Kenneth E. Leonard PhD
Kenneth E. Leonard
PhD
Director, Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions and Professor of Psychiatry
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Addictions; Psychiatry
Professional Summary:
Research in our lab has largely focused on the bidirectional relationships between alcohol and social/interpersonal relationships. One of the specific questions that we have addressed is whether excessive alcohol use is a factor in bar violence, intimate partner violence, parenting behavior, and child outcomes. We have conducted this research on experimental, marital and parent-child interaction, event-based, and longitudinal studies and have made important theoretical and empirical contributions to our understanding of alcohol and adverse social outcomes. A second question that we have addressed is the individual difference, intimate partner, and social relationships that influenced alcohol and substance use among young adults. Our research has shown that over the transition to marriage, marital satisfaction plays a pivotal role in the reduction of heavy drinking, both directly as well as indirectly by leading to changes in the social network. Moreover, our research has demonstrated the importance of discrepant substance use patterns as predictors of marital disruptions.
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Alcohol/Psychiatric Epidemiology, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (1984)
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, Kent State University (1981)
- MA, Clinical Psychology, Kent State University (1978)
- BA, Psychology, Kent State University, Magna Cum Laude (1976)
Employment:
- Director, Research Institute on Addictions (2011-present)
- Research Professor, Psychiatry, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1997-present)
- Research Professor, Psychology, University at Buffalo Faculty of Arts and Letters (1986-present)
- Senior Research Scientist, Research Institute on Addictions (Formerly Research Institute on Alcoholism) (1986-present)
- Principal Research Associate, Family Interaction Project, University of Pittsburgh Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (1984–1986)
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychiatric/Alcohol Epidemiology, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (1981–1984)
- Psychological Intern, Akron Child Guidance (1979–1980)
- Psychology Intern, Kevin Coleman Mental Health Center (1978–1979)
- Research Assistant (with Dr. Mary Koss), Department of Psychology, Kent State University School of Arts and Sciences (1978–1979)
- Teaching/Research Assistant (with Dr. Hal Page), Department of Psychology, Kent State University (1977–1978)
Awards and Honors:
- Program Advisory Board of the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescent-Adulthood (NCANDA-A) (2023)
- Distinguished Scientific Contributors Award (2015)
- Outstanding Contributions to Research Award (2014)
- Josie Olympia Faculty of the Year Award, Psychiatry, University at Buffalo (2011)
- Josie Olympia Faculty of the Year Award, Psychiatry, University at Buffalo (2008)
- Resident Teaching Award,Resident Training Program in Psychiatry, University (2006)
- Research and Scholarship Award, State University of New York Research Found (2006)
- Franklin H. Knower Award, 2005 (2005)
- Scientific Advisory Council (2004)
- Fellow in the Division of Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse (2002)
- Didactic Teacher of the Year (2002)
- MERIT Award (2002)
- Fellow in the Division of Addictions (1996)
- Director‘s Recognition Award (1992)
Research Expertise:
- Addictions
- Alcohol use, abuse, and dependence
- Marital Violence
- Social relationships
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- October 2023–October 2025
OASAS Research Institute
New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
$1,000,000 - October 2022–October 2025
Young Adult Substance Use Prevalence Survey
New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
$929,949 - September 2019–September 2025
Stress, hazardous drinking and intimate partner aggression in a diverse sample of women and their partners
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Role: Co-Investigator - May 2012–April 2025
Research Training on Alcohol Etiology and Treatment
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Role: Co-Principal Investigator - August 2020–December 2024
Pain medication prescription and misuse following treatment for alcohol use disorder
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Role: Co-Principal Investigator - October 2013–October 2023
Substance use in reservists: Social and environmental influences
National Institute of Drug Abuse
Role: Co-Investigator - July 2018–June 2020
Pain medication prescription following treatment for alcohol use disorder
National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
$386,013 - June 2017–May 2019
Expansion of MAT Practice in New York State
NYS OASAS
Role: Principal Investigator
$750,000 - June 2007–July 2013
Alcohol, Relationship Conflict, and Intimate Partner Violence
NIAAA
Role: Co-Investigator
$1,883,482 - April 2005–March 2009
Alcohol and Early Marriage: Spouse and Peer Influence
NIAAA
Role: Principal Investigator
$962,952
Journal Articles:
- Leonard KE, Smith PH, Homish GG. (2013) Concordant and Discordant Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana Use as Predictors of Marital Dissolution. Psychol Addict Behav (Oct).
