Austin De La Cruz

• Doctor of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy, Dallas, Texas
• Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP), Board of Pharmacy Specialties
• PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System Gainesville, Florida
• PGY1 Ambulatory Care Focused Pharmacy Residency, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, Florida
• Pre-Pharmacy Prerequisites, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

ORCID Profile

Journal Publications

• Varisco TJ, Thornton D, Hussain T, et al. Addressing wholesale distributor barriers to buprenorphine access: Consensus recommendations from the PhARM-OUD expert panel. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2025;16:100360. Published 2025 Jul 10. doi:10.1016/j.dadr.2025.100360
• Shamsi A, Varisco T, De La Cruz A, et al. Association of Emotional Intelligence With Pharmacy Students' Leadership and Academic Performance. Am J Pharm Educ. 2024;88(12):101335. doi:10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101335
• Chen H, Lyu N, Calarge C, De La Cruz A, Chan W. The Effectiveness of Metformin in Managing Second Generation Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain in Children and Adolescents. J Clin Psychiatry. 2023;85(1):23m14894. Published 2023 Dec 20. doi:10.4088/JCP.23m14894
• Chen H, Lyu N, Chan W, De La Cruz A, Calarge C. "Utilization and Predictors of Adjuvant Metformin for Children and Adolescents on Mixed Receptor Antagonists (Second-Generation Antipsychotics)." J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023;62(11):1245-1255.
• Tata V, Majd Z, De La Cruz A, et al. Differences in Perceived Threat and Efficacy in Managing Opioid Use Disorder versus Alcohol Use Disorder. Subst Use Misuse. 2023;58(10):1187-1195. doi:10.1080/10826084.2023.2212075
• Zhong C, De La Cruz A, Wanat M, Sansgiry S. "Impact of diversity/life experience scores on the demographic makeup of pharmacy students." Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. 2023, 15(5): 468-472
• El-Desoky R, De La Cruz A, Thornton JD, Wanat MA, Varkey D. "Identifying predictors of generalized anxiety among student pharmacists in response to the COVID-19 pandemic." Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. 2023, 15 (1): 34-42
• Zakeri M, De La Cruz A, Wallace D, Sansgiry S. "General Anxiety, Academic Distress and Family Distress Among PharmD Students.” American Journal of Pharmacy Education. 2021 Nov, 85 (10) 8522; DOI: 10.5688/ajpe8522
• Adil MQ, De La Cruz A, et al. "Incidence of Chronic Opioid Use in Previously Opioid-Naïve Patients Receiving Opioids for Analgesia in the Intensive Care Unit." Federal Practitioner. 2020 Apr; (1): 170-176
• Peckham AM, De La Cruz A, Dufresne RL. "Kappa opioid receptor antagonism: Are opioids the answer for treatment resistant depression?" Ment Health Clin [Internet] 2018;8(4):175-83. DOI: 10.9740/mhc.2018.07.175
• De La Cruz A. "Evaluation of Eligible Candidates for Clozapine Prescribing at the North Florida/South Georgia VHS." J Pharm Pract. 2016 Jun; 20(3):26

Magazine Articles

• De La Cruz A, Rinker DV. Pharmacist, heal thyself. Texas Pharmacy. Spring 2025. https://www.texaspharmacy.org
• Thornton D, De La Cruz A, et al. De-mystifying artificial intelligence for the practicing pharmacist. Texas Pharmacy. Spring 2024. https://www.texaspharmacy.org
• De La Cruz A, Imran A, Thai R. Pharmacist Review of Loperamide Abuse. U.S. Pharmacist Magazine. https://www.uspharmacist.com/. December 2021. https://bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/?m=22400&i=730577&p=58&ver=html5
• De La Cruz A, Baby C. Concomitant IBS with Major Depressive Disorder. U.S. Pharmacist Magazine. https://www.uspharmacist.com/. March 2020. https://bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/?i=685958
• De La Cruz A, Vo K. Antipsychotics for Pain Management. U.S. Pharmacist Magazine. https://www.uspharmacist.com/. December 2020. https://bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/?i=652270

