The Seattle Association for Women in Science (AWIS) invites you to join us on October 16th for a critical discussion on opioid use disorder, co-hosted by the American Chemical Society, Puget Sound Section – Women Chemists Committee (ACS, PSS-WCC).

The program will address the escalating challenges of opioid addiction in the age of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. We will hear from our expert speaker as they explore the science behind opioid use, discuss current treatment strategies, and share their thoughts on the impact on public health.

Meet the Speaker
Dr. Mandy Owens. UW Assistant Professor, Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Mandy Owens started her position at ADAI in April 2019. Her work aims to improve services for people who use alcohol and drugs with a focus on those involved with the criminal legal system. Dr. Owens works with jails and other criminal legal partners on implementing medications for opioid use disorder programs, developing training for first responders, and using codesign to develop local solutions to improve interactions between law enforcement and people who use drugs. Across projects, criminal legal partners include jails, prisons, juvenile rehabilitation, probation, and law enforcement. She also works with Caleb Banta-Green on multiple projects, including a multi-site replication study of medication first/low barrier buprenorphine, evaluations of local substance use service programs, and training for SAMHSA funded opioid treatment networks.

Dr. Owens received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of New Mexico, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Services Research & Development at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.

In addition to her research at ADAI, Dr. Owens works as an attending psychologist at the University of Washington Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic. She specializes in the treatment of substance use disorders and supports family members of individuals with substance use concerns using a Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach.