Erica (Sawyer) Levitt

D.A.R.E. America 1998 Scholarship Recipient Completes PhD

Erica (Sawyer) Levitt, D.A.R.E. America’s 1998 recipient of a $20,000 college scholarship, has just received her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan.

Her dissertation focused on the cellular signaling mechanisms of opioids, such as morphine, Vicodin® and OxyContin®.  These drugs are very useful in the treatment of pain, but unfortunately are also often abused.

She states that one goal of her studies was to better understand the mechanisms underlying acute and chronic use of these drugs in order to ultimately lead to the development of pain medications with reduced abuse liability.  

She has now begun her new position as a post-doctoral researcher at the Vollum Institute at Oregon Health Sciences in Portland, Oregon where she will continue her research and the pursuit of knowledge.

She thanks D.A.R.E. for helping make her dreams come true. 

Congratulations Erica!

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