Biography
Erin E. Bonar, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry as well as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. She studies ways to prevent and treat substance use disorders spanning developmental periods of adolescence, emerging adulthood and adulthood. Her work uses novel technologies including social media, telemedicine, and patient portal approaches. Her work often employs Motivational Interviewing and she is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.
Areas of Interest
Clinical
- Substance use disorder treatment
- Motivational interviewing
- Cognitive behavioral therapies
Research
- Optimizing substance use interventions across community settings, including health care settings and tertiary substance use disorder treatment, particularly among emerging adults.
- Understanding and reducing substance use and concomitant risk behaviors (e.g., sexual/HIV, impaired driving, prescription opioid overdose), and related negative consequences (sexual assault, injury) among underserved populations.
- Employing technologies in the prevention and treatment of substance use to increase scalability and public health impact.
Featured News

A crisis of campus sexual assault
The ongoing pandemic may spur an increase in sexual violence on college campuses. Dr. Erin Bonar is quoted.


Barriers to Addiction Care Fell Because of COVID-19. Now the Challenge is Keeping Them Down.
Telehealth interactions with substance use disorder specialists and support groups could open treatment and recovery to many, but key changes will be needed, experts say

Research review on youth prescription opioid misuse finds opportunities for additional investment in targeted prevention
A comprehensive literature review conducted by the National Safety Council and the U-M Injury Prevention Center uncovers prevention efforts are not in place to protect a generation from misuse.
Credentials
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan, Addiction Research Center
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University
- Clinical Psychology Internship, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
- M.A., Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University
- B.S., Psychology, Northern Kentucky University