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David A. Gorelick, MD, PhD

Academic Title:

Professor

Primary Appointment:

Psychiatry

Location:

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center - Tawes Building

Phone (Primary):

410-402-6806

Phone (Secondary):

410-402-6805

Fax:

410-402-6038

Education and Training

  • Cornell University, BA (Magna Cum Laude), Psychology, 1968
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, MD, 1976
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, PhD, Pharmacology, 1976
  • Wadsworth VA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, Medical Internship, 1996-1977
  • UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute/Brentwood VA Medical Center, Residency, Psychiatry,1977-1980

Biosketch

David A. Gorelick, MD, PhD is currently Professor of Psychiatry (part-time) at the University of Maryland School of Maryland, having retired in 2013 after 24 years at the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), US National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Baltimore, MD, US.  Dr. Gorelick is board certified in psychiatry and addiction medicine, a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. (pharmacology) degrees from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY in 1976, and did his medical internship and psychiatric residency at the University of California, Los Angeles.

His research interests are the clinical pharmacology of substance use disorders and their biological treatment, including medication, drug-metabolizing enzymes, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Dr. Gorelick has published more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 50 book chapters. His recent work focuses on cannabis and its therapeutic uses, cocaine, and individuals with comorbid psychiatric disorders. He has organized workshops on medical cannabis at annual meetings of the American Psychiatric Association and American Society of Addiction Medicine, presented on the topic at national and international conferences, and is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cannabis Research.  

Research/Clinical Keywords

addiction, substance use disorders, cocaine, cannabis, withdrawal, pharmacological treatment

Highlighted Publications

Dezman ZDW, Gorelick DA, Buchanan L, Soderstrom CA. 20-year mortality after discharge in a cohort of 1,099 former trauma inpatients with and without substance use disorders. Injury 51(12):2930-2937, 2020.

Dezman ZDW, Gorelick DA, Soderstrom CA. Test characteristics of a drug CAGE questionnaire for the detection of non-alcohol substance use disorders in trauma inpatients. Injury. 49(8):1538-1545, 2018.

Chauchard E, Levin KH, Copersino ML, Heishman SJ, & Gorelick DA: Motivations to quit cannabis use in an adult non-treatment sample: Are they related to relapse? Addictive Behaviors, 38:2422-2427, 2013.

Koola MM, Boggs DL, Kelly DL, Liu F, Linthicum JA, Turner HE, McMahon RP, Gorelick DA: Relief of cannabis withdrawal symptoms and cannabis quitting strategies in people with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research 209(3):273-278, 2013.

Boggs DL, Kelly DL, Liu F, Linthicum JA, Turner H, Schroeder JR, McMahon RP, & Gorelick DA: Cannabis withdrawal in chronic cannabis users with schizophrenia. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47(2):240-245, 2013.

Gorelick DA, Levin KH, Copersino ML, Heishman SJ, Liu F, Boggs DL, Kelly DL: Diagnostic criteria for cannabis withdrawal syndrome. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 127:141-147, 2012.

Minkowski CP, Epstein D, Frost JJ, & Gorelick DA: Differential response to iv carfentanil in chronic cocaine users and healthy controls. Addiction Biology 17(1):149-155, 2012.

Gorelick DA, Goodwin RS, Schwilke E, Schwope DM, Darwin WD, Kelly DL, McMahon RP, Liu F, Ortemann-Renon C, Bonnet D, & Huestis MA: Antagonist-elicited cannabis withdrawal in humans. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 31(5):603-612, 2011.

Ghitza UE, Preston KL, Epstein DH, Kuwabara H, Endres CJ, Bencherif B, Boyd SJ, Copersino ML, Frost JJ, & Gorelick DA: Brain mu-opioid receptor binding predicts treatment outcome in cocaine-abusing outpatients. Biological Psychiatry 68(8):697-703, 2010.

