[1] Witkiewitz has been recognized nationally and internationally for her research in the addictions field including harm reduction and mindfulness-based interventions.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from SUNY Potsdam in 1999, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
She earned her MA in Clinical Psychology from the University of Montana in December 2000 with a thesis entitled "Applications of Cusp Catastrophe Models to the Relapse Process".
[3] Witkiewitz is considered a leading researcher and advocate for harm reduction treatment goals for alcohol interventions.
Traditionally, sustained abstinence has been considered the sole marker of a successful substance use disorder intervention.