Elizabeth J. D'Amico

Photo of Elizabeth D'Amico
Senior Behavioral Scientist
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in clinical psychology, University of Texas

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Elizabeth D'Amico is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation and a licensed clinical psychologist. D'Amico is nationally recognized for her work developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions for adolescents. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and the interventions she has developed all utilize motivational interviewing (MI).

D'Amico has evaluated several MI interventions with adolescents and young adults in a variety of settings, including middle schools, primary care, homeless shelters, and teen court. She recently developed and tested a group intervention for urban Native American adolescents that integrated MI and traditional healing practices. She has also conducted epidemiological work to examine predictors and consequences of adolescent substance use. She is the principal investigator of a large longitudinal study that examines substance use patterns over 14 years among youth from sixth grade through age 24. Her most recent work has focused on the effects of medical marijuana advertising on adolescents' marijuana use. 

In 2016, D'Amico was recognized as a Fellow of the American Psychological Association for Division 50 (Society of Addiction Psychology). She received the Mentor of the Year Award in 2018 from RAND's Behavioral and Policy Sciences. She has expressed her views on how to talk to adolescents about marijuana legalization on the PBS news hour for the "In My Humble Opinion" (#IMHO) series. D'Amico received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

  • Development and testing of an integrated healing and motivational interviewing group intervention for urban Native American youth
  • Testing a brief motivational interviewing intervention for at-risk adolescents in four primary care settings
  • AOD use trajectories from age 10 to 24: Multi-level predictors, health and behavioral functioning, and racial/ethnic disparities
  • Examining the role of sleep disturbances in contributing to health risk behaviors and cardiometabolic outcomes in urban Native American youth
  • Tobacco and marijuana co-use among emerging adults in California

Selected Publications

D’Amico, E.J., Rodriguez, A., Tucker, J.S., Pedersen, E.R., & Shih, R.A., "Planting the seed for marijuana use: Changes in exposure to medical marijuana advertising and subsequent adolescent marijuana use, cognitions, and consequences over seven years," Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 188, 2018

D’Amico, E.J., Parast, L., Shadel, W.G., Meredith, L.S., Seelam, R., & Stein, B.D., "Brief motivational interviewing intervention to reduce alcohol and marijuana use for at-risk adolescents in primary care: A randomized clinical trial," Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(9), 2018

Jernigan, V.B., D’Amico, E. J., Duran, B., & Buchwald, D. , "Multilevel and community-level interventions with Native Americans: Challenges and opportunities," Prevention Science, 2018

Dickerson, D. L., Brown, R. A., Johnson, C. L., Schweigman, K., & D’Amico, E. J., "Integrating motivational interviewing and traditional practices to address alcohol and drug use among urban American Indian/Alaska Native youth.," Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 65, 2015

D’Amico, E. J., Tucker, J. S., Pedersen, E. R, & Shih, R. A, "Understanding rates of marijuana use and consequences among adolescents in a changing legal landscape," Current Addiction Reports, 4(4), 2017

D'Amico, E.J., Parast, L., Meredith, L.S., Ewing, B.A., Shadel, W.G., & Stein, B.S., "Screening in primary care: What is the best way to identify at-risk youth for substance use?" Pediatrics, 138(6), 2016

Dunbar, M., Davis, J., Rodriguez, A., Tucker, J. S., Seelam, R., & D’Amico, E. J. , "Disentangling within- and between-person effects of shared risk factors on e-cigarette and cigarette use trajectories from adolescence to young adulthood," Nicotine & Tobacco Research (forthcoming)

Honors & Awards

  • Mentor of the Year, RAND Health
  • Fellow, American Psychological Association
  • Mentor of the Year, Behavioral & Policy Sciences

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: CNN; KPBS/NPR; Los Angeles Times; Time Magazine; Washington Post

Commentary

  • Vape liquids for sale in New York, New York, September 20, 2018

    Vaping May Have Its Place, Just Not With Teens

    While e-cigarettes may be a “safer” option for adult smokers, they are not safe for young people. Teens who vape are significantly more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes in the future.

    Dec 17, 2018 CNN

  • Elizabeth D'Amico outside a marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, California

    How Marijuana Ads Affect Youth: Q&A with Elizabeth D'Amico

    RAND's Elizabeth D'Amico discusses her research on how medical marijuana advertising influences adolescents' use of—and positive attitudes toward—the drug. Los Angeles County used her findings to limit the placement of marijuana billboards and signage outside dispensaries.

    Aug 21, 2018

  • A billboard advertises marijuana in advance of the legalization of recreational marijuana in San Francisco, California, December 29, 2017

    Why Children Need to Be Shielded from Marijuana Ads

    By design, advertising is aimed at persuading us to want something. In the case of marijuana, that something is definitely not good for teenagers.

    Jun 18, 2018 Los Angeles Times

  • 'Weed' sign with arrow and palm trees

    Advertising and Teens in the Era of the 'Blackout Brownie'

    Exposure to marijuana advertising may play a significant role in shaping teen attitudes about the drug, and contribute to increased marijuana use and related negative consequences throughout adolescence. Restrictions on marijuana advertising similar to those on alcohol and tobacco would likely help limit its exposure to teens.

    May 31, 2018 USA Today

  • A closeup of cannabis

    What Your Kids Need to Know About Marijuana, Legalized or Not

    If you are a parent, no matter how you feel about legalizing marijuana, you need to be prepared to talk about the drug with your kids.

    Sep 21, 2016 Los Angeles Times

  • young people having a group discussion in a park

    Group Motivational Interviewing Can Help Teens Make Healthy Choices

    Group motivational interviewing is a guided therapeutic approach that helps people think about their motivations for behavior and their commitment to change. It is an excellent fit for adolescents, because it engages them about their personal experiences while eliciting ideas about how they can change and make healthy choices.

    Oct 29, 2013

  • young woman smoking and drinking coffee

    Teen Employment May Not Always Be a Boon for At-Risk Youth

    For all teens, and especially those who have already experienced problems related to alcohol and drug use, it is essential to monitor the quality of work experiences and keep in mind that some work environments might increase risk for substance use.

    Dec 18, 2012

Publications