Alison Looby, PH.D.

                  College student substance use                          

*Dr. Looby will be reviewing applications for graduate students applying for Fall 2027

 

Clinical Internship: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh PA (2010-2011)
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University at Albany (2011)
M.A. in Psychology, University at Albany (2007)
B.A. in Psychology, University of California, San Diego (2002)

 

Academic Positions:

2024-present Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming
2020-2024  Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming
2016-2020  Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming
2011-2016     Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of North Dakota

 

Research Interests:

My research interests lie broadly in the area of substance use (e.g., prescription stimulants, alcohol, cannabis), particularly among college students. I am specifically interested in 1) identifying factors that are implicated in one's decision to initiate and maintain substance use, and 2) using this information to develop substance use prevention and treatment efforts for college students. Within this framework, I am interested in examining how drug-related beliefs and expectations impact one's drug use and associated behavior (e.g., mood, cognitive performance). Furthermore, I aim to understand if substance use can be prevented or decreased by modifying these cognitions. Please see the Addictive Behaviors Lab page for more information.

 

Teaching:

PSYC 2210  Drugs & Behavior
PSYC 2340  Psychopathology
PSYC 5510  Adult Psychopathology

 

Representative Publications:

Looby, A., Berry, K. A., Petrey, A. M., & Winterlind, E. (2026). To choose or not to choose: Examining the influence of choice on elicitation of subjective and objective prescription stimulant placebo effects in the laboratory. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.

Holt, L. J., Looby, A., Feinn, R., & Schepis, T. S. (2026). Preventing prescription stimulant diversion and misuse via a web-based intervention: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Attention Disorders, 30, 265-280.

 

Schepis, T. S., Looby, A., & Holt, L. J. (2026). University students and the stimulant medication shortage: Strategies to obtain medication, consequences of shortages, and mental health correlates. Journal of Adolescent Health, 79, 81-86.

 

Braitman, B. L., Petrey, A., Shipley, J. L., Ayala Guzman, R., Renzoni, E., Looby, A., Bravo, A. J., & Stimulant Norms and Prevalence 2 (SNAP2) Study Team. (2025). Check your data before your wreck your model: The impact of careless responding on substance use data quality. Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 49, 941-951.

 

Looby, A., Berry, K. A., Prince, M. A., Herchenroeder, L., Bravo, A. J., Conner, B. T., Holt, L. J., Schepis, T. S., & Yeung, E. W. (2025). Differences in alcohol-related variables between individuals who engage in food and alcohol disturbance (FAD) behaviors and those who only use alcohol: The role of FAD motives. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 86, 461-648.

Looby, A., Piccorelli, A. V., Zimmerman, L., Falco, C., Livingston, N. R., Akin, C., Benton, S., & Juliano, L. M. (2024). Expectancy for Adderall influences subjective mood and drug effects regardless of concurrent caffeine ingestion: A randomized controlled trial. Psychopharmacology, 241, 109-118. 

 

Looby, A., Prince, M. A., Livingston, N. R., Berry, K. A., & Harm Reduction Research Team. (2023). An examination of the effects of ADHD symptoms and sex on the relation between cannabis protective behavioral strategies and cannabis consequences. Addictive Behaviors, 144, 107718.

 

Holt, L., Looby, A., Schepis, T. S., & Stimulant Norms and Prevalence (SNAP) Study Team. (2023). Sources for prescription stimulant misuse: A person-centered approach to understanding links to substance use and psychiatric impairment. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 31, 498-506. 

 

Looby, A., Prince, M. A., Vasko, J. M., Zimmerman, L., Flory, K., Lefler, E. K., Canu, W., & Hartung, C. M. (2021). Relations among protective behaviors strategies, biological sex, and ADHD on alcohol use and alcohol-related problems: Who benefits most, and from what type of strategy? Addictive Behaviors, 119, 106924.

Looby, A., Prince, M. A., Villarosa-Hurlocker, M. C., Conner, B. T., Schepis, T. S., Bravo, A. J., & Stimulant Norms and Prevalence (SNAP) Study Team. (2021). Young adult use, dual use, and simultaneous use of alcohol and marijuana: An examination of differences across use status on marijuana use context, rates, and consequences. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 35, 682-690.

Looby, A., Zimmerman, L., & Livingston, N. R. (2022). Expectation for stimulant type modifies caffeine’s effects on mood and cognition among college students. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 30, 525-535.

Looby, A., De Young, K. P., & Earleywine, M. (2013). Challenging expectancies to prevent nonmedical prescription stimulant use: A randomized, controlled trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 132, 362-368.

 

Looby, A., & Earleywine, M. (2011). Expectation to receive methlphenidate enhances subjective arousal but not cognitive performance. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 19, 433-444.