Gorelick DA, Kim Y-K, Bencherif B, Boyd SJ, Nelson R, Copersino ML, Dannals RF, & Frost JJ: Brain mu-opioid receptor binding: relationship to relapse to cocaine use after monitored abstinence. Psychopharmacology. 200:475-486, 2008.

Huestis MA, Boyd SJ, Heishman SJ, Preston KL, Bonnet D, Le Fur G, & Gorelick DA: Single and multiple doses of rimonabant antagonize acute effects of smoked cannabis in male cannabis users. Psychopharmacology 194:505-515, 2007.

Nelson RA, Boyd SJ, Ziegelstein RC, Herning R, Cadet JL, Henningfield JE, Schuster CR, Contoreggi C, & Gorelick DA: Effect of rate of administration on subjective and physiological effects of intravenous cocaine in humans. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 82:19-24, 2006.

Gorelick DA, Heishman SJ, Preston KL, Nelson RA, Moolchan ET, & Huestis MA: The cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant attenuates the hypotensive effect of smoked marijuana in male smokers. American Heart Journal 151:754.e1-754.e5, 2006.

Cheskin LJ, Hess JM, Henningfield J, & Gorelick DA: Calorie restriction increases cigarette use in adult smokers. Psychopharmacology 179:430-436, 2005.

72. Montoya ID, Schroeder JR, Preston KL, Umbricht A, Fudala P, Johnson R, Contoreggi C, & Gorelick DA: Influence of psychotherapy attendance on buprenorphine treatment outcome. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 28:247-254, 2005.

Gorelick DA, Kim Y-K, Bencherif B, Boyd SJ, Nelson R, Copersino M, Endres CJ, Dannals RF, & Frost JJ: Imaging brain mu-opioid receptors in abstinent cocaine users: Time course and relation to cocaine craving. Biological Psychiatry 57:1573-1582, 2005.

Additional Publication Citations

Martins SS & Gorelick DA: Conditional substance abuse and dependence by diagnosis of mood or anxiety disorder or schizophrenia in the U.S. population. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 119(1-2):28-36, 2011. 

Harrell PT, Montoya ID, Preston KL, Juliano LM, & Gorelick DA: Cigarette smoking and short-term addiction treatment outcome. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 115(3):161-166, 2011.

Kelly DL, Gorelick DA, Conley RR, Boggs DL, Linthicum J, Liu F, Feldman S, Ball MP, Wehring HJ, McMahon RP, Huestis MA, Heishman SJ, Warren KR, Buchanan RW: Effects of the cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist rimonabant on psychiatric symptoms in overweight people with schizophrenia: A randomized, double-blind pilot study. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 31(1):86-91, 2011.

Copersino ML, Boyd SJ, Tashkin DP, Huestis MA, Heishman SJ, Dermand JC, Simmons MS, & Gorelick DA: Sociodemographic characteristics of cannabis smokers and the experience of cannabis withdrawal. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 36(6):311-319, 2010.

Levin KH, Copersino ML, Heishman SJ, Liu F, Kelly DL, Boggs DL, & Gorelick DA: Cannabis withdrawal symptoms in non-treatment-seeking adult cannabis smokers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 111:120-127, 2010.

Kanneganti P, Copersino ML, Nelson RA, Boyd SJ, Ziegelstein RC, & Gorelick DA: Signal-averaged electrocardiogram in physically healthy, recently abstinent chronic cocaine users. Journal of Addiction Medicine 3(3):128-133, 2009.

Copersino ML, Herning RI, Better W, Cadet J-L, & Gorelick DA: EEG and cerebral blood flow velocity abnormalities in chronic cocaine users. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience. 40:40-44, 2009.

Kanneganti P, Huestis MA, Kolbrich EA, Goodwin R, Ziegelstein RC, & Gorelick DA: Signal-averaged electrocardiogram in physically healthy, chronic 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) users. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 34:712-720, 2008.

