Alexander Y. Walley, MD
Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
General Internal Medicine

MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
MSc, Boston University School of Public Health
AB, Harvard College

Pronouns: he/him/his



Dr Walley is Professor of Medicine and an addiction expert at Boston Medical Center and Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine focused on the medical complications of substance use, specifically HIV and overdose. Dr Walley has conducted multiple studies related to the opioid crisis and the integration of addiction specialty care and general medical care. He has served as PI on a CDC-SAMHSA-Epi-AID investigation of the surge in fentanyl-related overdose, a CDC-funded study of the Massachusetts community naloxone program which demonstrated community-level reductions in overdose death rates, and a SAMHSA-funded program that integrated addiction treatment into the clinical care of people with/at risk for HIV. He is principal investigator for CDC and NIH funded studies of community overdose interventions. For the NIH-funded HEALing Communities Study - Massachusetts, he served as the Care Continuum Core Director 2019-2025. He has worked as Co-I with addiction, overdose, and HIV expertise on NIDA and NIAAA-funded clinical trials and cohort studies.

Dr. Walley is a founding director of the Grayken Addiction Medicine Fellowship. From 2011 to 2022, 20 addiction specialists graduated, 6 of whom serve as directors for addiction medicine fellowships, 13 are faculty at medical schools, 9 at Boston University School of Medicine. He was a founding board member and treasurer of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Director’s Association 2016-2019 and American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM) starting in 2019. He is currently the president for ACAAM for 2023-2025. With his mentor, Dr. Jeffrey Samet, he is multi-PI on the NIDA-funded R25 Clinical Addiction Research and Education Program, which supports the Chief Resident and Fellow Immersion Training and the CARE Faculty Scholar programs.

Dr. Walley provides primary care and addiction medicine consultations in the HIV primary care clinic at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine/BMC. He founded BMC’s inpatient Addiction Consult Service in 2015 and the Faster Paths low-barrier access substance use clinic in 2016. He previously was a site medical director for opioid treatment programs in Boston from 2007 to 2016. He serves as the medical director for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, the Overdose Prevention Program, and the SafeSpot Overdose Prevention Hotline. Since 2007, the MDPH program has trained and equipped over 100,000 people in Massachusetts’s communities with naloxone rescue kits, including people at-risk for overdose and their social networks.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

In my leadership, clinical, research and education efforts I have worked to center diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility because of the disparities faced by my patients and colleagues face daily due to stigma and discrimination. I serve as an advisor to the SAMHSA-funded the Recognizing and Eliminating Disparities in Addiction Through Culturally Informed Healthcare (REACH) program, which is a national immersive training experience for under-represented medical trainees in evidenced-based culturally informed addiction health care practices. As fellowship director in collaboration with fellows and faculty, I led the development of a women’s health and substance use training track. I recruited our first OB-GYN fellow focused on women's health and substance use care. I worked with two fellows to incorporate gender-affirming care into their continuity clinical experiences. I implemented a values-based, scripted scenario interview process that sought to increase transparency and decrease bias. I included as part of our fellowship training grant, stipends for residents from under-represented in medicine groups to come to BMC for away rotations. I am currently leading, with colleagues, a research project to develop and evaluate a post-overdose outreach program toolkit to make these programs work better for Black, Latine, Indigenous and youth overdose survivors. In the CARE Unit's existing national immersion training programs that I co-lead, we have implemented outreach and curricular efforts to improve the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for trainees from groups under-represented in medicine. A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is more important now than ever. I will continue to seek ways to foster and champion DEIA efforts.

Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Faculty
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit

Courtesy Staff Privileges
Boston Medical Center
Medicine





Overdose Monitoring and Prevention Hotline
08/01/2024 - 06/30/2026 (PI)
Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health / DPH

HRSA Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program
07/01/2020 - 06/30/2025 (PI)
Bureau of Health Workforce/HRSA/DHHS

Prevention and Rescue Of Fentanyl and Other Opioid Overdoses Using Optimized Naloxone Distribution Strategies (PROFOUND)
05/15/2019 - 02/28/2025 (Subcontract PI)
PI: Alexander Y. Walley, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College NIH NIDA

Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline
08/15/2023 - 07/31/2024 (PI)
Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health / DPH

