David Cohen

David Cohen is a Professor of Social Welfare and Associate Dean at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Luskin School of Public Affairs. He previously held the Marjorie Crump Chair in Social Welfare (2013-2018) and served as Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Development (2018-2023). His academic journey includes roles at the University of Montreal (1988-2000) and Florida International University (2000-2013), where he led the PhD program and School of Social Work. He also held the Fulbright-Tocqueville Distinguished Chair in France (2012).

Education: Ph.D. in Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley; M.S.W., Carleton University; B.A. in Psychology, McGill University.

Research Interests: Cohen focuses on coercive mental health practices, psychotropic medications, and the socio-cultural factors shaping drug use. His work critiques biological determinism in mental health, examines involuntary psychiatric detentions, and advocates for harm reduction and ethical care. He developed CriticalThinkRx to reduce psychiatric drug prescriptions for foster youth and created guidelines for medication withdrawal support.

Publications & Impact: With over 120 articles and the book Mad Science: Psychiatric Coercion, Diagnosis, and Drugs (2015), Cohen challenges systemic biases in mental health care. Recent work analyzes withdrawal effects in clinical trials and involuntary detention rates. His research emphasizes transparency in drug trials and patient-centered care.

Awards & Advocacy: Recognized for contributions to writing, research, teaching, and advocacy. Advises governments, courts, and media on reducing drug-related harm. Active in policy reforms addressing psychiatric coercion and data accountability.

Labs/Teams: Directed the Health and Prevention Research Group at Montreal (1993-1994), focusing on social determinants of health. At UCLA, leads initiatives in research ethics and faculty development. Collaborates internationally on mental health policy and education.