Adam Matthew Leventhal, PhD

Adam Leventhal, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, public health scientist, educator, policy advisor, and university administrator specializing in addiction. He is Founding Director of the USC Institute for Addiction Science (IAS; ias.usc.edu)–the nation’s first university-wide comprehensive academic unit devoted to understanding, reducing, and preventing addiction epidemics. IAS is a matrixed institute of 80 faculty across 10 schools and colleges across USC that provides critical infrastructure supporting the incubation and implementation of trans-discipline addiction research, education, and community engagement activities.

Dr. Leventhal is principal investigator of a research program that has received $60M in grants addressing: (1) youth use of tobacco, cannabis, and opioids; (2) health disparities in addiction; (3) science to inform public policies for regulating tobacco and other addictive consumer products; and (4) cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention. He has (co-)authored over 400 peer-reviewed scientific articles, including publications in JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, and other widely-disseminated journals. Research led by Dr. Leventhal and his collaborators have informed numerous federal and global policies to protect youth from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine. His work has been covered the Associated Press, NBC Nightly News, New York Times, and other media outlets. In addition to science and academic administration leadership, Dr. Leventhal is an active mentor and educator to early-career professionals across the spectrum from high school students to faculty. He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior and American Psychological Association and recipient of awards for contributions to science and mentoring, including the American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology.

Dr. Leventhal is active in translating addiction science to federal and global policy actions, having served in roles for the US Surgeon General Report Series, US Food and Drug Administration, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and World Health Organization. His personal interests include running, playing guitar, watching football, and spending time with his wonderful wife and two daughters.

#Courses
Foundations in Addiction Science
Basic Theory and Strategies in Prevention
Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

• Real World Effectiveness of Naturalistic Use of Pharmacologic Smoking Cessation Aids in US Adults.
  NIH · R01CA309463 · Aug 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2031 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Vaping and Smoking Cessation in Intensive Longitudinal National Data
  NIH · R21DA058343 · Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2025 · Role: MPI
• Discrimination and Racial Inequalities in Drug Use in U.S. Adults: Associations and Mechanisms
  NIH · R01DA058992 · Jun 15, 2023 – Apr 30, 2027 · Role: MPI
• Vaping Nicotine and Cannabis Across Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  NIH · R01CA229617 · Sep 20, 2019 – Aug 31, 2025 · Role: MPI
• Expanding Capacity for Addiction Regulatory Science Research and Mentoring
  NIH · K24DA048160 · Apr 1, 2019 – Jun 30, 2030 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Mechanisms Linking Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Tobacco Dependence
  California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program · Jul 1, 2018 – Jun 30, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
• USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science
  NIH · U54CA180905 · Sep 19, 2013 – Aug 31, 2028 · Role: MPI
• Neuroendocrine Factors, Nicotine, and Behavioral Inhibition in Female Smokers
  NIH · R21DA034768 · Sep 15, 2013 – Jun 30, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Anhedonia as a Risk Factor and Consequence of Substance Use
  NIH · R01DA033296 · Sep 15, 2012 – Jan 31, 2019 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Mechanisms Linking Anhedonia and Tobacco Addiction
  NIH · R01DA026831 · Aug 15, 2009 – Nov 30, 2013 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Affective and Genetic Correlates of Amphetamine Response
  NIH · K08DA025041 · Aug 1, 2009 – Jul 31, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator

• CBS Morning News, Questions over risks of Philip Morris's smoke-free tobacco device IQOS
• NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt, Study finds heavy tech use linked with ADHD in teens
• Fox News, Frequent vaping by teens linked to heavy smoking later
• Reuters, Poverty, other disadvantages tied to higher smoking risk
• USC Today, Most teens who tried marijuana used it in various forms, research finds
• Reuters, Discrimination fears tied to teen drinking and smoking
• New York Times, Vaping Can Be Addictive and May Lure Teenagers to Smoking, Science Panel Concludes
• Los Angeles Times, Fruity flavors lure teens into vaping longer and taking more puffs, study says
• 2014 Awardees > Adam Leventhal

• Barrington-Trimis, Jessica
• Unger, Jennifer
• Sussman, Steven
• Lerman, Caryn
• Harlow, Alyssa
• McConnell, Rob