About

Allen Zweben is a faculty affiliate and professor at Columbia University School of Social Work, where he also serves as the director of the Skills-Based Lab Project. His expertise lies in addiction medicine, including 12-step programs and additional treatments for alcohol problems and other addictions. His research focuses on innovative assessment and treatment approaches for substance use problems, and he teaches courses in motivational interviewing (MI). Dr. Zweben has conducted several landmark clinical trials, such as Project MATCH, the COMBINE Study, and the ADVANCE Study, which tested various treatment modalities for alcohol and co-morbid problems. He is also the co-author of a widely read textbook on addiction treatment, published in 2018. His professional background includes serving as director of Psychosocial Intervention Research at the Addiction Research Foundation and as a professor and director at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Dr. Zweben holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to research and public service in the field of addiction and behavioral health sciences.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapist

Selected publications

• 8707 Are We Adequately Prescribing Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2i) Or Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) And Established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) Or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) In An Outpatient Setting: A Community Center Experience

  Journal of the Endocrine Society · 2024-10-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Disclosure: R.K. Maan: None. A. Sawhney: None. A. Hayat: None. S. Kc: None. A. Madan: None. S. K c: None. L. Williams: None. A. Zweben: None. A. Rana: None. Introduction: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends prescribing Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) or Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) for its cardiovascular benefits. Methods: Our retrospective study analyzed data from 511 T2DM patients who visited the outpatient clinic between 7/1/22 to 6/30/23. Using Microsoft Excel, we assessed adherence to ADA guidelines by collecting data for SGLT2i, GLP-1 RA and statin prescriptions, urine microalbumin creatinine ratio measurements, and appropriate management of albuminuria. The study also investigated patients on dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) who were eligible for SGLT2i or GLP-1 RA. Results: Out of the 511 patients, 478 were eligible for SGLT2i or GLP-1 RA, and only 60% were prescribed these medications. Out of 479 patients eligible for statin prescription, only 85% were on it. Albuminuria was appropriately managed in 76% of eligible patients with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEI) or Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs). Additionally, 8 out of 11 patients on DPP-4i were eligible for SGLT2i or GLP-1 RA. Conclusion: We concluded that 60% of the patients eligible for SGLT2i or GLP-1 RA were prescribed the medication in our outpatient settings. The barriers identified were issues with insurance prior authorization and knowledge gaps. We aim to improve adherence to guidelines through multifaceted education strategies combined with audits and feedback. References:Diabetesjournals.org/care/article/46/Supplement_1/S158/148038/10-Cardiovascular-Disease-and-Risk-ManagementMarso SP, Daniels GH, Brown-Frandsen K, et al. Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2016;375:311-322. Marso SP, Bain SC, Consoli A, et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2016; 375:1834-1844Gerstein HC, Colhoun HM, Dagenais GR, et al. Dulaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (REWIND): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2019;394:121-130 Zinman B, Wanner C, Lachin JM, et al. Empagliflozin, cardiovascular outcomes, and mortality in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2015;373:2117-2128Wiviott SD, Raz I, Bonaca MP, et al. Dapagliflozin and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2019;380:347-357 Presentation: 6/3/2024

  PublisherDOI

• :<i>Working the Difference: Science, Spirit, and the Spread of Motivational Interviewing</i>

  Social Service Review · 2024-09-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Training Incoming Social Work Students in Motivational Interviewing Skills

  Advances in Social Work · 2022-06-14 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Field practicum settings often do not have adequate resources, staff, and time to meet the extensive basic training and learning needs of master’s level social work students beginning their first year of field placement. An innovative, empirically-supported motivational interviewing (MI) skills lab was created to provide students with supplemental skills training in preparation for field placement entry. The lab practice of MI strategies allows students to gain familiarity with effective methods for forming helping relationships, developing intervention goals, and understanding and resolving ambivalence about behavioral change. This paper describes the rationale for the experiential learning approach, addresses challenges encountered by students in learning MI skills, and demonstrates its potential effectiveness in addressing the learning needs of incoming social work students. We recommend that the MI lab be considered as a model for helping to prepare new students for agency practice.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Substance Use–Related Continuing Education Course Objectives: Alignment with Professional Competencies

