Current Environment: Production

Sharon Levy | Medical Services

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English

Sharon Levy | Education

Medical School

New York University School of Medicine

1992, New York, NY

Internship

New York University School of Medicine/Bellvue Hospital

1993, New York, NY

Residency

New York University School of Medicine

1996, New York, NY

Fellowship

Boston Children's Hospital

1999, Boston, MA

Sharon Levy | Certifications

  • American Board of Pediatrics (Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics)
  • American Board of Preventive Medicine (Addiction Medicine)

Sharon Levy | Professional History

Sharon Levy, MD, MPH is a board certified Addiction Medicine specialist and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She is Chief of the Division of Addiction Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, past chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Substance Use and Prevention, past-President of the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction (AMERSA) and she serves on the board of directors of the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM).

Over the past 20 years she has evaluated and treated thousands of adolescents with substance use disorders, and she has written extensively on the topic. In 2016 she established the nation’s first accredited Pediatric Addiction Medicine Fellowship training program at Boston Children’s Hospital. She has conducted research to develop and test tools for identifying and addressing adolescent substance use disorders in general medical settings, and she has expertise in the integration of substance use treatment services into pediatric primary care.

Sharon Levy | Publications

  1. Pediatric Subspecialist Alcohol Screening Rates and Concerns About Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among Their Adolescent Patients. J Adolesc Health. 2022 10; 71(4S):S34-S40. View Pediatric Subspecialist Alcohol Screening Rates and Concerns About Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among Their Adolescent Patients. Abstract

  2. Adolescent Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment: Defining a Research Agenda. J Adolesc Health. 2022 10; 71(4S):S7-S8. View Adolescent Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment: Defining a Research Agenda. Abstract

  3. Adolescent Substance Use Disorders. NEJM Evid. 2022 Jun; 1(6):EVIDra2200051. View Adolescent Substance Use Disorders. Abstract

  4. Validation of a single question for the assessment of past three-month alcohol consumption among adolescents. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2021 11 01; 228:109026. View Validation of a single question for the assessment of past three-month alcohol consumption among adolescents. Abstract

  5. Screening for Young Adults for Illicit Drug Use: A Good Idea Although Evidence Is Lacking. Pediatrics. 2021 01; 147(Suppl 2):S259-S261. View Screening for Young Adults for Illicit Drug Use: A Good Idea Although Evidence Is Lacking. Abstract

  6. Evidence-Based Treatment of Young Adults With Substance Use Disorders. Pediatrics. 2021 01; 147(Suppl 2):S204-S214. View Evidence-Based Treatment of Young Adults With Substance Use Disorders. Abstract

  7. Moving to a Medical Model of Substance Use Treatment of Youth. Pediatrics. 2021 01; 147(Suppl 2):S262-S264. View Moving to a Medical Model of Substance Use Treatment of Youth. Abstract

  8. Trends in Substance Nonuse by High School Seniors: 1975-2018. Pediatrics. 2020 12; 146(6). View Trends in Substance Nonuse by High School Seniors: 1975-2018. Abstract

  9. Safety Protocols for Adolescent Substance Use Research in Clinical Settings. J Adolesc Health. 2021 05; 68(5):999-1005. View Safety Protocols for Adolescent Substance Use Research in Clinical Settings. Abstract

  10. The role of addiction-medicine specialists in the global fight against addiction. Nat Med. 2020 04; 26(4):456. View The role of addiction-medicine specialists in the global fight against addiction. Abstract

  11. Youth and the Opioid Epidemic. Pediatrics. 2019 02; 143(2). View Youth and the Opioid Epidemic. Abstract

  12. Trends in Abstaining From Substance Use in Adolescents: 1975-2014. Pediatrics. 2018 08; 142(2). View Trends in Abstaining From Substance Use in Adolescents: 1975-2014. Abstract

  13. Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. Pediatrics. 2016 Jul; 138(1). View Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. Abstract

  14. Substance Abuse, General Principles. Pediatr Rev. 2015 Dec; 36(12):535-44. View Substance Abuse, General Principles. Abstract

  15. Results of a statewide survey of adolescent substance use screening rates and practices in primary care. Subst Abus. 2012; 33(4):321-6. View Results of a statewide survey of adolescent substance use screening rates and practices in primary care. Abstract

  16. Substance use screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for pediatricians. Pediatrics. 2011 Nov; 128(5):e1330-40. View Substance use screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for pediatricians. Abstract

  17. Acceptability of drug testing in an outpatient substance abuse program for adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2011 Mar; 48(3):229-33. View Acceptability of drug testing in an outpatient substance abuse program for adolescents. Abstract

  18. Screening adolescents for substance use-related high-risk sexual behaviors. J Adolesc Health. 2009 Nov; 45(5):473-7. View Screening adolescents for substance use-related high-risk sexual behaviors. Abstract

  19. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for adolescents. J Addict Med. 2008; 2(4):215-21. View Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for adolescents. Abstract

  20. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for adolescents: companion clinical case. J Addict Med. 2008; 2(4):222-6. View Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for adolescents: companion clinical case. Abstract

  21. The national debate on drug testing in schools. J Adolesc Health. 2007 Nov; 41(5):419-20. View The national debate on drug testing in schools. Abstract