Redesign of Never Use Alone New England (NUA NE) Overdose Prevention Hotline
12/01/2022 - 05/31/2024 (PI)
RIZE Massachusetts

Identifying and Testing Post-Overdose Outreach Adaptations to Enhance Survivor Engagement During the COVID-19 Pandemic
06/15/2021 - 05/31/2024 (PI)
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
1R21DA053307-01A1

REACH Recognizing and Eliminating disparities in Addiction through Culturally informed Healthcare
07/01/2022 - 08/31/2023 (Subcontract PI)
PI: Alexander Y. Walley, MD
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry HHS SAMHSA

REBOOT- Repeated-dose behavioral intervention to reduce opioid overdose: a two-site randomized… 0526.0105 RE-REBOOT
06/15/2018 - 03/31/2023 (Subcontract PI)
PI: Alexander Y. Walley, MD
Heluna Health, the new PHFE NIH NIDA

Minority Fellowship Program- James Pierre
06/01/2021 - 12/31/2022 (Subcontract PI)
PI: Alexander Y. Walley, MD
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry HHS SAMHSA
5H79TI081358-03

Knock and Talk: Public Health-Public Safety Partnerships for Post-Overdose Outreach and Prevention
09/30/2018 - 09/29/2022 (PI)
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control/CDC/DHHS
5R01CE003052-03

Showing 10 of 19 results. Show All Results

Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2024 Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program 5R25DA013582-23
2023 Integrating responses to stimulant overdose among post-overdose programs 5R01CE003357-03
2023 Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program 5R25DA013582-22
2022 Identifying and Testing Post-Overdose Outreach Adaptations to Enhance Survivor Engagement During the COVID-19 Pandemic 5R21DA053307-02
2022 Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program 2R25DA013582-21
2021 Integrating responses to stimulant overdose among post-overdose programs 1R01CE003357-01
2021 Identifying and Testing Post-Overdose Outreach Adaptations to Enhance Survivor Engagement During the COVID-19 Pandemic 1R21DA053307-01A1
2020 Knock and Talk: Public Health-Public Safety Partnerships for Post-Overdose Outreach and Prevention 5R01CE003052-03 1
2019 Knock and Talk: Public Health-Public Safety Partnerships for Post-Overdose Outreach and Prevention 5R01CE003052-02 1
2018 Knock and Talk: Public Health-Public Safety Partnerships for Post-Overdose Outreach and Prevention 1R01CE003052-01 1
Showing 10 of 17 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. McCann NC, Yan S, McMahan VM, Pope E, Rolles A, Brennan S, Marti XL, Kosakowski S, Coffin PO, Walley AY. Test-Retest Reliability of a Timeline Follow-back Method to Assess Opioid Use and Treatment. J Addict Med. 2025 Feb 05. PMID: 39908533
     
  2. Zaragoza S, Silcox J, Rapisarda S, Summers C, Case P, To C, Chatterjee A, Walley AY, Komaromy M, Green TC. Developing a comprehensive inventory to define harm reduction housing. Harm Reduct J. 2025 Jan 23; 22(1):11.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39849487; PMCID: PMC11756173; DOI: 10.1186/s12954-025-01156-5;
     
  3. Reed G, Lugo H, Adams RS, Walley AY. Grayken Lessons: a patient who developed opioid use disorder after traumatic brain injury. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2024 Dec 18; 19(1):94. PMID: 39696642; PMCID: PMC11654155; DOI: 10.1186/s13722-024-00525-y;
     
  4. Barocas JA, Erdman EA, Westfall MY, Christine PJ, Bernson D, Villani J, Doogan NJ, White L, Walley AY, Bettano A, Wang J. Prevalence of adults with stimulant misuse and/or stimulant use disorder in Massachusetts, USA, 2014-2021. Addiction. 2025 Apr; 120(4):711-720.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39676746
     
  5. Rosenmoss S, LaRochelle M, Bearnot B, Weinstein Z, So-Armah K, Moyo P, Yan S, Walley AY, Kimmel SD. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Referral Rejection From Postacute Care Facilities Among People With Opioid Use Disorder in Massachusetts. J Addict Med. 2025 Mar-Apr 01; 19(2):165-171.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39514897; DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001390;
     