Online Publishing

• De La Cruz A, Vu A, Jacques A. Understanding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). https://www.mirecc.va.gov/MIRECC/index.asp. March 2026. https://www.mirecc.va.gov/MIRECC/VISN16/docs/understanding-adhd-with-sud-veterans.pdf
• De La Cruz A. Prescription Treatment Options for Individuals with Tobacco Use Disorder. http://www.acc.org. May 2019. https://www.acc.org/education-and-meetings/patient-case-quizzes/2019/05/15/15/56/prescription-treatment-options-for-individuals-with-tobacco-use-disorder.
• De La Cruz A, Chionglo AM, Tran T. Current Updates Regarding Antidepressant Prescribing in Cardiovascular Dysfunction. http://www.acc.org. Jan 2019. https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2019/01/04/07/59/current-updates-regarding-antidepressant-prescribing-in-cv-dysfunction

National Guidelines

Primary Care of Veterans with HIV, Hepatitis, and Related Conditions Program in the Office of Specialty Care Services. Veterans Health Administration. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. January 2019

Poster Abstracts

• Leland AM, De La Cruz A. Evaluation of Appropriate Z-Drug Prescribing and Deprescribing at a Large VA Medical Center. Presented at the 2026 American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Meeting
• Abu-Hmidan N, De La Cruz A. The Impact of Seizure First Aid Training on University Students, Faculty, and Staff. Presented at the 2026 America Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Meeting
• Pham A, De La Cruz A. A Systematic Review of the Impact of GLP1 Agonists on Insomnia. Presented at the 2025 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Meeting
• Tejada-Simon M, De La Cruz A, et al. A Holistic Approach to Addressing Burnout and Building Resilience in Pharmacy. Presented at the at the 2025 Annual American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Meeting 
• De La Cruz A, Echeverria L, Makzoumi S, Nguyen A. A Search and Seizure for Relief- The Effective Pharmacological Treatment of Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) with Escitalopram. Presented at the 2023 America Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Meeting
• De La Cruz A, Luke M, Pulliam A. Picking the Brain: Treatment of Amphetamine/   April 2023 Dextroamphetamine Induced Excoriation Disorder. Presented at the 2023 America Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Meeting
  Al Rawwad T, De La Cruz A. Knowledge of Pharmacists' Role in the Management   April 2023 of Opioid Use Disorder: Pharmacy Students' Perspective. Presented at the 2023 America Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Meeting
• Al Rawwad T, De La Cruz A. The Development and Implementation of an Intensive Substance Use Disorders Curriculum in a Professional Pharmacy Program. Presented at the 2023 America Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Meeting
• De Gracia CM, De La Cruz A, Marwaha A, Sansgiry S, Zakeri M, Nguyen K. Predictors Affecting Academic Progression in a Pharmacy School Program. Presented
  at the 2022 Annual American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Meeting  
• El-Desoky R, Varkey D, Wanat M, Thornton D, De La Cruz A. Using Alderfer’s ERG Theory to Identify Predictors of Generalized Anxiety Symptoms among Pharmacy Students in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Presented at the 2021 AACP Annual Meeting
• Abdelhakiem AK, Wallace D, Nguyen K, De La Cruz A. Incorporation of a Student Resilience Program into E-Orientation to Improve Stress, Self-Care, And Resilience. Presented at the 2021 AACP Annual Meeting
• De La Cruz A, Marjan Zakeri, Dave Wallace, et al. "Evaluating and Improving the Mental Wellness of Pharmacy Students at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy." Presented at the 2021 Annual American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting
• Zhong C, Wanat M, Sansgiry S, De La Cruz A. "Diversity/Life Experience Scores' Impact on the Demographic Makeup of Students in a Pharmacy School Program." Presented at the 2020 Annual American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
• De La Cruz A, Aurelio M, Prestenback A, Nair A. "Assessment of Mental Health Stigma in Pharmacy Students After Implementation of a Mental Health Focused Health Fair." Presented at the 2020 Annual College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists Meeting in Dallas, TX
• Flajc G, Rascon K, Nguyen EA, Kabbani R, Dela Pena J, De La Cruz A. "The Impact of Pharmacy Student-Led Opioid Overdose Prevention and Response Education." Presented at the 2019 Annual American Association of College of Pharmacy Meeting

