recovery

join the voices for

real people, real recovery

september 2008
Every year, towns, counties, and states around the country 

observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery 

Month (Recovery Month) in September. This year, the 

19th annual Recovery Month recognizes the impact that 

real people and real stories have on recovery, and celebrates 

those who have worked to advance the treatment and 

recovery landscape.

In 2008, we are highlighting the people for whom treatment 

and recovery have given a renewed outlook on life. We invite 

you to take part in our theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: 

Real People, Real Recovery,” and spread the word that addiction is a medical illness and that treatment is effective and 

recovery is possible. By getting involved, you can help more 

people on a path of recovery to lead more fulfilling lives. 

Through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

(SAMHSA) and its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 

with counsel from national partner organizations, we have 

developed this comprehensive toolkit to provide you with the 

resources to share this powerful message with key leaders of 

your community.

All of us know someone with a substance use disorder, 

whether that person is a family member, friend, colleague, or 

neighbor. Those who have lived through these experiences 

have the most compelling stories to tell and can truly make 

a difference in helping others seek treatment. With that in 

mind, this year’s Recovery Month celebration highlights the 

unique stories of each person in recovery, as you will see 

throughout this kit.

This toolkit will assist you in planning, launching, and 

publicizing your Recovery Month activities and events. You 

can adapt the media materials to reflect your community’s 

needs and use the “Targeted Outreach” section to educate 

your community, particularly the influencers who can 

create a positive environment for people in recovery. 

Five Tips on How to Use this Toolkit:

The following are ways to make the most of the tools 

included in this resource.

1. Involve key groups and leaders – Treatment providers, 

recovery support groups, employers, faith-based 

organizations, and civil service workers can make a 

difference by assisting in planning or participating in 

your campaign events.

2. Plan events – Activities in your community that focus 

on real people will show that substance use disorders 

affect everyone. Please review the “Promotional 

Event Ideas and Publicity Tips” document enclosed in 

the “Media Outreach” section for tips to get started.

3. Publicize your events and your cause – When 

planning your Recovery Month activities, customize 

the media outreach materials provided in this toolkit 

with local information and distribute them to local 

media outlets. To promote your activities in September 

and find out what other organizations are doing, 

please visit the Recovery Month Web site at 

www.recoverymonth.gov and fill out the Recovery 

Month event form.

4. Educate your community – Distribute the audiencespecific overviews included in the “Targeted Outreach” 

section of this planning toolkit to your event attendees 

and local leaders. You also can use them to educate 

others in your community throughout the year.

5. Share your accomplishments – Expand Recovery 

Month beyond September by telling us what you 

have learned from your campaign by returning the 

“Customer Satisfaction Form” to the address listed 

on the form. After your event, share your successes, 

materials, and photos on the Recovery Month Web 

site at www.recoverymonth.gov.

You can download electronic versions of all the materials 

provided in this toolkit by visiting www.recoverymonth.gov. 

This Web site also offers resources, public service 

announcements, Webcasts, the latest research, and 

news about Recovery Month events across the country. 

To order extra planning toolkits at no cost, please visit 

the Web site or call 1-800-662-HELP.

Celebrating 19 years of Recovery Month would not be 

possible without the continued dedication of organizations 

such as yours. This September, people from cities large 

and small will be working together to show that access 

to treatment and recovery benefits individuals, their 

families, and the entire community. Thank you for 

your hard work in making Recovery Month a success 

year after year.

Dear National Alcohol and Drug 

Addiction Recovery Month Supporter:
www.recoverymonth.gov

(SMA) 08-4334
The enclosed resources can help 

you prepare for your Recovery 

Month events. You can share these 

resources with your community 

members. The following resources 

are included:

n Building Community 

Coalitions – A guide for 

your organization to unite 

with others to create a local 

coalition for Recovery Month

and beyond

n Planning Partners – A list 

of organizations that are 

fundamental in the national 

Recovery Month effort and can 

potentially be collaborators or 

advisors for your local events

n Recovery Month Resources 

Brochure – An extensive 

list of substance use 

disorder resources

n Single-State Agency Directory –

A list of substance use disorder 

state office contacts for local 

information and guidance

n Customer Satisfaction Form –

Helps you share the success 

of your activities and provide 

feedback on this planning toolkit that will help improve future 

Recovery Month materials

RESOURCES
media outreach

This section will provide you 

with event ideas to help plan your 

activities and sample materials to 

customize when publicizing your 

Recovery Month campaign. The 

first two items will guide you in 

your planning and preparation for 

your events and media activities:

n Promotional Event Ideas and 

Publicity Tips – Outlines how to 

plan and publicize your event

n Media Tips: How to Speak 

with the Media – Provides an 

overview of this year’s Recovery

Month theme and prepares 

you for media interviews

The other items in this section will 

help you promote your Recovery 

Month events to local media 

using a variety of tactics.

