use disorderPrevalence of opioid use disorderClassification of diseasesRecreational cannabis lawsChronic painVeterans Health Administration electronic health recordClinical ModificationConsistent with overall findingsState medical cannabis lawsInternational Statistical Classification of DiseasesReceipt of prescription opioidsStatistical Classification of DiseasesElectronic health recordsInternational Classification of DiseasesNon-Hispanic whitesOpioid use disorder diagnosisOpioid use disorder prevalenceInternational Statistical ClassificationDifference-in-differences analysisCannabis lawsUse disorderBurden of opioid use disorderCannabis legalization and increasing cannabis use in the United States: Data from urine toxicology testing in emergency room patients
Fink D, Samples H, Malte C, Olfson M, Wall M, Alschuler D, Simpson T, Mannes Z, Saxon A, Hasin D. Cannabis legalization and increasing cannabis use in the United States: Data from urine toxicology testing in emergency room patients. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2025, 138: 104765. PMID: 40058102, PMCID: PMC11967342, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104765.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsUrine drug screensCannabis use disorderMedical cannabis lawsVeterans Health AdministrationCannabis useRecreational cannabis lawsRates of cannabis use disordersCannabis lawsEmergency departmentIndicators of cannabis useUrine toxicology testsIncreased cannabis useDifference-in-differences analysisLegalized cannabis useEmergency room patientsSelf-reported dataBinomial regression modelsED visitsED patientsHealth AdministrationCannabis involvementPatient samplesPatientsUse disorderCannabisS66 Association Between State Cannabis Laws and Opioid Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Fink D, Gutkind S, Gorfinkel L, Bachowski D, Mannes Z, Saxon A, Hasin D. S66 Association Between State Cannabis Laws and Opioid Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 267: 111486. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111486.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe relationship of medical and recreational cannabis laws with opioid misuse and opioid use disorder in the USA: Does it depend on prior history of cannabis use?
Martins S, Bruzelius E, Mauro C, Santaella-Tenorio J, Boustead A, Wheeler-Martin K, Samples H, Hasin D, Fink D, Rudolph K, Crystal S, Davis C, Cerdá M. The relationship of medical and recreational cannabis laws with opioid misuse and opioid use disorder in the USA: Does it depend on prior history of cannabis use? International Journal Of Drug Policy 2025, 136: 104687. PMID: 39793270, PMCID: PMC11821435, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104687.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCannabis lawsCannabis useNational Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHDrug Use and Health (NSDUHRecreational cannabis lawsState fixed effectsAvailability of cannabisOpioid outcomesOpioid useAssociated with changesHistory of cannabis useLawOpioid misusePast-year cannabis useLifetime cannabis useState policySensitivity to unmeasured confoundingMisuseIndividual level covariatesCannabisLogistic regression modelsAssociated with reductionsOpioidCollider biasFalse discovery rateMental Health Treatment among U.S. Military Veterans: Insights from the National Health Interview Survey
Marini M, Gutkind S, Livne O, Fink D, Saxon A, Simpson T, Sherman S, Mannes Z. Mental Health Treatment among U.S. Military Veterans: Insights from the National Health Interview Survey. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2025, 40: 2723-2731. PMID: 39753811, PMCID: PMC12405233, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-09320-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationMental health treatmentNational Health Interview SurveyVeterans Health Administration patientsMental health counselingHealth Interview SurveyIntegrated healthcare systemHealth treatmentPrescription medicationsNon-VHA veteransU.S. military veteransHealth counselingHealthcare useInterview SurveyHealthcare systemReceipt of mental health counselingDelivery of mental health servicesMilitary veteransMental health servicesPrevalence of anxietyVeterans' useHealth servicesClinical initiativesHealth AdministrationReduce barriers
2024
Four targets: an enhanced framework for guiding causal inference from observational data
Lu H, Li F, Lesko C, Fink D, Rudolph K, Harhay M, Rentsch C, Fiellin D, Gonsalves G. Four targets: an enhanced framework for guiding causal inference from observational data. International Journal Of Epidemiology 2024, 54: dyaf003. PMID: 39868475, PMCID: PMC11769716, DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyaf003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsTrends in Opioid Use Disorder in the Veterans Health Administration, 2005-2022
Gorfinkel L, Malte C, Fink D, Mannes Z, Wall M, Olfson M, Livne O, Keyhani S, Keyes K, Martins S, Cerdá M, Gutkind S, Maynard C, Saxon A, Simpson T, Gonsalves G, Lu H, McDowell Y, Hasin D. Trends in Opioid Use Disorder in the Veterans Health Administration, 2005-2022. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e2451821. PMID: 39705031, PMCID: PMC11662256, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.51821.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationOpioid use disorder diagnosisNon-Hispanic white patientsOpioid use disorderPrevalence of opioid use disorderCross-sectional studyHealth AdministrationVHA Corporate Data WarehouseVeterans Health Administration facilitiesElectronic health record dataNational Veterans Health AdministrationVeterans Health Administration patientsRecord dataNon-Hispanic black patientsElectronic medical record dataContinued public health effortsWhite patientsHealth record dataPublic health effortsCorporate Data WarehouseMedical record dataMultivariate logistic regression modelUse disorderLogistic regression modelsBurden of opioid use disorderCannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorder Among U.S. Adults with Psychiatric Disorders: 2001-2002 and 2012-2013
Hasin D, Mannes Z, Livne O, Fink D, Martins S, Stohl M, Olfson M, Cerdá M, Keyes K, Keyhani S, Wisell C, Bujno J, Saxon A. Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorder Among U.S. Adults with Psychiatric Disorders: 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. Substance Use & Misuse 2024, 60: 285-292. PMID: 39533528, PMCID: PMC11710973, DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2423374.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCannabis use disorderPsychiatric disordersCannabis useNon-medical cannabis useCannabis outcomesUse disorderDSM-IV cannabis use disorderRates of cannabis use disordersRates of cannabis useCannabis use disorder prevalenceAntisocial personality disorderU.S. adultsPersonality disorderDSM-IVVeterans AdministrationPatient samplesNon-medical useDisordersPrevalence differencesU.S. general populationNationally Representative SampleCannabisVA patientsAdultsDisproportionate increase
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Society for Epidemiologic Research
2013 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberactivity College on Problems of Drug Dependence
2016 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberactivity BMC Psychiatry
2018 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Criminology and Public Policy
2022 - PresentJournal ServiceReviewer
Honors
honor CPDD Early Career Investigator Award
06/15/2021International AwardCollege on Problems of Drug DependenceDetailsUnited Stateshonor Anna C. Gelman Award for Excellence in Epidemiology
06/01/2021Other AwardMailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityDetailsUnited Stateshonor John T. and Patricia A. O'Neill Addiction Science Education Award
06/15/2018National AwardResearch Society on Alcoholismhonor William Haddon Jr. Award
06/01/2018Other AwardMailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityDetailsUnited Stateshonor TYLENOL Future Care Award
06/01/2015National AwardTYLENOL FoundationDetailsUnited States
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