Kenneth E. Leonard, PhD

Dr. Leonard’s research focuses on three broad areas. The first of these is the relationship between interpersonal processes, most importantly intimate partner relationships, and substance use problems.  This encompasses both the effects of substance use on interpersonal relationships, but also the influence of interpersonal relationships on substance use. Although he is most interested in substance use problems, he is also interested in the impact of intimate partners on each other’s health and health behaviors, and how health and other factors influence couple’s relationships.

Dr. Leonard’s second research agenda, which overlaps with his first agenda, concerns the role of substance use on violent behavior. Currently, he is collaborating with faculty in psychiatry to address the role of mental illness and substance use in the occurrence of violent behavior.

More recently, Dr. Leonard has begun to explore issues surrounding the current epidemic of prescription opiate and heroin overdoses, including predictors of misuse of opioid prescriptions and predictors of treatment engagement among heroin users.

• Alcohol, substance abuse and aggression
• Effects of substance use on marriage, families and relationships
• Interpersonal (domestic) violence
• Marijuana
• Prescription painkillers