The first few pages of each document explain how and when to use 

the materials, and the templates at 

the end can be customized with 

your specific events and local 

information. To promote Recovery 

Month on your Web site, visit 

www.recoverymonth.gov to 

download the 2008 banner to 

put on your homepage and link 

to the Web site. 

Brand your materials by printing 

them on your organization’s

letterhead or copy them onto the 

camera-ready letterhead provided. 

You can further tailor your materials 

by using the camera-ready logo 

sheet included in this kit, or by using 

the high-resolution logos available 

at www.recoverymonth.gov. 

This section includes:

n Writing a Media Advisory

n Writing an Effective 

Press Release

n Writing and Submitting 

an Op-Ed

n Official Proclamations

n Promoting Recovery Month

Live-Read Radio Public 

Service Announcements

n Camera-Ready Letterhead

n Camera-Ready Logo Sheet
targeted outreach

This section provides up-to-date 

background information about 

substance use disorders, as well 

as audience-specific materials that 

can be targeted to different groups 

in your community. They can be 

distributed at your Recovery Month

events, or even beyond September, 

to participants, the media, and 

key influencers and leaders in 

your area.

You can use these documents as 

is or combine the information from 

these documents with selected 

materials from the “Resources” 

section of this toolkit or information 

from your organization to create 

a unique information packet 

to distribute.

General Information

n Overview – Discusses the 

impact that recovery can have 

on a person’s life, along with 

the current landscape of 

substance use disorders

n Commonly Misused 

Substances – Highlights the 

major substances misused 

in the United States and new 

trends over the past year

n A Guide to Treatment: How 

to Help People Affected by 

Substance Use Disorders – 

Examines different treatment 

options for people with substance 

use disorders and can be used 

in tandem with “Commonly 

Misused Substances”

n Join the Voices for Recovery –

Focuses on people in recovery 

and supporters who share 

their journeys

Audience-Specific Information

n Treatment Providers and the 

Recovery Community: People 

Who Change Lives

n Families: The Unsung 

Heroes of Recovery

n Faith-Based Organizations: 

How Faith Leaders Can Help 

People on a Path of Recovery

n Employers: How the Workforce 

Can Foster a Recovery 

Environment

n Civil Service Workers: How 

Local and State Government 

and Justice Personnel Make 

a Difference
media outreach

1

Promotional Event Ideas and Publicity Tips

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) offers the opportunity to celebrate those in 

long-term recovery and encourage others to seek treatment. You can bring Recovery Month to life in your community by 

organizing special events in September to promote treatment and recovery from substance use disorders. You can use 

them to attract attention and support from the community, including legislators, business leaders, and the media. 

The 19th Annual Recovery 

Month Will:

n Celebrate people in long-term recovery and showcase how 

it empowers, motivates, and gives everyone a renewed 

outlook on life

n Educate community members about substance use 

disorders, the effectiveness of treatment, and the realistic 

possibility of recovery

n Stress that substance use disorders are chronic diseases 

and should be treated as such 

n Emphasize that individualized treatment helps people on a road to recovery 

You can spread these messages by planning community roundtables, media events, and other promotional activities that 

will attract a wide, diverse audience. Recovery Month Webcasts are available to play at local events. These educational 

multimedia tools raise awareness about the diverse issues that affect people in long-term recovery. Webcasts can be 

obtained by visiting www.recoverymonth.gov and clicking on the “Multimedia” tab.

Snapshots of Successful Recovery Month Events

Recovery Month events have brought together communities across the country. Many organizers learn from each other 

how to effectively raise awareness about substance use disorders and celebrate people in long-term recovery. Ideas and 

examples are available on the Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov. The following are just a few events 

held in Recovery Month 2007:

n The 23rd Annual Block Party, Music, and Art Festival, held in Los Angeles, CA, was the oldest recovery 

festival in Los Angeles County. It was started by the residents of the Beacon House Association of San 

Pedro, a residential treatment program for men. The two-day festival included live entertainment, music, 

dancing, food, games, prizes, and more. Admission was free and the event encouraged family participation. 

Approximately 3,000 members of the community attended. 

n Recovering Ourselves to Win, a medium-sized event held in Georgia and sponsored by the Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), was a community awareness event that featured information 

promotional events

Theme Pointers: The Recovery Month theme, 

“Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, 

Real Recovery,” is the unifying force behind 

the entire 2008 Recovery Month campaign. 

