Overview
Background
Nina Pocuca is a Research Fellow in the School of Psychology, The University of Queensland. Nina works on the Meaningful Outcomes in Substance use Treatments Centre of Research Excellence, which aims to implement routine outcome measures and feedback (ROMF) in the alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector to increase its capacity to deliver evidence-based and cost-effective care.
Nina completed her PhD with the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research at Queensland University of Technology (2019), where her research examined the interplay between personality and peer norms, on alcohol use in young people. Following her PhD, Nina completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of California San Diego (UCSD; 2019-2020) and the University of Montreal (2020-2022). Nina's postdoctoral research at UCSD focused on the association between substance use and cognitive function, while her Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Montreal used 25+ years of longitudinal data to examine factors associated with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Nina's interests lie in examining factors associated with co-occurring mental health and substance use, understanding the association between substance use and cognitive function, and translating research findings stemming from these areas into practice.
Current projects include:
- Projects as part of the Meaningful Outcomes in Substance use Treatments Centre of Research Excellence
- Co-design and acceptability testing of a drug checking/ pill testing brief intervention
- Using longitudinal birth cohort data to examine the link between alcohol, cannabis and polysubstance use, and cognitive development in youth (collaboration with researchers at the University of Montreal)
Availability
- Dr Nina Pocuca is:
- Available for supervision
Works
Search Professor Nina Pocuca’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Age of onset of cannabis use and substance use problems: A systematic review of prospective studies
Hamaoui, Jad, Pocuca, Nina, Ditoma, Mikaela, Héguy, Camille, Simard, Cléa, Aubin, Raphael, Lucic, Anastasia and Castellanos-Ryan, Natalie (2025). Age of onset of cannabis use and substance use problems: A systematic review of prospective studies. Addictive Behaviors, 163 108259, 108259-163. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108259
2025
Journal Article
A mixed‐methods study of staff perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of patient‐reported routine outcome measures and feedback in alcohol and other drug treatment
Pocuca, Nina, Campbell, Gabrielle, Barnett, Anthony, Beck, Alison K., Ellem, Rhiannon, Quinn, Catherine A., Kelly, Peter J., Larance, Briony, Baker, Amanda L., Connor, Jason P., Marsden, John, Chan, Gary C. K., Connelly, Luke, Lenzen, Sabrina, Farrell, Michael, Stirling, Robert, Hudson, Suzie and Hides, Leanne (2025). A mixed‐methods study of staff perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of patient‐reported routine outcome measures and feedback in alcohol and other drug treatment. Drug and Alcohol Review, 44 (3), 759-771. doi: 10.1111/dar.14007
2025
Journal Article
Three-month polysubstance use patterns among people enrolled in outpatient treatment for methamphetamine use
Pocuca, Nina, Campbell, Gabrielle, Ellem, Rhiannon, Newland, Grace, Walter, Zoe, Dignan, Julie, Stokes, Holly and Hides, Leanne (2025). Three-month polysubstance use patterns among people enrolled in outpatient treatment for methamphetamine use. Substance Use and Misuse, 60 (5), 775-785. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2447437
2025
Book Chapter
Adolescent Development and Vulnerability for Addiction
Castellanos-Ryan, Natalie, Pocuca, Nina and Peeters, Margot (2025). Adolescent Development and Vulnerability for Addiction. The Sage Handbook of Addiction Psychology. (pp. 210-225) 1 Oliver's Yard, 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP : Sage Publications Ltd. doi: 10.4135/9781529673913.n14
2025
Journal Article
Cigarette smoking is associated with reduced neuroinflammation and better cognitive control in people living with HIV
Brody, Arthur L., Mischel, Anna K., Sanavi, Andre Y., Wong, Alvin, Bahn, Ji Hye, Minassian, Arpi, Morgan, Erin E., Rana, Brinda, Hoh, Carl K., Vera, David R., Kotta, Kishore K., Miranda, Alannah H., Pocuca, Nina, Walter, Thomas J., Guggino, Natalie, Beverly-Aylwin, Renee, Meyer, Jeffrey H., Vasdev, Neil and Young, Jared W. (2025). Cigarette smoking is associated with reduced neuroinflammation and better cognitive control in people living with HIV. Neuropsychopharmacology, 50 (4) 734, 695-704. doi: 10.1038/s41386-024-02035-6
2024
Journal Article
Clinical profiles of people enrolling in alcohol and other drug treatment in Australia: Do youth differ from young adults and adults?
