Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute

Sharon B. Garrett MPH, MA

Sharon Garrett, MPH, MA is a Research Scientist at the University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI). She has overseen the implementation of multiple protocols within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN), evaluating psychosocial and pharmacotherapy interventions for treating substance use disorders. She also participates in the CTN PNW Node Community Engagement subcommittee and contributes to the organization and maintenance of the PNW Node Community Advisory Board which was established in 2023 as a conduit connecting UW research with the needs of our partners. 

Since 2012, she has been an active member of ADAI’s Cannabis Education & Research Program (CERP), where she has collaborated on various projects exploring public health impacts of cannabis legalization in WA State.  She has been a Project Coordinator in the development of three online trainings; a CME course for healthcare providers on the use of cannabis to treat chronic pain, and two cannabis trainings designed for helpline staff and for the public. She has also contributed to projects funded by the WA State I-502 dedicated marijuana fund to better understand adult cannabis use in the context of legalization, including focus groups with adult cannabis users, cannabis retail store staff, and parents who use cannabis. In 2022, this team evaluated policy options for reducing harms related to high-THC products, resulting in a package of recommendations for the WA State legislature.

Ms. Garrett is Vice-Chair of UW’s Internal Review Board – Committee J, where she reviews studies involving human subjects from across the university to ensure ethical treatment of study participants.

Titles

Research Scientist
Project Director

Education

BS, Cognitive Psychology, University of Washington
MA, Education & Community, Antioch University
MPH, Social and Behavioral Science Track, University of Washington

ORCID: 0000-0002-7076-3631

Linked Information

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uw_icons_anchor Research

Research Interests

  • Increase our understanding of factors involved in the acquisition and treatment of substance use disorders
  • Contribute to science that will improve the health of people who live with substance use disorders
  • Research ethics

Activities

  • Member: King County Youth Marijuana Prevention & Education Program Planning Steering Committee, 2018-2021
  • Committee Member: UW IRB Committees C (2012-2014) & J (2014-2023); Vice-Chair UW IRB Committee J (2024)

News

Research & Other Projects