This theme emphasizes the value that treatment 

of substance use disorders has on individuals, 

their families, and the community. Ensure that 

the theme is prominently displayed on event 

materials, highlighted in any pre-event media 

outreach, and mentioned throughout the event. 
2

media outreach

distribution, giveaways, and drumming performances for recovery. The event was held in conjunction 

with the Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival and led by the Georgia Asian Pacific Islander 

Community Coalition.

n Recovery Month events do not have to be large to thrive. The Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery 

Alliance (SAARA) of Central Virginia held a forum—with approximately 60 people in attendance—on the 

“Stigma of Addictions.” The event cost $20, which included a 1-year membership to SAARA. All proceeds 

went to support the SAARA Recovery Assistance Fund.

Nine Tips for Successful Event Planning 

1. Streamline your event, keeping in mind the audience and theme. Examples of successful events include 

runs/walks, family picnics, luncheons, and community roundtables.

2. Organize a comprehensive participant and speaker list. Remember to provide confirmed speakers 

with an agenda and time limit for their remarks, instructing them to keep their speeches brief. If possible, 

obtain copies of their remarks ahead of time to ensure that many perspectives are showcased and no topic 

is repeated. 

3. Set your event date around other Recovery Month activities so you can strengthen and collaborate with 

the activities of other organizations. Cross-check your events with others, locally and nationwide, on the 

Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov by clicking on the “Community Events” link. 

You also can look at the calendar of events listed by SAMHSA’s Health Information Network (SHIN) 

at www.SAMHSA.gov/calendar/calendar.aspx. Post your event information on the Recovery Month

Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov to increase exposure. 

4. Be accessible and choose a location that will easily accommodate members of the media and those with 

special needs. Examples include public parks or buildings, or open spaces at treatment or recovery 

support centers. To maximize photo opportunities, make sure your location is visually appealing and can 

be identified without trouble. 

5. Secure a back-up venue, especially if your event is taking place outdoors. Make sure to include the rain 

date and/or alternative locations in your correspondence with attendees, speakers, moderators, and the 

media. If this is not possible, make sure you communicate that the event will take place rain or shine.

6. Plan for a back-up speaker, in case your keynote speaker becomes sick or has a last-minute 

scheduling conflict. 

7. Create a “run of show,” or schedule, for your event to share with the speakers, moderators, and 

other participants. Ask that they arrive at least a half-hour early and designate a private space where 

they can prepare. 
3

8. Plan for media interviews by ensuring that each speaker has a firm grasp of your organization’s talking 

points—a list of points created by the organization to convey a coherent and unified message. For

Recovery Month talking points, you can refer to the “Media Tips” document in this planning toolkit.

9. Check all audiovisual equipment an hour before your event to make certain it’s working properly, in the 

correct place, and that those in charge know how to use it.

One Example—Plan a Run/Walk Event

An excellent family-oriented method to celebrate people in long-term recovery and their supporters is to host a 

run/walk event. This event can include appearances and speeches by local officials and people in long-term recovery. 

Below are some tips to organize a successful run/walk event:

n Sit down with key people to get things going. You might consider partnering with other organizations or 

a media outlet to use all available resources.

n Set a date—rain or shine. Choose a starting time and determine the length and route of the race. 

n Decide how many participants your staff can realistically handle. An event with several thousand runners 

or walkers is vastly different than one with several hundred. The more participants, the more spectators 

come to watch. Be sure to recruit volunteers to help with crowd control and other race day activities.

n Set a registration fee, if needed, to help offset costs and raise money. You can either make participation 

in the event completely free of charge or offer the opportunity to fundraise for a local treatment center.

n Hold a planning meeting to establish procedures and discuss policies for registration, media and 

publicity, volunteers, safety, traffic management, first aid, and other services such as food, restrooms, 

accommodations, cleanup, and entertainment. 

n Approach potential sponsors to help finance and add name recognition to the event. Contact an athletic 

or sporting-goods store, a running club, and/or local foundations and businesses that support healthy 

lifestyles. Solicit corporate donations for water, energy bars, other snacks, and sports drinks to be 

handed out along the route and at the finish line. Sponsors will likely want to promote their products 

with giveaways such as T-shirts, caps, and water bottles. 

n Work with law enforcement agencies to address local ordinances, road closures, traffic barricades, 

crowd control, and security issues. 

n Licenses and permits may be required for street closures or large gatherings in public places. Law 

enforcement also should be able to help you secure these.

n Spread the word to as many people as possible. Use the media relations strategies on the next page to 

publicize your event.
4

media outreach

How to Get Media Attention

For your Recovery Month events to reach the widest possible audience, consider spending a portion of your 

planning time on media outreach. When inviting the media, include all outlets, such as local broadcast (television 

and radio) and Internet outlets, along with newspaper reporters. Broadcast outlets may air your activities in their 

entirety—either live or taped. Consider Webcasting your event through your organization’s Web site to reach a 

larger group. 

