Education
PhD, Epidemiology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineMPA, Public Policy, New York University
BA, Comparative Literature, New York University
Research Interests
Overdose, drug policy, policing, public health ethics, social determinants of health, harm reduction BIO
Bennett Allen is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy, Department of Population Health. His research uses epidemiologic, econometric, and machine learning methods to evaluate supply-side strategies to reduce overdose death. Additional work engages bioethics in relation to public health policy. Current projects examine the impact of drug-induced homicide laws and prosecutions on opioid overdose mortality, the role of prescription drug monitoring programs in pain management cessation, spatiotemporal prediction of overdose mortality risk, and the ethical uses of big data in public health practice. Prior to joining NYU, he worked in drug policy for the New York City government. Projects
Principal Investigator, Assessing the Impact of Overdose Prevention Centers as a Polysubstance Use and Behavioral Health Intervention in New York City. Active
Principal Investigator, Community-based Evaluation of a Novel, System-wide Harm Reduction Strategic Plan for People Experiencing Homelessness in New York City. Active
Principal Investigator, Big Data and the Opioid Overdose Epidemic: Algorithmic Ethics and Public Health Practice. Completed
Principal Investigator, Simulation Modeling to Reduce Drug Overdose Mortality in New York City. Completed
Publications
Recent
Krieger M, Yedinak J, Duong E, Macmadu A, Skinner A, Allen B, Pratty C, Ahern J, Cerda M, Marshall BDL (2025).
An overdose forecasting dashboard for local harm-reduction response
Health Promotion Practice [Epub 2025 May 5]. doi: 10.1177/15248399251335620.
An overdose forecasting dashboard for local harm-reduction response
Health Promotion Practice [Epub 2025 May 5]. doi: 10.1177/15248399251335620.
Halifax JC, Allen B, Pratty C, Jent V, Skinner A, Cerda M, Marshall BDL, Neill DB, Ahern J (2025).
Evaluating the predictive performance of different data sources to forecast overdose deaths at the neighborhood level with machine learning in Rhode Island
Preventive Medicine, 194, 108276. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108276.
Evaluating the predictive performance of different data sources to forecast overdose deaths at the neighborhood level with machine learning in Rhode Island
Preventive Medicine, 194, 108276. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108276.
Chernick R, Sy A, Dauber S, Vuolo L, Allen B, Muench F (2025).
Demographics and use of an addiction helpline for concerned significant others: Observational study
JMIR Medical Internet Research, 27, e55621. doi: 10.2196/55621. PMCID: PMC12038293.
Demographics and use of an addiction helpline for concerned significant others: Observational study
JMIR Medical Internet Research, 27, e55621. doi: 10.2196/55621. PMCID: PMC12038293.
Gray JY, Krieger M, Skinner A, Parker S, Basta M, Reichley N, Schultz C, Pratty C, Duong E, Allen B, Cerda M, Macmadu A, Marshall BDL (2025).
“Sometimes I’m interested in seeing a fuller story to tell with numbers” Implementing a forecasting dashboard for harm reduction and overdose prevention: A qualitative assessment
BMC Public Health, 25 (1), 915. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22004-y. PMCID: PMC11887322.
“Sometimes I’m interested in seeing a fuller story to tell with numbers” Implementing a forecasting dashboard for harm reduction and overdose prevention: A qualitative assessment
BMC Public Health, 25 (1), 915. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22004-y. PMCID: PMC11887322.
Allen B, Cohen-Serrins J (2024).
ODMAP: Stakeholder perspectives on a novel public health and public safety overdose surveillance system
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30 (6), E329-E334. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000002035.
ODMAP: Stakeholder perspectives on a novel public health and public safety overdose surveillance system
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30 (6), E329-E334. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000002035.
Notable
Substance use stigma, primary care, and the New York State prescription drug monitoring program
Behavioral Medicine, 46 (1), 52-62. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2018.1555129.
Dr. Allen's Google Scholar Profile