  6. Cummins ER, Walley AY, Xuan Z, Yan S, Schoenberger SF, Formica SW, Bagley SM, Beletsky L, Green TC, Lambert A, Carroll JJ. Use and perceptions of involuntary civil commitment among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts, United States: A mixed-methods study. Addiction. 2025 Feb; 120(2):327-334.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39467382; PMCID: PMC11711003; DOI: 10.1111/add.16690;
     
  7. Zang X, Skinner A, Li Z, Shaw LC, Behrends CN, Chatterjee A, Jalali A, Jordan AE, Morgan JR, Nolen S, Schackman BR, Marshall BDL, Walley AY. Improving racial/ethnic health equity and naloxone access among people at risk for opioid overdose: A simulation modeling analysis of community-based naloxone distribution strategies in Massachusetts, United States. Addiction. 2025 Feb; 120(2):316-326.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39450522; PMCID: PMC11707306; DOI: 10.1111/add.16691;
     
  8. Zaragoza S, Silcox J, Rapisarda S, Summers C, Case P, To C, Chatterjee A, Walley A, Komaromy M, Green T. Developing a Comprehensive Inventory to Define Harm Reduction Housing. Res Sq. 2024 Oct 15.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39483918; PMCID: PMC11527206; DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4999367/v1;
     
  9. Freeman PR, Walley AY, Winhusen TJ, Oga EA, Villani J, Hunt T, Chandler RK, Oyler DR, Reilly B, Gelberg K, Douglas C, Lyons MS, Holloway J, Vandergrift NA, Adams JW, Asman K, Baker TJ, Brancato CJ, Cheng DM, Childerhose JE, David JL, Feaster DJ, Gilbert L, Glasgow LM, Goddard-Eckrich DA, Knott C, Knudsen HK, Lofwall MR, Marks KR, McMullan JT, Oser CB, Roberts MF, Shoben AB, Stein MD, Walters ST, Watson J, Zarkin GA, Jackson RD, Samet JH, Walsh SL, Bassel NE. Effect of the Communities That HEAL Intervention on Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution: A Cluster-Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Trial. Am J Public Health. 2025 Jan; 115(1):83-94.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39388670; PMCID: PMC11628717; DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2024.307845;
     
  10. Freisthler B, Chahine RA, Villani J, Chandler R, Feaster DJ, Slavova S, Defiore-Hyrmer J, Walley AY, Kosakowski S, Aldridge A, Barbosa C, Bhatta S, Brancato C, Bridden C, Christopher M, Clarke T, David J, D'Costa L, Ewing I, Fernandez S, Gibson E, Gilbert L, Hall ME, Hargrove S, Hunt T, Kinnard EN, Larochelle L, Macoubray A, Nigam S, Nunes EV, Oser CB, Pagnano S, Rock P, Salsberry P, Shadwick A, Stopka TJ, Tan S, Taylor JL, Westgate PM, Wu E, Zarkin GA, Walsh SL, El-Bassel N, Winhusen TJ, Samet JH, Oga EA. Communities That HEAL Intervention and Mortality Including Polysubstance Overdose Deaths: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Oct 01; 7(10):e2440006.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39432308; PMCID: PMC11581668; DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.40006;
     
Showing 10 of 245 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 245 publications over 21 distinct years, with a maximum of 29 publications in 2019

YearPublications
20001
20051
20072
20085
20092
20102
20112
20126
20137
201411
20158
201611
201717
201811
201929
202027
202128
202223
202323
202427
20252

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‘Every overdose death is preventable’: BU professor details local impact of HEALing Communities Study

Greenfield Recorder 10/25/2024

Higher-dose naloxone spray didn’t save more lives, researchers find

Associated Press 2/8/2024

Everything You Need to Know about Narcan

BU Today 10/24/2023

Post-overdose outreach programs have ‘police paradox’

Futurity 8/23/2023

Can Over-the-Counter Narcan Put an End to Opioid Deaths?

The Daily Beast 3/29/2023

Advocates cheer OTC approval for Narcan, but questions remain about price and insurance

The Boston Globe 3/29/2023

Can Over-the-Counter Narcan Put an End to Opioid Deaths?