Pharmacy Continuing Education Presentations

• "Age-Friendly Health Systems (4Ms)," July 2026 VISN 16- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) Webinar
• "Recommendations for the Management of Co-Occurring Depression, Anxiety, and OUD," June 2026, Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists
• "Age Friendly Health Systems (4Ms)," August 2025, VISN 16- Empowering Older Adults to Achieve What Matters Conference
• "Prescription Stimulant Misuse," June 2025, PREMIER Prescribing and Monitoring Controlled Substances CE
• "Prescriptions Stimulant Misuse Part 2," April 2025, Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists
• "Collaborating with Mental Health Pharmacists to Optimize Multiple Medications," January 2025, National VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic Mental Health Grand Rounds
• "Prescriptions Stimulant Misuse Part 1," September 2024, Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists
• "Loperamide: The Unexpected Player in the Opioid Epidemic," January 2023, Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists
• "Prescription Stimulant Misuse & Abuse," September 2021, Opioid Learning Institute
• "It’s Benzo Long Time Coming: Evaluating the Risks of Benzodiazepines Risks," January 2021, Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• "Medication Assisted Therapy," July 2020, Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• "A Call to Counsel- How to Effectively Counsel on Opioid Prescriptions," August 2019, Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• "Improving Classification of Epilepsy: ILAE Updates," October 2018, Specialty Pharma Education Center

Pharmacy Conference Presentations

• "Treatment in Jail Systems and Transitions to Healthcare Communities," August 2025, 16th Annual Community Drug Awareness Day. Harris County Drug Summit: Building a Continuum of Care
• "Approaches to Managing Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures," April 2024, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Annual Conference
• "A Search and Seizure for Relief- The Effective Pharmacological Treatment of  Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) with Escitalopram," April 2023, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Annual Conference
• "An Update on the New Synthetic Drugs of Abuse," April 2019, Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2018 Annual Seminar, Frisco, TX
• "Unique Specialties- Psychiatry," April 2019, Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2018 Annual Seminar, Frisco, TX
• "Being a Successful New Practitioner," April 2019, College of Psychiatric & Neurological Pharmacists Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
• "What I Wish I Knew," April 2019, College of Psychiatric & Neurological Pharmacists Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
• "Antipsychotic Drug Usage in the Geriatric Population: A Debate," April 2017, Texas Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists 2017 Annual Seminar, Galveston, TX

Media Interviews

• Apple Podcasts: Never Generic Podcast. Episode 30: "Sleeping Pill Misuse." April 2025
• KPRC News Interview: "What you should ask before trying CBD." October 31, 2019.
• Apple Podcasts: "Never Generic Podcast. Episode 2: Cannabidiol Products." September 2019.
• "Vitals- Trending Topics in Health, Science, and Medicine." Shanley Pierce. TMC Pulse. October 2019. 
• "CBD shops thriving in Katy, Sugar Land, and other suburbs." Houston Chronicle. Brooke A. Lewis. August 2019.
• "Is Kratom, the popular herbal supplement, dangerous?" Vitals- Trending Topics in Health, Science, and Medicine. Shanley Pierce. TMC Pulse; 6 (6) July 2019.
• "Verify- Link Between Riatlin and School Shooters." WFMY News 2. May 25, 2018.
• "It's a gamble: St. Johns Wort, Depression, and Drug Interactions." Heather Boerner. Med Shadow News. September 9, 2018.
• Pharmacy Leaders Podcast: Inspiring Pharmacy Leadership Interviews. Episode 117- Austin De La Cruz Pharm.D., BCPP, Kaycie Rathburn. APhA Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in Salt Lake City, Utah. June 3, 2018.

Awards & Honors

• President’s Circle Award Scholar- Major Grant Awards, April 2026, University of Houston College of Pharmacy
• Collegiate Chapter Impact Grant Award, November 2025, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacist
• Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, August 2025, Insight into Academia
• National Therapeutic Case Report Award Finalist, April 2023, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists- Annual Meeting
• Excellence in Service Award, May 2022, University of Houston College of Pharmacy
• Rho Chi Teaching Excellence Award - University of Houston College of Pharmacy. October 2018
• Faculty Preceptor of the Year Award - University of Houston College of Pharmacy. May 2018
• Phi Lamda Sigma Upsilon Chapter Faculty Inductee - University of Houston College of Pharmacy. March 2018

Appointments & Memberships

• American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists
  • Vice-Chair: Public Education Committee
• Family Houston Organization
  Board Member
• American Pharmacists Association
  • Editor: Pharmacotherapy First- Alcohol Use Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder
• American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Teaching and Learning Academy Graduate
  • Editor: Ambulatory Care Resource Guide
• American College of Clinical Pharmacy
  • Editor: Behavioral Health Book- Pharmacotherapy Self-Assessment Program
• College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists
• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
• Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Phi Delta Chi Fraternity
• Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society

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