For University Professor Adam Leventhal, researching addiction resonates personally

Years prior to University Professor Adam Leventhal establishing himself as a prominent authority on addiction, he was a youth living through the peak of adolescent smoking in the 1990s.

Like his peers, he was a “young cigarette smoker” who later found it difficult to quit. When methamphetamine became a crisis in his high school in San Diego and affected his friends, he observed addiction firsthand.

“From a young age, I aspired to comprehend what drives a pleasant, intelligent individual to persist in an action they recognize is harmful to their health and detrimental to their relationships, friendships, and various elements of their life,” stated Leventhal, a University Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Psychology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Additionally, Leventhal is affiliated with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Currently, Leventhal, a clinical psychologist and investigator, holds the position of founding executive director of the USC Institute for Addiction Science, or IAS, which encompasses 80 faculty members spanning 10 USC schools, colleges, and hospitals. Leventhal was designated a University Professor in February, which is one of USC’s most significant academic accolades. This March, the American Academy of Health Behavior will honor Leventhal as their 2025 Research Laureate Award recipient.

“Adam has created something that has generated immense value from scratch,” remarked IAS member John Monterosso, an associate professor of psychology at USC Dornsife. “The Institute for Addiction Science has evolved into a leading, world-class institution that researchers from other universities aspire to replicate.”

“For numerous individuals, IAS is the main source of research collaboration at USC,” Monterosso further noted. “I can think of numerous colleagues with whom I now collaborate, whom I would have hardly met without IAS.”

Working towards a cause

Shortly after Leventhal commenced his journey at USC in 2009, his academic fascination with addiction began transitioning to something more personal and mission-oriented. He was well-versed in the standard academic formula, obtaining grants and publishing research. Repeat the cycle.

In 2010, however, his brother revealed that he was battling opioid use disorder and had almost succumbed to an overdose.

“He’s my closest companion. I’m a clinical psychologist and expected to be a person who can identify addiction — and I completely overlooked it,” Leventhal expressed. “I am thankful that he chose to follow through with my encouragement to seek treatment immediately.”

In 2018, Leventhal began assembling what eventually became the IAS with the assistance of John Clapp from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Daryl Davies from the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, among others.

“I aimed to create a broader influence on public health. I observed that numerous skilled individuals across various USC schools were conducting extraordinary work in addiction, yet they weren’t collaborating,” Leventhal reflected. “Hence, I decided to cold-email the provost with the proposal of establishing a center. I was pleasantly surprised to receive unanimous backing.”
“`from our guidance who inspired us, ‘expand it.’ In due course, it evolved into the IAS — a holistic, universitywide institution that merges varied disciplines and promotes teamwork.”

IAS Members explore the origins, repercussions, and strategies related to various addictive behaviors: nicotine, cannabis, gambling, excessive digital media engagement, opioids, alcohol-related liver ailments, cancer, and beyond. The IAS’ research team encapsulates a spectrum of diverse fields, incorporating specialists in brain health, pharmacology, public health, policy, and engineering.

For instance:

• Ricky Bluthenthal from the Keck School of Medicine is developing cutting-edge harm reduction initiatives to assist individuals who use injectable drugs.
• Daryl Davies from USC Mann is innovating new compounds, including dietary supplements, aimed at curbing alcohol intake and safeguarding the liver.
• Eric Pedersen of the Keck School of Medicine is focusing on digital interventions designed to diminish binge drinking among university students.
• Olivia Lee of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work investigates the impact of job insecurity on substance use through a life course and intergenerational perspective.
• Rosalie Pacula of the USC Price School of Public Policy and the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, a health economist, is a leading global authority on cannabis regulations and their implications for public health.

“These are merely a handful of instances,” stated Leventhal. “So much is occurring across various fields at USC.”

The IAS has experienced a consistent increase in funding related to addiction, with certain years witnessing funding levels surpassing twice that of its founding year. Moreover, the number of funded initiatives that entail collaboration among lead investigators from numerous departments has also risen, showcasing IAS’ dedication to interdisciplinary exploration and innovation.

Leventhal’s own research, backed by $75 million in grants, encompasses studies on the adverse effects associated with e-cigarettes and vaping, alongside the marketing strategies employed to target youth. A 2019 research article published in JAMA and spearheaded by Leventhal, revealed that mint and fruity flavored e-cigarettes were extensively utilized among American teenagers, resulting in federal measures aimed at curtailing the rampant e-cigarette consumption among young people. In 2020, the FDA appointed him to its Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.

Customized care

Leventhal’s long-term vision is even more audacious: to establish a treatment facility that transforms scientifically grounded addiction care — and to realize it at USC.

“Due to the stigma surrounding addiction, it is pushed to the outskirts of healthcare and falls behind other ailments. Many individuals endure unnecessary suffering and premature deaths, which is unjust,” Leventhal expressed. “We recognize that there is no singular pathway to recovery. Addiction treatment can be tailored and implemented with accuracy, and it must become accessible to all.

“Similar to the finest cancer facilities, we aspire to create an addiction care center that utilizes AI-driven algorithms to connect individuals with the most effective treatments and provides early interventions before someone reaches their lowest point. The aim is to forge a space where science, treatment, and prevention converge to enhance lives.”