Kanneganti P, Nelson RA, Boyd SJ, Ziegelstein RC, & Gorelick DA: Exercise stress testing in recently abstinent chronic cocaine abusers. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 34:489-498, 2008.

Levin KH, Copersino ML, Epstein D, Susan J. Boyd SJ, & Gorelick DA: Longitudinal ECG changes in cocaine users during extended abstinence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 95:160-163, 2008.

Levin KH, Herning RI, Better WE, Epstein DH, Cadet J-L, & Gorelick DA: EEG absolute power during extended cocaine abstinence. Journal of Addiction Medicine 1:139-144, 2007.

Martins SS, Copersino ML, Soderstrom CA, Smith GS, Dischinger PC, McDuff DR, Hebel JR, Kerns TJ, Ho SM, Read KM, & Gorelick DA: Sociodemographic characteristics associated with substance use status in a trauma inpatient population. Journal of Addictive Diseases 26:53-62, 2007.

Boyd SJ, Armstrong KM, Fang LJ, Medoff DR, Dixon LB, & Gorelick DA: Use of a "microecology technique" to study crime around substance abuse treatment centers. Social Science Computer Review 25:163-173, 2007.

Martins SS, Copersino ML, Soderstrom CA, Smith GS, Dischinger PC, McDuff DR, Hebel JR, Kerns TJ, Ho SM, Read KM, & Gorelick DA: Risk of psychoactive substance dependence among substance users in a trauma inpatient population. Journal of Addictive Diseases 26:71-77, 2007.

Copersino ML, Boyd SJ, Tashkin DP, Huestis MA, Heishman SJ, Dermand JC, Simmons MS, & Gorelick DA: Quitting among non-treatment-seeking marijuana users: reasons and changes in other substance use. American Journal on Addictions 15:297-302, 2006.

Kurlander JE, Simon-Dack SL, & Gorelick DA: Spending of remuneration by subjects in non-treatment drug abuse research studies. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse 32:527-540, 2006.

Gorelick DA & Wilkins JN: Bromocriptine treatment for cocaine addiction: association with plasma prolactin levels, Drug and Alcohol Dependence 81:189-195, 2006.

Copersino ML, Boyd SJ, Tashkin DP, Huestis MA, Heishman SJ, Dermand JC, Simmons MS, & Gorelick DA: Cannabis withdrawal among non-treatment-seeking adult cannabis users. American Journal on Addictions 15:8-14, 2006.

Carmona G, Schindler C, Greig N, Holloway H, Jufer R, Cone E, & Gorelick D: Plasma butyrylcholinesterase activity and plasma and brain levels of cocaine and metabolites in rats. European Journal of Pharmacology 517:186-190, 2005.

Gorelick DA & Wilkins JN: Bromocriptine treatment for cocaine addiction: association with plasma prolactin levels, Drug and Alcohol Dependence 81:189-195, 2006.

Boyd SJ, Tashkin DP, Huestis M, Heishman SJ, Dermand JC, Simmons MS, & Gorelick DA: Strategies for quitting among non-treatment-seeking marijuana smokers. American Journal on Addictions 14:35-42, 2005. 

Montoya ID, Schroeder JR, Preston KL, Umbricht A, Fudala P, Johnson R, Contoreggi C, & Gorelick DA: Influence of psychotherapy attendance on buprenorphine treatment outcome. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 28:247-254, 2005.

A complete list of Dr. Gorelick's publications can be found on PubMed.

Research Interests

Dr. Gorelick's research interests are the clinical pharmacology of substance use disorders and their biological treatment, including medication, drug-metabolizing enzymes, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Awards and Affiliations

  • Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
  • Fellow, American Society of Addiction Medicine
  • Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Cannabis Research
  • Section co-editor, Principles of Addiction Medicine
  • Member, NIDA/NIAAA Data Safety & Monitoring Board
  • Ad hoc member, Western/Copernicus IRB
  • Member, Public Policy Committee, Maryland-DC Society of Addiction Medicine