User:TCN888/Herbert Kleber

Herbert David Kleber ( June 19,1934-October 5,2018) was an American psychiatrist and substance abuse researcher who was a pioneer in the field of addiction research and treatment. His career focused on pathology of addiction, creating "evidence-based treatment" to help patients reduce the severe discomforts of withdrawal, avoid relapse and stay in recovery.

Dr. Kleber viewed substance use disorders as diseases rather than moral failings and stressed the importance of research in treatment. He was a leader in reframing addiction treatment as a medical discipline and advocated for the use of medications as well as therapeutic communities in maintaining recovery and reducing rates of relapse. HIs work promoted scientific research into pharmacological treatment of addiction. He worked with patients who suffered from addiction of LSD and opioids, developed medical treatments of methadone to promote recovery of patients and reduce relapse. Dr. Kleber's groundbreaking work reached policy level by his appointment as Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy by President George H.W. Bush in 1989. He focused on developing program which was individualized, and not "one size fits all" approach as some addicts may psychological problems, or have no vocational skills. Following government service, he joined the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute where he established research program on substance abuse and pursue innovative strategies for individuals with opioid use disorders onto medication-assisted treatments.