JOURNAL OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION

Biography:

Dr. Cheryl L. Mejta has received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She is a Full Professor in the Department of Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health at Governors State University; she is currently the Chair of this department. She also licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois. As an administrator, she has served as the chair of two multi-disciplinary departments, the current department and the Division of Health and Human Services. As an educator/researcher, she has received several grants to develop and deliver curricula in addictions for counselors and other health providers. Most recently, she obtained an HRSA workforce developments grant to prepare addictions and mental health counselors to work in integrated primary care settings. In the past, she served as Research Director for a NIDA-funded grant studying the impact of aggressive case management in the treatment of opioid use disorders and prevention of HIV. She conducted several project evaluations for community treatment programs funded through SAMHSA’s Targeted Capacity Expansion initiative. As a clinician, she has worked for over 20 years in a primary care HIV/HCV medical practice, providing psychological and substance abuse consultations and interventions. She also was the director of a multi-modality substance abuse treatment facility for adolescents and young adults. Early in her career, she worked in a physical rehabilitation hospital and a vocational rehabilitation center where she witnessed the health consequences of substance abuse and other behavioral health disorders.

Research Interests:

Throughout her career, she has focused upon integrating psychological theory and principles to the prevention of substance abuse, mental health, and other behavioral health behaviors associated with chronic disability, illness and disease.