Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPH
AAAS Congressional Fellow
I study substance use, harm reduction, social connections, and drug policy
PhD & MPH from University of Southern California
(she/her/hers)
Website: www.ninacchristie.com
- Excited that my TEDx ABQ Talk is out now! Tune in to hear some of my thoughts on the intersection of social connection and addiction, and why we should strive to create and maintain meaningful relationships in our own lives. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU8w...
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPH🧪 Senate appropriators say: NIH's budget gets a... boost! Rather than 40% cut, NIH gets a $400M *increase* in the Senate committee bill for FY26 (about +1%). "Congress has your back," said @murray.senate.gov. ADVOCACY MATTERS! There's still a long road (esp in the House), so keep up pressure.
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHShouting from the rooftops again: Cutting research grants means the loss of that potential knowledge, yes. But most of the money in a grant supports JOBS. Your local university losing grants means your community losing prosperity. It means your kid having to take more loans for school.
- Getting this unprompted email from a participant absolutely made my day and gave me a much needed reminder on the role of research in participants' lives, even from something as simple as a daily diary study. Posting with permission from a participant:
- Hi Nina, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the survey program you run and the support you provide to people in early recovery like myself.
- Participating in your nightly survey has been more than just a routine for me it’s been a lifeline. Living in a sober living community and facing weeks of financial hardship while searching for a job has been incredibly challenging.
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View full threadYour dedication and the care you show through this program have helped me tremendously during a difficult time. I am genuinely grateful for everything you’ve done for me since the survey began. Your efforts are appreciated more than words can say. Thank you again for all that you do.
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHBREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
- In light of recent cuts to funding for HIV prevention, I was re-listening to the Rent soundtrack, and then picked up the novel Four Squares. Both tell human stories of the AIDS crisis in the 80s. Now, I’m thinking about what folks learned then so we can build support for trust in public health now.
- Really good conversation w Reed Tuckerson about trust in public health now related to AIDS crisis dynamics. ❤️🔥💪Dr Tuckerson made the connection to stigma and people who use drugs, like I was hoping he would. 👏@brindabee.bsky.social, et al #harmreductionsaveslives open.spotify.com/episode/6aVp...
- My first RSA was a whirlwind! 3 highlights to share: discussing the importance of AA meeting quality for recovery, the mindfulness based relapse prevention workshop by @katiew.bsky.social & @monizlewis.bsky.social, and being a mentee of @katiew.bsky.social who received the Marlatt Mentorship Award!
- Finally, incredibly stunned/honored to receive the @rsaofficial.bsky.social Marlatt Mentorship award. Alan Marlatt (my PhD mentor) is the reason I am a scientist and I am so honored to carry on his legacy of mentoring. I hope our T32 will fund so we can continue mentoring our amazing trainees.
- I am really excited to publish this work from my dissertation which shows that positive social experiences are perceived as especially protective – and negative ones as especially risky – for relapse risk. Fostering positive social connections is crucial, keep on connecting!
- Perceived Relapse Risks Associated with Emotionally Impactful Events: Connection Counts More (just accepted in @jsadjournal.bsky.social) @iasatusc.bsky.social @uscpphs.bsky.social @uscpsychology.bsky.social @ninachristie.bsky.social @keck.usc.edu @casaa.bsky.social www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.1...
- Truly incredible statement on current affairs directly from NIH employees. How can you demonstrate your support? Here is a link to sign in support of science and the Bethesda Declaration here: www.standupforscience.net/bethesda-dec...
- Cassie said it best in yet another great piece in the ABQ Journal from addiction scientists: "We owe it to every person struggling with substance use, and their families, to act now to save the very infrastructure that saves families from unnecessary suffering." Check it out here:
- New op-ed out in the Albuquerque Journal. I share about the importance of federal substance use and addiction funding for families like mine. www.abqjournal.com/opinion/arti... and in case you hit a paywall: unmm-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/person...
- Absolutely worth the two minute listen! What we are facing now with the proposed cuts to NIH is not a 5-year problem, but a 10-year, 20-year, 30-year problem
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHOnly 100 days into his presidency, the Trump admin & Congress are scaling back support for health services that prevent overdose & offer a path to recovery. With $1.5 trillion in cuts still on the table, we continue to fight for care. Learn more: drugpolicy.org/news/trumps-...
