He has served on many advisory boards and has worked with the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, and the U.S. Department of Education. He served on the White House Task Force on Resiliency and Governor’s Task Forces in Colorado and Michigan.

He is the recipient of many awards including the University Professor Award from IUP, the Distinguished Alumni Awards from Western Michigan University, the University of Northern Colorado, Louisiana State University, and the 2006 Special Recognition Award from the U.S. Journal of Alcohol & Drug Dependence for his work in alcohol and drug abuse. He is a veteran of numerous TV appearances and his work has been featured on CNN Headline News, the Today Show, the New York Times, USA Today newspaper and Newsweek Magazine.