NSU Horizons Spring 2017

41 NSU HORIZONS to help. Our clients would not generally seek help at a drug treatment center. There has to be an approach that helps without sounding didactic.” When Kurtz arrived at NSU in 2011, “he brought with him one of the finest research teams focused on substance use and abuse. His expertise in illicit and prescription drug abuse has never been more relevant than today,” said Kimberly Durham, Psy.D., professor and chair of the college’s Department of Justice and Human Services and the interim dean of the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. Durham cites an “opioid epidemic” that is driving a growing number of drug overdoses—the leading cause of acci- dental deaths nationwide for the past two years. “His current work as principal investigator on a cross-national survey of pharmaceutical diversion aims to identify patterns related to the transfer of legally prescribed controlled substances from the individual for whom they were prescribed to another person for illicit use,” Durham said. For that study, Kurtz surveys more than 250 law enforcement officials investigating drug diver- sion cases from 49 states on a quarterly basis, analyzing why prescription drug abuse is concentrated in geographic clusters and establishing a better understanding of which segments of the population are at risk. “His research has helped many people whose health and social problems are not adequately addressed within the current health care system,” said Mance Buttram, Ph.D., assistant professor and associate director at ARSH. “He is committed to helping others, including the next generation of researchers and other scientists across the university.” Kurtz is a mentor to Maria Levi-Minzi, ARSH senior research associate and NSU doctoral student in marriage and family counseling. Levi-Minzi was the project manager of a five-year prescription drug diversion study. “Steve has a true commitment to social justice and public health,” Levi-Minzi said. “He has a real interest and care in making sure that people who are disenfranchised have a voice. The work that he does provides a voice. He wants people to hear about the issues that they’re facing and how we can intervene so they will be safer.” As a professor, “he has afforded me every opportunity and helped me develop my skills,” Levi-Minzi said. “It has shaped a lot of the work that I’ve done. It has shaped my view of the world. My dissertation is based on information I collected while working here.” Before arriving at NSU, Kurtz was a senior scientist and associate director at the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies at the University of Delaware, which had a satellite office in Miami. Kurtz worked there from 2002 to 2011. Following the death of its founder, Kurtz moved the center’s affiliation to NSU and changed its name. “NSU was a top health care-oriented university, and at that time it was looking for expertise in addiction and treatment. It was a good fit. The administrative support we get at NSU is incredible across the board,” said Kurtz, who was the 2012 recipient of NSU’s Provost’s Research and Scholarship Award. “For me, the major contribution and the major reward of this work have been the design of new treatments and innovative interventions to help people who would not otherwise have access to help, or who would not other- wise accept help,” he said. “Changing the culture to have this kind of outreach approach in the community is very challenging.” n “For me, the major contribution and the major reward of this work have been the design of new treatments and innovative interventions to help people who would not otherwise have access to help, or who would not otherwise accept help.” —Steven P. Kurtz, Ph.D.