- Leonard KE, Roberts LJ. (1998) The effects of alcohol on the marital interactions of aggressive and nonaggressivehusbands and their wives. J Abnorm Psychol (Nov), 107(4): 602-615.
- Godfrey, DA. Derrick, Jaye, Leonard, KE. (2024) Intimate partner aggression predicts depressive symptomatology across the first 9 years of marriage. Psychology of Violence (Oct), 14(5): 326-334.
- Lu CH, Su HY, Falls Z, Jacobs DM, Zhang Q, Gibson W, Jette G, Paul D, Elkin PL, Leonard KE, Bednarczyk EM. (2024) Differences in prescribing patterns of opioid dependence drugs among patients with primary alcohol use problems and opioid use disorders within New York State by social determinant factors, 2005-2018. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA (Sep)102258.
- Kuo TY, Lu CH, Falls Z, Jette G, Gibson W, Elkin PL, Leonard KE, Bednarczyk EM, Jacobs DM. (2024) High-risk use of prescription opioids among patients treated for alcohol problems in New York State. A repeated cross-sectional study, 2005-2018. Drug and alcohol dependence reports (Sep), 12: 100278. doi:10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100278
- Kruger DJ, Kirk HM, Leonard KE, Lynch JJ, Nielsen N, Collins RL, Ditre JW, Fletcher-Blake D, Green SA, Hogue A, Hunter JK, Marraffa JM, Clemency BM. (2024) Assessing experts' perspectives on challenges in substance misuse prevention, harm reduction, and treatment to shape funding priorities in New York State. Harm reduction journal (Jul), 21(1): 134. doi:10.1186/s12954-024-01045-3
- Falls Z, Zhang X, Elkin PL, Jacobs D, Bednarczyk EM, Gibson W, Jette GP, Leonard KE. (2024) Incidence, Timing and Social Correlates of the Development of Opioid Use Disorder Among Clients Seeking Treatment for an Alcohol Use Problem: Changes Over the Three Waves of the Opioid Epidemic. Substance abuse and rehabilitation (Jan), 15: 185-195. doi:10.2147/SAR.S482717
- Leonard KE, Lynch JJ, Leong FW, Kruger DJ, Clemency BM. (2024) Characteristics of Patients Presenting at an Emergency Department for a Heroin Overdose vs Detoxification. Substance abuse and rehabilitation (Jan), 15: 79-85. doi:10.2147/SAR.S461521
- Zaso MJ, Eiden RD, Leonard KE, Colder CR, Livingston JA. (2023) Parent Alcohol Use and Problems in Children's Alcohol-Related Learning and Subsequent Alcohol Use. Substance use & misuse (Sep)1-10.
- Lu CH, Jette G, Falls Z, Jacobs DM, Gibson W, Bednarczyk EM, Kuo TY, Lape-Newman B, Leonard KE, Elkin PL. (2023) A cohort of patients in New York State with an alcohol use disorder and subsequent treatment information - A merging of two administrative data sources. Journal of biomedical informatics (Aug), 144: 104443.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Leidenfrost CM, Leonard, KE, Antonius, D. (2018) The Handbook of Behavioral Criminology: Contemporary Strategy and Issues. In: Alcohol, drugs and crime. Springer Publishing
- Quigley BM, Leonard KE. (2013) Principles of Addiction. In: Drinking patterns, alcohol consumption, and aggressive behavior. Elsevier/Academic Press, 617-625.
- Collins, RL, Quigley, BM, & Leonard, KE. (2001) Prevention and control of aggression and the impact on its victims. In: Prediction of bar violence among young adults. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers., 275-283.
- Quigley BM, Leonard KE. (2000) Aggression and violence: An introductory text. In: Alcohol, drugs, and violence. Allyn and Bacon., 259-283.
