Barbara Andraka-Christou

Dr. Barbara Andraka-Christou is an Associate Professor in the School of Global Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida (UCF), with a joint appointment in UCF’s College of Medicine. Her research emphasizes evidence-based policies to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), particularly focusing on health services and systemic inequities. She leads the Substance Use Policy & Evaluation (SUPER) research team, which investigates interdisciplinary solutions to addiction crises.

Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Public Health (Indiana University–Indianapolis, 2017); PhD in Law & Social Science (Indiana University–Bloomington, 2016); JD (Indiana University–Bloomington, 2013); BA in Economics, summa cum laude (University of Florida, 2008). Licensed attorney in Florida.

Research Interests: Her work bridges health policy, legal frameworks, and clinical practice. Key topics include MOUD accessibility, harm reduction strategies, court-based substance use interventions, and racial/ethnic disparities in treatment. She has published in top-tier journals like Health Affairs and JAMA Network Open, and authored the acclaimed book The Opioid Fix (2020).

Public Engagement: Dr. Andraka-Christou has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition, advocating for policy reforms. Her recent studies address police attitudes toward overdose response, virtual court efficacy, and barriers to MOUD in criminal justice systems. She also examines state laws restricting buprenorphine treatment and disparities in opioid overdose reporting.

Grants & Leadership: Leads projects funded by NIH and foundations, focusing on policy evaluation and interagency collaboration. Her SUPER team collaborates with courts, healthcare providers, and policymakers to design equitable treatment systems. Office hours are Tuesdays 11 AM–2 PM and Thursdays 11 AM–1 PM.

Labs/Teams: Directs the SUPER research team, which publishes on topics like syringe service programs, recovery court dynamics, and opioid-related stigma. Collaborates with multidisciplinary networks to translate research into actionable policy recommendations.