Kenneth E. Leonard

Kenneth Leonard is an expert on issues pertaining to substance use and abuse. He has more than 30 years of experience as a researcher in this field, with his work focusing on the effects of substance use and abuse on marriage, families and interpersonal relationships. His research — funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute on Drug Abuse — has examined topics that range from bar violence to the effect of alcohol on marital aggression, parenting and infant development. In addition to providing media with insight on substance use and families, Leonard can comment on a range of topics such as the growing crisis of opiate and heroin overdoses, and the debate over whether marijuana should be legalized for medical and/or recreational use. He is a fellow and former president of the American Psychological Association’s Division 50 (Addictions). Dr. Kenneth E. Leonard is a nationally renowned clinical psychologist and addiction researcher, currently serving as Director of the Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions and Professor of Psychiatry at the Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. His research career spans over four decades, with foundational contributions in understanding the complex interplay between alcohol use and social relationships, including marital dynamics, parenting, and intimate partner violence. Dr. Leonard’s research has illuminated the bidirectional impact between substance use and interpersonal behavior. His early work focused on whether excessive alcohol use is a contributing factor to adverse social outcomes, such as bar violence and family conflict. Through experimental, longitudinal, and event-based designs, his findings have shaped theoretical models on how alcohol and drug use affect both individual and family well-being. One of Dr. Leonard’s key contributions lies in demonstrating how relationship satisfaction influences alcohol consumption, particularly during transitions such as marriage. His studies have shown that increased marital satisfaction can significantly reduce heavy drinking, while discrepancies in partners' substance use patterns predict higher risk for marital disruption. These insights have informed both prevention and treatment strategies targeting couples and families impacted by substance abuse. In addition to his theoretical and empirical work, Dr. Leonard has maintained a strong record of federal funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and New York State agencies. He has served as Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on major projects investigating young adult substance use, prescription medication misuse, and the links between stress, drinking, and intimate partner aggression. Dr. Leonard is also deeply engaged in research training and mentorship, co-leading a long-running NIAAA-funded training grant focused on alcohol etiology and treatment. His leadership in academia includes influential service on editorial boards and grant review panels, and he continues to shape national addiction research through advisory roles on initiatives like the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence-Adulthood (NCANDA-A). Widely recognized for his scholarly impact, Dr. Leonard has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award, Outstanding Contributions to Research Award, and multiple teaching honors. His work is frequently presented at national and international conferences, where he shares insights on how substance use permeates intimate relationships, child development, and broader public health outcomes. With a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Kent State University and postdoctoral training in psychiatric and alcohol epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Leonard brings a rigorous and multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing addiction. His work not only advances academic knowledge but also serves practitioners and policymakers working to mitigate the societal impact of alcohol and substance abuse.