Abstracts:
- Scalco M, Leidenfrost CM, Quigley BM, Testa M, Houston RJ, Brown WC, Leonard KE, Antonius D. (2016) Alcohol use impacts recidivism rates differently in individuals with mood versus psychosis spectrum disorders (Abstract #406). Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, (Jan) 117A
- Quigley BM, Houston R, Antonius D, Leonard KE. (2016) Alcohol use moderates the relationship between symptoms of mental illness and violence (Abstract #407). Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, (Jan) 117A
- Quigley BM, Leonard KE, Testa M, Houston R, Kubiak A. (2015) ). Husband alcohol use and both partners’ executive cognitive functioning longitudinally predict intimate partner violence (Abstract #P801). Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, (Jan) 211A
Presentations:
- "Alcohol's Role in Marital Conflict and Violence" Journey Together Conference 2023: A Conference for Addiction Professionals, Middle Tennessee Association for Addiction Professionals (2023)
- "The Pervasive Links Between Close Relationships and Substance Use." Journey Together Conference 2023 A Conference for Addiction Professionals, Middle Tennessee Association for Addiction Professionals (2023)
- "Research Funding for Addiction in the U.S.: How Priorities are Established and the Role of People who use Drugs" The Businesses of Addiction, University at Buffalo. (2023)
- "Alcohol and the family: The many ways excessive drinking impacts marriage, parenting and child development" Invited presentation at Bethlehem Tertiary Instititute (2022)
- "Alcohol, Partner Violence, and Intimacy: How alcohol influences relationships" Invited presentation at Deakin University (2022)
- "The pervasive links between close relationships and substance use." Grand Rounds, online, University of Connecticut (2022)
- "Intimate partner violence: Substance use, psychopathology and their relevance in clinical settings" Grand Rounds, University at Buffalo Department of Psychiatry (2021)
- "The Pervasive Links between Close Relationships and Substance Use" Grand Rounds, University of Connecticut School of Medicine (2021)
- "Behind closed doors: Substance use and domestic violence" Invited online presentation for Curbside Manner: Health Beyond the Hospital. Center for Continuing and Outreach Education, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. (2020)
- "The pervasive effects of close relationships on excessive alcohol use" Invited presentation at Dalhousie University (2019)
Service Activities:
- Serve as expert in young adult addictions for National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence-Adulthood supported by NIAAA; Program Advisory Board (2023–present)
- VPRED Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusiveness in Research (2020–2021)
- Appointment, Promotions and Tenure Committee (2019–2022)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Fellowship Review (F31, F32, K application); Reviewer (2016–2019)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Training Grant Review; Reviewer (2016–present)
- Standing Committee on Admissions Policy (2016–present)
- Erie County Opioid Task Force; Member (2016–present)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism MOBC-PAR-R21 Review; Chair (2015)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Center Grant Review; Reviewer (2015)
- Reviewer, Romanian National Council for Development and Innovation (2011–2012)
- Reviewer, Population Sciences and Epidemiology Integrated Review Group, Center for Scientific Review (2011)
- Reviewer, Center for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Environmental Health (2010)
- Research Promotions; Chair (2009–2010)
- Relations with Industry Commitee; Member (2008–present)
- Research Promotions; Member (2007–2010)
- Adult Psychopathology and Disorders of Aging;; External Reviewer (2005)
- Medical Research Council of South Africa; External Review;; External Reviewer (2005)
- Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (2004–2011)
- ; Alcohol and Drug Research Advisory Group (2004)
- Faculty Council; Member (2003–2005)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research; External Review;; External Reviewer (2003)
- University Alcohol Policy Board (2002–2003)
- ; Dean of Arts and Sciences-Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Psychological Services Center (2002)
- Appointment, Promotions and Tenure; Committee member, assist and mentor faculty with promotion (2001–present)
- Psychological Bulletin; Consulting Editor (2000–2004)
- Postdoctoral Training Committee; Member (2000–2016)
- Executive Committee (1999–present)
- Journal of Abnormal Psychology; Consulting Editor (1999–2013)
- Center for Scientific Review; Psychosocial Development, Risk, and Prevention;; Panel Member (1999–2004)
- Faculty Council; Alternate Member (1999–2001)
- Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation; Social and Behavioral Advisory Board;; Panel Member (1998–2004)
- Journal of Abnormal Psychology; Associate Editor (1996–1999)
- Addiction Research Foundation; Exernal Review;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (1996)
- Review of Aggression and Violent Behavior (1995–2006)
- Guggenheim Foundation; External Review;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (1995–1996)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Special Review Group in Health Services Research;; Panel Member (1995–1997)
- Journal of Abnormal Psychology; Consulting Editor (1992–1996)
- Family Dynamics of Addiction Quarterly (1992–1993)
- Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (1992–present)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Immunology and AIDS subcommittee (ALCB-3);; Ad Hoc Reviewer (1992)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Initial Review Group, Clinical and Treatment Subcommittee (ALCP-1);; Panel Member (1990–1994)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Special Review Group on Alcohol Beverage Labeling;; Grant Reviewer (1989)