NCADD, America's Oldest Advocacy Organization, Highlights Partnerships At National Meeting

National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Tuesday, 6 November 2001

Celebrating nearly 60 years of leadership, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) looked to its past, embraced the present, and made exciting plans for the future at the 2001 Conference of Affiliates, held in Phoenix, Arizona October 31-November 3, 2001. In addition to Affiliate representation from coast to coast and border to border, the conference included representatives from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Join Together, and the Al-Anon Family Group. The conference was hosted by NCADD Greater Phoenix Area.

The theme for this year's national meeting was Re-Establishing Old Relationships and Building New Ones. Stacia Murphy, President of NCADD, stressed the importance of partnering relationships. "We are at a time in this field when collaboration, cooperation, and creative partnering are essential to achieving common goals. Together we can make a difference in the lives of individuals and family members who are suffering from alcoholism and drug dependence," said Murphy who received a standing ovation from those gathered at NCADD's Delegate Assembly.

"In my second year as president of NCADD, my goal has been creating and strengthening external relationships. That has been accomplished. The next step is maximizing those relationships to benefit the national office and its network of local Affiliates," said Murphy.

George Marcelle, consultant to the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, stressed the growing need for services provided by NCADD, especially in the wake of the tragic events of September 11th. According to Marcelle, there has been a twenty-five percent increase in marijuana production in the Caribbean, a resumption of poppy-growing in Afghanistan, and here in the U.S., a significant increase in the use of alcohol and other drugs. "NCADD and its network of Affiliates must be ready, willing, and able to respond to the needs of those in crisis," said Marcelle.

Realizing that family members are often the first ones to seek help, NCADD will work closely in the coming months to expand and enhance the National Intervention Network, which offers hope and help for those in need of alcoholism and drug dependence services through their toll-free line, 800/654-HOPE (4673).

Successful fund raising ideas, public policy strategies, research findings, and communication concepts were shared among those Affiliates present. One of the highlights of the conference was the dramatic presentation of COMING TO, performed by a multi-cultural acting company comprised of adolescent students who are in recovery from alcohol and other drugs.

The four-day conference included the annual meeting of the Professional Affiliate Council Executives (PACE), who elected Veronica Uss, executive director of the Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse of Sullivan County, in Monticello, New York as their new president. PACE works closely with the national office of NCADD in carrying out the mission of local Affiliates.

The conference concluded with the Delegate Assembly and the annual meeting of the NCADD Board of Directors. Adele Smithers-Fornaci was elected Chair of the Board, effective January 1, 2002, replacing Gordon Steinhauer. David Lewis, M.D. was appointed Deputy Chair.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions. With offices in New York and Washington, and a nationwide network of Affiliates, NCADD provides education, information, help and hope to the public. Founded in 1944 by Marty Mann, the first woman to find long-term sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous, NCADD advocates prevention, intervention, and treatment.

For more information, or to contact National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, see their website at: www.ncadd.org