August Buchhalter, PhD, MA
Director, Abuse Potential Assessment
Offering expertise in evaluating CNS-active drugs and abuse potential assessments
Expertise
August oversees in vitro evaluations of CNS-active drug products. In that role, he focuses on:
- In vitro abuse potential and deterrence evaluations
- Abuse potential assessments, eight factor analyses, and drug-scheduling recommendations
- Animal abuse related behavioral pharmacology and HAP studies
Experience
When he joined Pinney Associates in 2004, August brought with him extensive research experience in assessing drugs with abuse potential. Before joining Pinney Associates, August conducted research in three major areas:
- Drug abuse, which included trials similar to HAP studies
- Nicotine and tobacco, specifically in potential reduced-exposure products and placebo-induced withdrawal suppression
- Treatment of opioid dependence, focused on computerized behavior therapy.
August has co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed papers and three book chapters in his areas of expertise.
Education
- Postdoctoral fellow, University of Vermont College of Medicine (now The Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont)
- PhD, Psychology (doctoral preliminary examination grade: pass with distinction), with training in drug dependence and behavioral pharmacology, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Drug abuse research training, Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- MA, Clinical Psychology, Loyola College in Maryland (now Loyola University Maryland)
- BA, dean’s list, Psychology, Clark University
