Janina Kean

Biography

Janina Kean is a Yale trained, Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

She spent 18 years of her career as the Chief Executive Officer for High Watch Behavioral Health and Recovery Center. While there, she elevated the status of the facility, renowned as the world's first to use the 12 Step principles. Ms. Kean revamped the treatment program by integrating the 12 Steps into a state of the art treatment program that incorporates the latest in addiction medicine for treatment of both the neurobiology of addiction and co-occurring disorders.

Dedicated to educating the public and families about substance abuse, Ms. Kean hosted a weekly radio show, Sober Spotlight on NPR affiliate WHDD AM and FM. To advance education for professionals, Ms. Kean developed training programs with Yale and Columbia University. She held a position as a Clinical Instructor at the Yale School of Nursing and a courtesy faculty position at Yale University.

She then decided to come full circle in her career and go back to direct patient care. She was fortunate to spend six years in training under Dr. Neil Liebowitz who owned CADTC aka Connecticut Anxiety and Depression Treatment Center in Farmington, Conn. Under his leadership, she became proficient in prescribing for those suffering from Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She is now in her own private practice.

She has served as a member of the Board of Directors for High Watch, The Vineyard House on Martha's Vineyard, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Primetime House, Father Martin's Ashley and the Alcohol Drug Rehabilitation Center in Hartford, CT.

Her affiliations include the American Society of Addiction Medicine, International Center for Health Concerns, St. Petersburg (Russia) House of Hope, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, National Society for Patient Representation and Consumer Affairs and the Connecticut Hospital Association.

Ms. Kean earned a BS in Psychology from Trinity College and a MS in Nursing from Yale University. She is a Board Certified Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

speaking engagements

Now in private practice, Ms. Kean is available for speaking engagements, workshops and professional consultations.

She is a longtime educator and has created numerous community workshops on substance abuse and mental health.

More info

press

Meet Janina Kean, Addiction Specialist

Nantucket Chronicle, February 27, 2017

Many feel helpless in the face of substance use disorder, both those who use, and their families. Education is a powerful tool in this battle, and no one knows this better than Janina Kean. Read more

Janina Kean, mental health and substance abuse expert speaks on underage drinking.

Alcohol Ads Lead to Underage Drinking

ZME Science, January 20, 2015

“There are too many compounding variables to draw a correlation between TV ads and drinking behavior among youths,” said Janina Kean, a substance abuse and addiction expert, and present of the Kent, Conn.-based High Watch Recovery Center. Read more

Janina Kean, mental health and substance abuse expert, on the underlying problems behind drinking.

New Year Often Ushers in Pledge to Quit Drinking

HealthDay, December 31, 2014

“Oftentimes, problem drinking is a symptom of a greater underlying problem. Just stopping to drink can bring these issues to the surface, so you must seek treatment for these issues as well, whether they are depression, anxiety, etc.,” Kean said. Read more

Mental health and substance abuse expert Janina Kean voices concerns about its recreational use.

Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: Profits Before Safety?

Forbes, July 26, 2014

As recreational use of marijuana recently became legal in Washington state, many concerned parents and educators feel this decision is sending the wrong message to our youth and teens. While sales continue to be brisk in Colorado, one expert voices concerns about the drug serving as a gateway for youth and teens searching for harder drugs. Read more

Mental health and substance abuse expert Kean - "If you are going to drive, you should not drive."

Older Drivers May Be Vulnerable to Just One Drink

COMPASS by WebMD, March 20, 2014

Changing drinking limits for drivers is not necessarily the answer, however, said Janina Kean. "If you are going to drive an automobile you should not drink at all," said Kean, who is also a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Read more

Mental health and substance abuse expert, Janina Kean speaks out about Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman dead at 46: Actor may have miscalculated dosage, expert says

Daily News, Feb 4, 2014

If someone has not used drugs for a while, an amount that was once tolerable could easily cause an overdose, writes Janina Kean. Read more

Mental health and substance abuse expert, Janina Kean speaks out on the dangers of heroin addiction.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Death Spotlights Dangers of Heroin Addiction

CBS News, February 3, 2014

“There is no cure for addiction, which is a chronic disease, the same as diabetes, asthma and heart disease,” Janina Kean, president and CEO of High Watch Recovery Center, told CBS News in an email. “Unfortunately for Phillip Seymour Hoffman, as is the case for anyone suffering from a chronic disease, there are periods of remission when the disease is at bay and periods of exacerbation when the disease is in full throttle.” Read more

Mental health and substance abuse expert Janina Kean speaks out about Amsterdam's exploitation.

In Amsterdam, Paid in Beer (Op-Ed)

NY Times, December 11, 2013

Amsterdam's exploitation of alcoholics by paying them with beer to clean up the city is appalling and should be considered a violation of human rights. Under the guise of helping alcoholics, the government, by funding the program, is taking advantage of people with an illness for its own gain. Read more

Mental health and substance abuse expert Janina Kean on why the U.S. fails at treating addiction.

Why the U.S. Fails at Treating Addiction (Op-Ed)

LiveScience, November 27, 2013

Addition in the United States is a disease that has been ignored and stigmatized for far too long, and it will continue to be an epidemic thanks to the failures of government, the medical profession and society at large. Read more

Mental health expert and nurse practitioner Janina Kean on how teenagers can avoid substance abuse.

Teach your Teenager How to Avoid Substance Abuse

Expert Beacon, November 7, 2013

We are presently witnessing the highest number of adolescents in American history who are suffering from addiction. No parent wants their child to become an addict or alcoholic, and it is possible to prevent this. These are steps you can take to provide them with the best chance to avoid the trap that is substance use disorder. Read more

FDA Announces New Labeling Guidelines for Longer Acting Painkillers

Forbes, September 15, 2013

Janina Kean, a registered nurse, substance abuse and addiction specialist and CEO of High Watch Recovery Center, the world’s first 12 Step treatment center, agrees with the move by the FDA for stronger warning labels on longer acting opiate medications, but feels more needs to be done to reduce overdose deaths and help prevent people from becoming addicted in the first place. Read more

A New Era for High Watch Recovery Center

The Greater New Milford Spectrum, October 3, 2012

If there were a motto at High Watch Recovery Center in Ken, it might be summed up in the words of CEO Janina J. Kean: “Every human being, if they get the proper care, can recover from substance use disorder.” Read more

Compassionate Care, Quality, Consistency and Accountability