His primary research interests are the assessment and treatment of addictions, including adolescent drug abuse and problem gambling. His recent work in the field has focused on brief interventions and the SBIRT model to address adolescents who are mild-to-moderate drug users and have co-existing behavioral problems. Along with Keven Sabet, he co-edited Contemporary Health Issues on Marijuana, published in 2018 by Oxford University Press, and also co-edited the 2nd edition of Clinical manual of adolescent addictive disorders, published in 2019 by the American Psychiatric Association. He is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, and the Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Dr. Winters received numerous research grants from the National Institute of Health and various foundations and published over 125 peer-reviewed articles over a 30-year period. He was the 2008 recipient of the Research to Evidence-Based Practice Award from a national organization on effective treatment for adolescents (JMATE), and received in 2005 the Senior Investigator Award by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG). Dr. Winters is a frequent speaker and trainer, and a consultant to many organizations, including Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, NCRG, NORC’s Adolescent SBIRT Steering Committee, Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Florida International University’s Office of Research and Economic Development, Smart Approaches to Marijuana- MN Affiliate, and the Mentor Foundation (an international drug abuse prevention organization).