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHGreat article by @ethanbrooks.bsky.social about the underutilization of buprenorphine. Mallory's story highlights the benefits of this treatment for opioid addiction, while her brother's illustrates our failures in the treatment sector. www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
- Writing to your neighbors about your science is a critical skill! The time is now to advocate for the health of your community, for your community. @standupforscience.bsky.social @sufsnewmexico.bsky.social
- Op-eds influence public opinion, which can influence policy. In a paper led by @hannahcarlon.bsky.social, we looked at how harm reduction is portrayed in op-eds. Most used evidence-based reasons to support opioid harm reduction. Write what you know, it matters! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Lots of news today - my op-ed is now out in the Albuquerque Journal. Science is for all. Let's take a stand, together! #StandUpForScience @standupforscience.bsky.social @sufsnewmexico.bsky.social @wearehighered.bsky.social @insidehighered.com @govmlg.bsky.social
- Threats to federal funding have created uncertainty for the future of #science & scientific research. In this OpEd, @ninachristie.bsky.social writes about the need to stand up for science, having organized local rallies on this issue herself. Albuquerque Journal: www.abqjournal.com/opinion/arti...
- News from yesterday's UNM rally supported by @standupforscience.bsky.social with @faheypsych.bsky.social @matwmccool.bsky.social and @monizlewis.bsky.social! Great shot of Ikela speaking (feat. me in the background taking videos as if I'm Regina George's mom) @insidehighered.com
- Inspiring to see Kalina speak today at the Higher Education day of action! Hope to see you all at the next event with @sufsnewmexico.bsky.social @standupforscience.bsky.social
- Sharing the @standupforscience.bsky.social and @sufsnewmexico.bsky.social mission today at the Higher Education day of action was so inspiring. So many passionate students, staff, and faculty at UNM!
- Addiction science needs your support! Please read the statement of concern and consider signing as an individual or (if applicable) as an organization. Scroll to the bottom of the webpage and click the box that says "individual endorsement" or "organizational endorsement".
- 🚨 I have been working with several addiction scientists and clinicians through the Addiction Science Defense Network (www.npscoalition.org/projects/add...) to craft a statement of concern about recent executive orders and actions that can be shared with members of congress.
- Hoping to see even more universities stand up like this: "The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government." www.harvard.edu/president/ne...
- Loved working with @hannahcarlon.bsky.social who used critical discourse analysis to assess how US opinion news media portrays harm reduction. Spoilers: Over 80% of opinion media in 2023-2024 was positive, yet stigmatizing language abounds. 50 days free access: authors.elsevier.com/c/1kvxI3PEro...
- The main topics covered in the supportive pieces included that harm reduction strategies are 1) evidence-based, 2) do not increase crime, 3) decrease stigma and systemic oppression, and 4) that policy change is needed to improve implementation.
- Coauthors: Hannah Hebden, @feliciatuchman.bsky.social, @monizlewis.bsky.social, @cassie-boness.bsky.social, @katiew.bsky.social, & Margo Hurlocker
- Proud to be a UCLA alum, today and every day #GoBruins @uclaupdates.bsky.social @uofcalifornia.bsky.social
- Out today, the Academic Council of the University of California issues the following statement: “Higher education is under direct and sustained attack. 1/ senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/_files/repor...
- ““We thus call on the Regents, President, and Chancellors of the University of California to expend every effort, commit necessary resources, and use all legal measures to defend our ability to conduct consequential, transformative research and provide high-quality teaching and mentoring.” 1/2
- “We call on our leaders to ensure the safety and privacy of students, faculty, and staff. And we further call on our leaders to protect academic freedom and faculty control of the curriculum—proactively and publicly.” 2/2
- Some good news from @cassie-boness.bsky.social and her stellar team! Focusing on patient centered outcomes is increasingly important work and I am so excited to see where this leads
- I'm so elated to share that my team at the Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions (@casaa.bsky.social) has been approved for funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). news.unm.edu/news/casaa-a...