Campbell, Gabrielle, Pocuca, Nina, Newland, Grace, Ellem, Rhiannon, Glasgow, Sophia, Dignan, Julie, Stokes, Holly and Hides, Leanne (2024). Clinical profiles of people enrolling in alcohol and other drug treatment in Australia: Do youth differ from young adults and adults?. Drug and Alcohol Review, 43 (7), 2010-2020. doi: 10.1111/dar.13925
2024
Journal Article
Routine outcome monitoring and feedback in alcohol and other drug treatment: A qualitative study of client perspectives on implementation
Pocuca, Nina, Tisdale, Calvert, Campbell, Gabrielle, Beck, Alison K., Ellem, Rhiannon, Quinn, Catherine A., Kelly, Peter J., Larance, Briony, Baker, Amanda L., Connor, Jason P., Marsden, John, Chan, Gary C. K., Connelly, Luke, Lenzen, Sabrina, Farrell, Michael and Hides, Leanne (2024). Routine outcome monitoring and feedback in alcohol and other drug treatment: A qualitative study of client perspectives on implementation. Drug and Alcohol Review, 44 (1), 226-238. doi: 10.1111/dar.13962
2024
Journal Article
Modelling the relationship between environmental and social cognitive determinants of risky drinking among emerging adults
Davidson, Lily, Piatkowski, Timothy, Pocuca, Nina and Hides, Leanne (2024). Modelling the relationship between environmental and social cognitive determinants of risky drinking among emerging adults. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 22 (4), 2166-2185. doi: 10.1007/s11469-022-00978-9
2024
Journal Article
The use and knowledge around vaping and their correlates among university students—a cross-sectional Australian Study
Leung, Janni, Ellem, Rhiannon, Glasgow, Sophia, Rowe, Amy-Leigh, Gardner, Lauren, Davidson, Lily, Campbell, Gabrielle, Pocuca, Nina, Tisdale, Calvert, Chan, Gary and Hides, Leanne (2024). The use and knowledge around vaping and their correlates among university students—a cross-sectional Australian Study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1-17. doi: 10.1007/s11469-024-01281-5
2024
Journal Article
The RAW wellbeing program for adolescents at risk of disengaging from education, employment, and training
Hides, Leanne, Pocuca, Nina, Quinn, Catherine, Kavanagh, David and Johnson, Daniel (2024). The RAW wellbeing program for adolescents at risk of disengaging from education, employment, and training. Journal of Positive Psychology, 20 (1), 83-93. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2024.2322431
2024
Journal Article
Polygenic risk and hostile environments: Links to stable and dynamic antisocial behaviors across adolescence
Acland, E. L., Pocuca, N., Paquin, S., Boivin, M., Ouellet-Morin, I., Andlauer, T. F. M., Gouin, J. P., Côté, S. M., Tremblay, R. E., Geoffroy, M. and Castellanos-Ryan, N. (2024). Polygenic risk and hostile environments: Links to stable and dynamic antisocial behaviors across adolescence. Development and Psychopathology, 37 (1), 464-476. doi: 10.1017/s095457942400004x
2023
Journal Article
Emotion dysregulation is associated with increased problem cannabis use among emerging adults during COVID-19
Pocuca, Nina, Acland, Erinn, Geoffroy, Marie-Claude, Orri, Massimiliano, Chadi, Nicholas, Séguin, Jean R., Parent, Sophie, Boivin, Michel, Tremblay, Richard E., Côté, Sylvana M. and Castellanos-Ryan, Natalie (2023). Emotion dysregulation is associated with increased problem cannabis use among emerging adults during COVID-19. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 85 (2), 261-271. doi: 10.15288/jsad.23-00144
2023
Conference Publication
Investigating parent beliefs, strengths and perceptions of behaviours that parents utilise to protect their children from their substance use
Walter, Zoe, O'Sullivan, Caitlin, Pocuca, Nina and Hides, Leanne (2023). Investigating parent beliefs, strengths and perceptions of behaviours that parents utilise to protect their children from their substance use. APSAD 2023 Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 12-15 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dar.13749
2023
Conference Publication
Three-month polysubstance use patterns among people enrolled in outpatient treatment for methamphetamine use