  Substance Abuse · 2022-01-01 · 4 citations

  article

  Background: Novel educational efforts are needed to prepare the current and future interprofessional health care workforce to address the range of substance use–related health problems. A 6-module massive open online course (MOOC) was developed to provide education to health professionals of various disciplines on the fundamentals of substance use–related treatment. The purpose of this project was to match course objectives to substance use–related competencies for 5 disciplines: nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants (PA), and social workers. Methods: Content expert raters within each discipline determined what Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction (AMERSA) core competencies were matched to each objective for the 6 modules of the MOOC. The number of objectives across the 6 modules was summated. Results: All nursing and social work competencies were mapped to the course objectives. For physicians, PAs, and pharmacists, the proportions of knowledge-based competencies that mapped to the course objective were 58%, 76%, and 80%, respectively, and proportions of skill-based competencies that mapped to the course objective were 88%, 83%, and 75%, respectively. For those 3 groups, 100% of attitude-based competencies mapped to the course objective. Conclusions: The competency-based mapping with the MOOC objectives supports the interprofessional design of the course and discipline-specific competencies needed to promote the best outcomes for patients.

  PublisherDOI

• The effect of varenicline on smoking and drinking outcomes among Black and White adults with alcohol use disorder and co-occurring cigarette smoking: A secondary analysis of two clinical trials

  Addictive Behaviors · 2021-05-01 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Motivational interviewing and screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment.

  American Psychological Association eBooks · 2020-01-01

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Intervening around addictive behaviors

  2020-04-07

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding

  This chapter deals with state-of-the-art, evidenced-supported assessment and intervention methods for diverse groups delivered in an array of specialty and non-specialty settings. First presented are approaches for screening, assessing, and diagnosing substance misuse problems. Then, the following intervention approaches are introduced through their functions and purposes: brief intervention, motivational interviewing, case management, working with significant others, mutual help, case management, cognitive behavioral coping skills training, and pharmacotherapy. Combining interventions to address diverse and dynamic circumstances (clients’ problem severity, coping capacities, social and motivational resources, and other aspects) to form an effective synergistic approach is discussed. The chapter emphasizes the importance of focusing on client strengths and forging collaborative client-practitioner relationships to maximize the intervention benefits.

  PublisherDOI

• Relationship Between Medication Adherence and Treatment Outcomes: The COMBINE Study

  UNC Libraries · 2020-10-30

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Within the alcoholism field, there is mounting evidence supporting an important relationship between medication adherence and drinking outcomes. Little is known however, about the complex relationships between medication and treatment variables and drinking outcomes. The present paper reports on the differential impact of medication adherence and treatment factors on drinking outcomes. Data derived from the COMBINE Study was used to investigate the interrelationships between medication adherence, combination treatments and drinking outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• PTSD/Substance Use Disorder Comorbidity: Treatment Options and Public Health Needs

  Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry · 2020-09-24 · 23 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Treating addiction: A guide for professionals, 2nd ed.

  2019-01-01 · 4 citations

  articleSenior author

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01AA013848

  NIH · $3.3M · 2008

• NIH Grant R01AA020389

  NIH · $950k · 2018

• NIH Grant U10AA011773

  NIH · $2.5M · 2007

Frequent coauthors

• Margaret E. Mattson

  174 shared

• Dennis M. Donovan

  Augsburg University

  113 shared

• Carlo C. DiClemente

  University of Maryland, Baltimore County

  105 shared

• Kathleen M. Carroll

  Yale University

  105 shared

• Ned L. Cooney

  Yale University

  104 shared

• Ronald M. Kadden

  University of Connecticut

  103 shared

• Bonnie McRee

  University of Connecticut

  102 shared

• Robert G. Rycharik

  101 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Social Work

  Columbia University

  1977

Awards & honors

• proclamation from the Mayor of Milwaukee for distinguished c…
• appreciation from the Board of Regents of the University of…
• commendation from the Governor of Wisconsin for leadership i…