Devin J. Mills, Evelyn M. Davies Professor in Addiction and Recovery & Associate Professor

Bio

Dr. Devin Mills is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences at Texas Tech University. He is originally from Wisconsin, where he completed his undergraduate and master's degrees at Edgewood College. Dr. Mills completed his Ph.D. at McGill University in Montreal in 2017, and subsequently served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Rutgers University within the Center for Gambling Studies until 2019.

Research Focus

His research explores the development of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions, specifically video gaming and gambling disorder, from social and personality psychological frameworks. In addition to studying the development of addictions, Dr. Mills also researches the factors that promote and sustain individuals’ recovery from addiction.

Area of Expertise

Addictive Behaviors; Human Motivation; Social Psychology; Video Gaming Addiction; Gambling Disorder

Awards

2025-26 recipient of the Kathryn Burleson Faculty Service Award

Selected Publications

Richardson, L., Marvin, C., Mitchell, S. M., Petrovic, J., Victor, S. E., & Mills, D. J. (2025). Hazardous Drinking Amplifies the Association Between Emotion-Based Impulsivity and Negative Thoughts Related to Suicide Ideation Among Adults. Archives of Suicide Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2025.2513020

 

Marvin, C., LeDuc, M., Mitchell, S., & Mills, D. (2025). The indirect association between alcohol use and suicide ideation through perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belonging in a high-risk USA sample. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a001013

 

Lewis, L. E., Mills, D. J., Bergman, B. G., Kimball, T. G., & Gerber, W. (2025). Examining the dualistic model of passion in addiction recovery. Frontiers in Public Health, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1519430

 

Mills, D. J. (2024). On the Potential Benefits of Blockchain Technology in Gambling: A Perspective on Harm Reduction. Current Addiction Reports, 11(3), 425–436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-024-00561-3

 

Petrovic, J., Mills, D. J., & Mitchell, S. M. (2023). Integrating the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide and the Dualistic Model of Passion among Adults at Risk for Suicide. Motivation and Emotion, 47, 193–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-022-09990-x

 

Li Anthony, W., Mills, D. J., & Nower, L. (2023). Evaluation of the psychometric properties of DSM-5 internet gaming disorder measures: A COSMIN systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 30(2), 170–185. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000123

 

Stanmyre, J. F., Mills, D. J., Anthony, W. L., & Nower, L. (2022). Mindfulness profiles among gamblers: Exploring differences in gambling behaviors, motivations, cognitions, and mental health. Mindfulness, 13(2), 339–350. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01791-6

 

Mills, D. J. & Allen, J. J. (2020). Self-determination theory, Internet Gaming Disorder, and the mediating role of self-control. Computers in Human Behavior, 105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.106209