Pocuca, Nina, Campbell, Gabrielle, Morris, Leith, Ellem, Rhiannon, Newland, Grace, Walter, Zoe, Stokes, Holly, Dignan, Julie, Kelly, Peter J., Larance, Briony, Baker, Amanda L., Beck, Alison K. and Hides, Leanne (2023). Three-month polysubstance use patterns among people enrolled in outpatient treatment for methamphetamine use. APSAD 2023 Conference, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12-15 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2023
Conference Publication
First Step: age group and service outcomes of implementing a brief intervention in a community alcohol and other drugs service
Morris, Leith, Sunley, Angela, Pocuca, Nina, Ellem, Rhiannon, Campbell, Gabrielle, Newland, Grace, Stokes, Holly, Kerswell, Nick and Hides, Leanne (2023). First Step: age group and service outcomes of implementing a brief intervention in a community alcohol and other drugs service. APSAD 2023 Conference, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12-15 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2023
Conference Publication
Maximising clinical impact using routine outcome monitoring among people who use alcohol and other drugs
Beck, Alison K., Larance, Briony, Hides, Leanne, Campbell, Gabrielle, Baker, Amanda L., Pocuca, Nina and Kelly, Peter J. (2023). Maximising clinical impact using routine outcome monitoring among people who use alcohol and other drugs. APSAD 2023 Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 12–15 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2023
Conference Publication
Barriers, facilitators and key attributes driving routine outcome monitoring and feedback uptake-client and staff perspectives
Pocuca, Nina, Ellem, Rhiannon, Campbell, Gabrielle, Beck, Alison K., Tisdale, Calvert, Dehaine, Rayan, Bushnell, Matthew, Morris, Leith, Newland, Grace, Walter, Zoe, Stokes, Holly, Dignan, Julie, Kelly, Peter J., Larance, Briony, Baker, Amanda L. and Hides, Leanne (2023). Barriers, facilitators and key attributes driving routine outcome monitoring and feedback uptake-client and staff perspectives. APSAD 2023 Conference, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12-15 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2023
Journal Article
A thorough investigation of the bifactor model of psychopathology in a representative birth cohort: Testing internal and predictive validity to inform models of comorbidity
Pocuca, Nina, Geoffroy, Marie-Claude, Paquin, Stéphane, Archambault, Kim, Séguin, Jean R., Parent, Sophie, Boivin, Michel, Tremblay, Richard E., Côté, Sylvana and Castellanos-Ryan, Natalie (2023). A thorough investigation of the bifactor model of psychopathology in a representative birth cohort: Testing internal and predictive validity to inform models of comorbidity. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 132 (2), 123-134. doi: 10.1037/abn0000816
2023
Journal Article
Prospective polysubstance use profiles among adolescents with early-onset cannabis use, and their association with cannabis outcomes in emerging adulthood
Pocuca, Nina, Chadi, Nicholas, Vergunst, Francis, Parent, Sophie, Côté, Sylvana. M., Boivin, Michel, Tremblay, Richard E., Séguin, Jean R. and Castellanos-Ryan, Natalie (2023). Prospective polysubstance use profiles among adolescents with early-onset cannabis use, and their association with cannabis outcomes in emerging adulthood. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 22 (4), 1-20. doi: 10.1007/s11469-022-01005-7
2022
Journal Article
The moderating role of sex and self-, teacher-, and father-reported ADHD hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, on the association between early adolescent internalizing symptoms and substance use
Pocuca, Nina, Parent, Sophie, Côté, Sylvana, Boivin, Michel, Tremblay, Richard E., Séguin, Jean R. and Castellanos-Ryan, Natalie (2022). The moderating role of sex and self-, teacher-, and father-reported ADHD hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, on the association between early adolescent internalizing symptoms and substance use. Addictive Behaviors, 135 107437, 107437. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107437
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Nina Pocuca is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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