Caleb Banta-Green PhD, MPH, MSW
Dr. Banta-Green is the director of the UW Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology and Research (CEDEER) at ADAI and Research Professor in the UW Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute. He is an adjunct research professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Health Systems & Population Health at the UW School of Public Health. His main area of research is substance use involving opioids and stimulants and interventions to support recovery and reduce substance-related harms. He is particularly interested in developing interventions that are accessible to all people, including those who are most marginalized, such as those who are unhoused, utilizing harm reduction services, or in the criminal legal system. His CEDEER team provides technical assistance and evaluation services for public health and safety interventions including the website http://stopoverdose.org, and information for the general public and professionals about effective treatments at http://learnabouttreatment.org.
Dr. Banta-Green is an epidemiologist and his team reports drug trends across WA State, with data available online at http://adai.uw.edu/wadata. He has been the Seattle area representative to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s drug epidemiology work group since 2001, and partners with state and local agencies on drug epidemiology tracking and reporting.
Dr. Banta-Green has an MSW, an MPH, and a PhD in Health Services Research from the School of Public Health, all from the UW. He serves on local, state, and federal work groups and committees related to epidemiology, policy, and interventions for those who use illicit substances. He is a member of the U.S. Health and Human Service’s Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee. He served as senior science advisor for the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Executive Office of the President in 2012.
Dr. Banta-Green is interviewed regularly by local and national news media about substance use, drug trends, and effective interventions.
Titles
Research Professor, Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine
Director, Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology and Research (CEDEER)
Adjunct Research Professor, Health Systems and Population Health, UW School of Public Health
Adjunct Research Professor, Epidemiology, UW School of Public Health
Education
PhD, Public Health, University of Washington
MPH, Public Health, University of Washington
MSW, Social Work, University of Washington
BA, Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Research Interests
- Drug treatment outcomes — impact of access to treatment and drug use characteristics
- Opioid overdose prevention and intervention — individual and community level
- Health services research — linked state and local health, health care utilization and arrest data
- Testing new models of community-based care for people who use illicit substances
- Epidemiological measures of drug use in rural and urban settings
- Implementation research
- Qualitative research to understand perspectives and needs of people who use drugs and care providers
- Development of novel drug epidemiology tools
- Drug-caused morbidity and mortality, e.g., infectious disease, drug overdoses
- Youth use of opioids and developing effective prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services
- Public health law research
Honors
Washington State Public Health Leadership Award, 2016. The award was presented by Washington Secretary of Health John Wiesman acknowledging Banta-Green as “a leader who turns data into action,” “collaborates and builds bridges,” and “understands equity and health disparities.” Photo: Wiesman, Banta-Green, and State Health Officer Kathy Lofy.- Public Health-Seattle & King County: Enhancing the Field Award, 2006
- Friend of Pharmacy Award, Washington State Pharmacy Association, 2017
- Community Connector Award, WA State Recovery Help Line, 2018
Activities
- Senior Science Advisor, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, July-December 2012.
- Numerous interviews for news organizations on selected topics of expertise
- Technical Editor, Assessing Drug Abuse Within and Across Communities, Community Epidemiology Surveillance Networks on Drug Abuse (2nd Edition), NIDA, 2006. (pub. no. 06-3614)
- Reviewer, American Journal of Public Health (2010-present); Addiction (2010-present); Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2008-present); Environmental Science & Technology (2007-present); Contemporary Clinical Trials (2009); and many others
- Presenter, UW Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Jan 26, 2024, Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology & Research in WA State
News
- Webinar: What’s the Latest? Drug Trends (Nov. 29, 12-1pm PT)
- NEW ADAI Brief: The Use and Impact of Community Drug Checking Services
- KUOW Interview with Dr. Caleb Banta-Green on the WA Legislature’s Failure to Pass SB 5536 (Drug Possession Law)
- NEW: U.S. FDA Approves Narcan (4mg Naloxone Nasal Spray) for Over-The-Counter Purchase/Use
- RECORDING AVAILABLE: Fentanyl Epidemic Townhall, March 23, 6pm (in-person & virtual)
Research & Other Projects
WA State Community Drug Checking Network (CDCN)
Status: current
Drug Information and Education
Status: current
Washington State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant
Status: current
Drug Abuse Epidemiology Reporting Project
Status: current
King County Opioid Treatment Access Program (KCOTAP)
Status: completed
Olympia Bupe Clinic Evaluation
Status: completed
Recovery Café Evaluation
Status: completed
Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention for States
Status: completed
Prescription Opioid Misuse in a Large HMO
Status: completed
Toxicology Lab Data Epidemiology
Status: completed
Long-Term Opioid Management of Chronic Pain: Trends and Risks
Status: completed
Quantitative Drug Surveillance System Development
Status: completed
Developing Overdose Prevention Programs for Washington State
Status: completed
Drugged Driving Information Service
Status: completed
