Medical Expert - David P. Friedman, PhD

A neuroscientist and professor in the department of physiology/pharmacology, Friedman has worked in the drug abuse field for more than 25 years. He is an expert on how drugs of abuse affect the brain and making new scientific findings accessible to lay audiences. Formerly an official with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Friedman has focused his research on the effects of cocaine and alcohol on the brain. Friedman is a co-founder and director of the Addiction Studies Program for Journalists, which has trained more than 4,000 journalists in the science of addiction. He also directs the addiction studies program for the states, which has worked with more than 25 state governments to improve state level drug abuse prevention and treatment delivery. Friedman is frequently asked to comment in the media on issues related to substance abuse research and policy.