Daily Beast 3/28/2023

The Problems in the Health-Care System Are Epidemic

The Provincetown Independent 12/29/2021

Checking Arrest Warrants Undermines the Goal of Post-Overdose Outreach Visits

HealthCity 11/30/2021

Why Somerville wants to host the first safe consumption site in the US

Boston.com 7/9/2021

These Key Telehealth Policy Changes Would Improve Buprenorphine Access While Advancing Health Equity

Health Affairs Blog 9/11/2020

Treatment of Stimulant Use Disorder: A Systematic Review of Reviews

Physicians Weekly 6/22/2020

The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal 4/16/2020

Post-Detox Treatment Lowers Mortality in Opioid Use Disorder

Health Day 4/15/2020

UK’s Substance Use Research Day Highlights Work of UK Faculty and Students

UKNOW 3/5/2020

As People Die From Overdoses, Health Leaders And Police Struggle To Measure Success

New England Public Radio 2/26/2020

Recovery Coaches Offer Nonjudgmental Support To Fill Addiction Treatment Gaps

New England Public Radio 2/25/2020

Study: Medications Significantly Reduce Mortality Rates for People Struggling with Opioid Addiction in Year After Detox

Boston.com 2/25/2020

Few Patients Receive Life-Saving Treatment After Opioid Detox

HealthCity 2/25/2020

Police Offering Drug Recovery Help: 'We Can't Arrest Our Way Out Of This Problem'

NPR 2/8/2020

People Rarely Die After Using Opioids Prescribed for Them

Reason 1/23/2020

In Tents and Under Bridges, a New Cook County Sheriff's Office Program Helps Hard-to-Reach Drug Users

The Chicago Tribune 12/1/2019

Massachusetts Study Confirms That People Rarely Die After Using Opioids Prescribed for Them

Reason 10/23/2019

Study Finds Less Than 2 Percent of Overdose Victims Had Active Opioid Prescriptions

Newsweek 10/22/2019

Study Finds Only 1.3% of Overdose Victims Had Opioid Prescription

Pain News Network 10/18/2019

New Remote Dispensing Naloxone Policy Will Increase Access to a Life-Saving Drug

HealthCity 9/9/2019

Meth Has Taken Hold in Massachusetts

Boston Globe 8/13/2019

Community Narcan Training Extends Our Life-Saving Capacity

HealthCity 6/11/2019

Dr. Alex Walley of the Grayken Center Addiction at BMC

All About Boston 2/14/2019

Expanding Access to Naloxone

Apa's Medical Mind 1/10/2019

Nurse Denied Life Insurance Coverage Because She Specializes In Addiction Treatment

Inquisitr 12/15/2018

Nurse Denied Life Insurance Because She Carries Naloxone

NPR Shots 12/13/2018

Markey Demands Details About Life Insurance Denials For Carrying Naloxone

WBUR 12/10/2018

Life Insurers Declining Coverage For Those Who Purchase Naloxone

Becker’s Hospital Review 12/6/2018

Knocking On Doors To Get Opioid Overdose Survivors Into Treatment

NPR 10/24/2018

Knocking On Doors To Get Opioid Overdose Survivors Into Treatment

Texas Public Radio 10/24/2018

2023 American Society of Addiction Medicine: National Training Directors Award
2023 Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine: Research Mentor Award
2019 Society for General Internal Medicine: Frederick L. Brancati Mentorship and Leadership Award
2017 Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction : W. Anderson Spickard, Jr. Mentorship Award
2017 Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine: Clinical Innovation Award for the Addiction Consult Service
2016 Boston Medical Center Section of General Internal Medicine: Most Valuable Player
2012 Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction: New Investigator/Educator Award
2011 Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine: Junior Faculty Mentoring Award
2011 Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine: Evans Junior Faculty Merit Award
2010 New England Region Society of General Internal Medicine: Clinician Investigator Award
2007 Addiction Health Services Research Conference: Junior Investigator Travel Award
2003 National Institute on Drug Abuse: Women and Gender Young Investigator CPDD Travel Award
In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

AIDS
HIV
Methadone
Naloxone
Overdose
Suboxone
Opioids

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):
  • Advisor
  • Career Mentor
  • Co-Mentor or Peer Mentor
  • Project Mentor
  • Research / Scholarly Mentor
Contact for Mentoring:
  • Email (see 'Contact Info')

801 Massachusetts Ave Crosstown Center
Boston MA 02118
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617.414.6975
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