  22. Results of random drug testing in an adolescent substance abuse program. Pediatrics. 2007 Apr; 119(4):e843-8. View Results of random drug testing in an adolescent substance abuse program. Abstract

  23. Buprenorphine replacement therapy for adolescents with opioid dependence: early experience from a children's hospital-based outpatient treatment program. J Adolesc Health. 2007 May; 40(5):477-82. View Buprenorphine replacement therapy for adolescents with opioid dependence: early experience from a children's hospital-based outpatient treatment program. Abstract

  24. Is this urine really negative? A systematic review of tampering methods in urine drug screening and testing. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2007 Jul; 33(1):33-42. View Is this urine really negative? A systematic review of tampering methods in urine drug screening and testing. Abstract

  25. Drug testing of adolescents in general medical clinics, in school and at home: physician attitudes and practices. J Adolesc Health. 2006 Apr; 38(4):336-42. View Drug testing of adolescents in general medical clinics, in school and at home: physician attitudes and practices. Abstract

  26. Drug testing of adolescents in ambulatory medicine: physician practices and knowledge. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Feb; 160(2):146-50. View Drug testing of adolescents in ambulatory medicine: physician practices and knowledge. Abstract

  27. Drug testing in generla medical clinics, in school adn at home: Self reported physician practices, agreement with use of testing and testing recommendations. J Adolesc Health. 2006.

  28. Drug testin of adolescents in ambularoty medicine: Physician practice and knowledge. Arch Pediatr Adolesce Med. 2006.

  29. Laboratory testing of substances of abuse. Neintstein. Adolescent Health Care: A Practical Guide. 2006; chapter 71.

  30. Psychoactive substances of abuse used by adolescents. Neinstein. Adolescent Health Care, A Practical Guide. 2006.

  31. Office based management of adolescent substance use. Neinstein. Adolescent Health Care: A Practical Guide. 2006; chapter 73.

  32. Motivational interviewing for adolescent substance use: a pilot study. J Adolesc Health. 2005 Aug; 37(2):167-9. View Motivational interviewing for adolescent substance use: a pilot study. Abstract

  33. Teaching paediatric residents about learning disorders: use of standardised case discussion versus multimedia computer tutorial. Med Educ. 2005 Aug; 39(8):797-806. View Teaching paediatric residents about learning disorders: use of standardised case discussion versus multimedia computer tutorial. Abstract

  34. Test-retest reliability of adolescents' self-report of substance use. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2004 Aug; 28(8):1236-41. View Test-retest reliability of adolescents' self-report of substance use. Abstract

  35. A review of Internet-based home drug-testing products for parents. Pediatrics. 2004 Apr; 113(4):720-6. View A review of Internet-based home drug-testing products for parents. Abstract

  36. Office management of substance abuse. Adolescent Health Update. 2003; 15(3).

  37. Adolescent substance use: prevention and management by primary care clinicians. J Clin Outcomes Manage. 2003; 10(3):166-74.

  38. Office-based intervention for adolescent substance abuse. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2002 Apr; 49(2):329-43. View Office-based intervention for adolescent substance abuse. Abstract

  39. Save time. 2002.

  40. Advocating Success for Kids: An Advocacy and assessment program for children with school and behavioral problems. Pediatric Ambulatory Society Meeting, poster presentation. 2001.

  41. Motivational Interviewing. 2001.

  42. More than just an accident. 2001.

  43. The Tale of Tommy's Testing: Weaving New Knowledge into an Old Shell. Slice of Life/Computers in Health Educations Symposium, platform presentation. 2000.

  44. The tale of Tommy's testing. 2000.

  45. A Right to Learn. 1999.

  46. Developmental Pediatrics. 1999.

  47. Intern advocacy teaching training manual. 1998.

  48. Pediatric physical exam. 1997.

  49. NYU Medical Center Teaching Retreat Manual. 1997.

  50. Drug use among Sydney teenagers in 1985 and 1986. Community Health Stud. 1989; 13(2):161-9. View Drug use among Sydney teenagers in 1985 and 1986. Abstract

I completed my Pediatric internship, residency training and a Chief Residency at New York University Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital in New York City’s lower east side. At the time, in the early to middle 1990’s Bellevue Hospital cared for most of the homeless and indigent patients in New York City. As a trainee, I saw children and families plagued by poverty and all of its associated medical problems, including substance abuse. Medical staff members at Bellevue were trained to care for the conditions that resulted from substance use, but little training was devoted specifically to the treatment of substance-related disorders.

During this time period, I became interested in child and family advocacy, and after completing a year as a Chief Resident in Pediatrics, I accepted a Dyson Advocacy Training Fellowship in the Division of General Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Boston. After completing my training in 2000 I became the Director of Pediatrics for a new Adolescent Substance Abuse Program (ASAP). Shortly thereafter I received a career award from NIH to develop scientific skills in adolescent substance use disorders. In the ensuing years both clinical and research arms of ASAP have continued to grow and flourish.

ASAP is committed to delivering science based, family oriented, developmentally appropriate care for adolescents and young adults with substance use disorders. We are a "full spectrum" program, offering evaluation and treatment services for adolescents with a range of substance use experience, from new onset problems to addiction.

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