From Wilmington to Patient Impact: Reflections on Alcohol Awareness Month

Q: Tell us about yourself and your role at Alkermes. 

I’m Shawn Lyons, Senior Director of Manufacturing Science and Technology at Alkermes’ Wilmington, Ohio facility. I’ve been here for 32 years, starting here right after I graduated from college in Cincinnati. My background is in chemistry, and I joined because the company was doing highly innovative work, which really drew me in. Since then, that commitment to innovation and excellence has only continued to grow. 

Over the years, I’ve worked across development, scale‑up and manufacturing, supporting the transition of new technologies from research into commercial production. My career has grown alongside the company, moving from the lab into leadership roles as the scope and complexity of our work expanded. 

Q: As we recognize Alcohol Awareness Month, what messages feel most important to you? 

After spending my career in an industry where accountability and quality matter every day, I’ve come to appreciate how damaging stigma can be when it comes to alcohol use disorder as well as other substance use disorders. Too often, addiction is viewed as a moral failing rather than the complex, chronic disease that it is. 

That misunderstanding has real consequences. Stigma can prevent people from seeking help, delay care and leave individuals and families feeling isolated at the moment they need support most. Alcohol Awareness Month is an opportunity to pause and reset how we think and talk about this disease. 

For me, awareness means asking ourselves and our society to be less judgmental and more supportive of people living with alcohol use disorder and to treat them with the same respect, compassion and seriousness we would provide to anyone living with another medical condition. That work is not easy, but it’s worth it. 

Q: How is pharmaceutical manufacturing different from other types of manufacturing? 

Pharmaceutical manufacturing carries a unique level of responsibility because the consequences of our work are so real. The decisions we make every day can directly affect people’s health and their lives, and that awareness never really leaves you. 

That reality drives a constant focus on quality, accuracy and accountability. There’s no room for shortcuts, because patients are ultimately relying on the work we do. It’s the same mindset that shapes how I think about issues like addiction and stigma. When the stakes are this high, responsibility matters. 

It’s also what makes the work so rewarding. Knowing that your efforts contribute to something that can genuinely help people is incredibly motivating, and it’s a sense of purpose that’s hard to find in many other industries. 

Q: What does Alkermes’ commitment to patients mean to you? 

At every step of the manufacturing process, patients are at the center of our work. We know that the people we serve are individuals, and part of families and communities, and that understanding shapes how we approach our decisions every day. 

On my team and across our site in Wilmington, we work hard to ensure that quality and integrity guide everything we do. I think that shared focus is a big part of why people stay here for as long as they do and see Alkermes as a place where they can learn, grow and do meaningful work. 

Q: How have you seen Alkermes’ commitment to Ohio and the Wilmington community evolve? 

Over the years, the Wilmington site has become a true community. There are multiple generations of families who have worked here, which creates a strong sense of connection and pride. 

Beyond employing more than 500 people in the Wilmington area, we are committed to making our community a better place. From donations to local organizations whose missions align with ours to employees volunteering during Alkermes in Action, our annual employee‑led day of service and more, we are deeply invested in the Wilmington community and proud to call it home.