- Had an amazing time at #CPA2025! So much fun with colleagues talking about how cannabis legalization, specifically state-level implementation decisions, impacts public health outcomes. @cassie-boness.bsky.social @juststrickland.bsky.social @samuelacuff.bsky.social
- Feeling particularly grateful to have had the chance to end the #CPA2025 conference and march in the Hands Off! rally today in Providence, RI with thousands of others to continue to stand up for science and public goods. @standupforscience.bsky.social @sufsnewmexico.bsky.social
- I cannot overstate the damage this will do to the community of people who use drugs and those of us whose work is focused on mitigating drug related harms. I am at a loss for words
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHWe're standing up for science in our op-ed series at the ABQ Journal 🔬 Read the first article by @faheypsych.bsky.social here: www.abqjournal.com/opinion/arti...
- Great piece by my friend, colleague, and officemate! She highlights an important question with regard to the federal attacks on science - "what kind of message is this sending to our young scientists?"
- I wrote an op-ed about my experience as an early career researcher right now… TLDR, it’s pretty rough out there guys Thank you to @sufsnewmexico.bsky.social for inspiring the piece and to ABQ Journal for publishing
- Feeling like you need to do something? Want to tell the administration Hands Off Our Science? Same. Happening in ONE week folks - find an event near you! Today, I am particularly concerned with what @jeremymberg.bsky.social shared on training grants for early career scientists.
- We are excited to announce our official partnership with @indivisible.org for the National Day of Action on April 5th! Stand Up for Science says: HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE! #standupforscience #handsoffourscience Find and register for an event near you: handsoff2025.com?utm_source=s...
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHPlease please please continue to submit details of your terminated grant using this Google Form 👇 Your submissions continue to be key to understanding patterns of grant terminations and facilitating advocacy and litigation. 💪💪💪
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPH[This post could not be retrieved]
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHNEW for @sfchronicle.com: A study dropped today showing that in San Francisco, overdoses increase in areas where police have seized drugs. We're seeing this in real time: As law enforcement efforts have ramped up in recent months, fatal overdoses have risen. That's not a coincidence. (gift link)
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHSAMHSA is a small agency that does a ton of stuff; much of the work I do - things I am proud to be able to do/offer - is thanks to them. They also oversee the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which fields MILLIONS of calls. They have fewer than 900 employees and half of them are getting fired
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHThe Department of Education announced this morning that it was investigating 45 universities, UNM included, for potential Title VI violations by "engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs."
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHSAMHSA funds groups that distribute naloxone to the people who need it most & help people with substance use disorder gain stability in their lives. Trump's funding cuts threaten their work & jeopardizes essential services like overdose prevention services: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/h... #drugsky
- If you want to hear a bit more about what was said, here is a great write-up with info on how specific state bills currently in the legislative process at the end! Keep making your voices heard, it matters. sourcenm.com/2025/03/07/n... @standupforscience.bsky.social @sourcenm.com
- Proud to say that we ran a successful rally in Santa Fe! About 200 people came out in support, and this is just the beginning of our movement. Thank you to all who contributed to this success, particularly my co-organizers, @faheypsych.bsky.social @matwmccool.bsky.social and @cgillezeau.bsky.social
- A HUGE thank you to our incredible speakers, who shared how their lives and work have been impacted by threats to funding, DEI, and science broadly. Your words have made an impact. @katiew.bsky.social, Sam McKenzie, Brandi Hess, Glenn Wikle, & @cgillezeau.bsky.social. @standupforscience.bsky.social
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHWant to keep your science advocacy going above and beyond the (very cool and very funny) protest signs you've got for tomorrow? Come hang out with me and I'll teach you! This coming Monday and Tuesday, both starting at 1:00 PM EDT // 10:00 AM PDT Learn more and register at stemedify.com
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHWe stand up for science because science stands up for us! Funding for science saves lives, creates jobs, grows our economy, can work to save our climate, and fosters innovation.
- BIG NEWS for @standupforscience.bsky.social New Mexico! The Governor of New Mexico officially signed a proclamation declaring Friday March 7th, 2025 as Stand Up For Science Day!! @govmlg.bsky.social I stand for science, New Mexico stands for science. I'd like to know, what do you stand for?
- Reposted by Nina C. Christie | PhD, MPHwww.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/s... Kind of speechless. Thank you to @katrinamillerphd.bsky.social for coving our movement so well. @standupforscience.bsky.social @jpflores.bsky.social @samschuelstein.bsky.social @leslie-bern.bsky.social @emmalovesscience.bsky.social
- Stand Up For Science 2025 is happening TOMORROW! Looking forward to seeing all of my New Mexico folks in Santa Fe at the state capitol building at noon!
