In 2010, Owen founded the CNWL Club Drug Clinic, an innovative service offering treatment for emerging drug problems including novel psychoactive substances, club drugs and online purchased prescription medications. The service has recently expanded to support student health services at Imperial College London and University College London.

National roles include Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, trustee of the Society for the Study of Addiction, board member at the International Society for the Study of Emerging Drugs and a special adviser to the Universities UK drugs taskforce. His research interests include emerging drugs harms, particularly in young people.