Newsworthy activities that may attract community media 

attention include: 

n Athletic events such as a run/walk to celebrate recovery 

(more details on how to plan a run/walk can be found 

on page 3)

n Fundraisers or award presentations that honor those 

who are making a difference in the fight against substance 

use disorders 

n Family picnics and concerts that bring people together

n The opening of a new treatment or recovery support center

n The creation or expansion of a K-12 student assistance program in the local school district for children who 

have parents with substance use disorders

n A roundtable where community members can express and address concerns and learn from local officials 

and experts about recovery 

n The announcement of a new or expanded support program for people to reclaim their lives through 

long-term recovery

n A speech and issuance of a proclamation by a local or state government official with a photo opportunity 

during the signing

Media Coverage Fact: There are certain 

basics to planning an event that will likely 

attract more media attention. This can include 

involving prominent community figures, 

distributing useful materials, alerting the 

media in advance, and following up often. 
5

sample op-ed

Involving local celebrities or prominent figures from the community 

also should attract media attention. Plan ahead by creating a roster 

of influential speakers and, before inviting them, research who would 

have the most compelling story to share. Participants who might draw 

media attention include:

n People in long-term recovery or affected by a loved one’s 

substance use

n Citizens who have assisted others in their quest for recovery 

n Members of Congress

n State legislators

n City council members

n Mayors

n Governors

n Well-known community leaders

Start the event with a person in long-term recovery saying a few words of introduction. This year’s Recovery 

Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery,” emphasizes the importance of real 

people telling their stories of long-term recovery and the positive impact it had on their lives. If people in recovery 

speak at your event, they can share their experiences without violating the “anonymity” clauses of some mutual 

support groups. Many of these groups encourage members to share their stories as long as their membership in 

that particular group is not disclosed. As part of your planning process, let speakers know in advance if media will 

be invited so they can preserve their anonymity. Be sure to inform the media about the traditions of anonymity.

By providing members of the media with comprehensive and accurate information about recovery, your event, 

and your organization, you can help them develop a more well-rounded story. Samples of materials are included 

in this planning toolkit, along with tips for speaking with the media. Materials to distribute should include:

n Media advisory and news release

n Speaker biographies and photos

n Fact sheets about substance use disorders, Recovery Month, and your organization

n Proclamations issued in observance of Recovery Month

n Contact information for a spokesperson in your organization who can respond to media inquiries

Event Publicity Pointers: Select 

a location that is easily accessible 

to participants and members of the 

media. Send local reporters a media 

advisory in advance of the event and 

send your press release the morning 

of the event. Monitor media coverage 

by collecting news clips and checking 

with the publications to obtain their 

permission to distribute the clips to 

the public through your Web site or 

newsletter. Additional information 

about working with the media can be 

found in other sections of this toolkit.
6

media outreach

Invite local media. Send a media advisory to reporters before the event and fax or e-mail a news release the 

morning of it. Templates for both documents and tips on how to identify proper contacts are included in this 

planning toolkit. Many television affiliates have an online calendar of local events that community members 

find valuable, so you could post your event details in advance.

Follow up with the media. At the event’s conclusion, you should allow time for a question-and-answer session 

and encourage reporters to interview the featured speakers. Also, in the days following the event, call or e-mail 

reporters to ask if they need additional information or have any further questions, unless they have asked not to 

be contacted afterward. Finally, be sure to send a thank-you note to those who spoke at your event.

Check for media coverage in the days and weeks following the event. For future use in promotional materials, 

collect news clippings that mention your event. Before distributing any clips on your Web site or to members of 

your organization, check with the media outlet and the author to obtain their permissions. Please send samples 

of your media materials and clips to SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) using the address 

included at the end of this document. Your materials help us compile valuable information about the kinds of 

tools your organizations need in future years, as well as gauge the success of the campaign.

Other Activities that Will Spread Recovery Month Messages

The following is a list of additional activities, events, and promotional ideas that can work on their own or as a 

supplement to the events mentioned earlier in this document. Selecting a variety of these activities will make your 

campaign comprehensive and cohesive.

Articles – Write a short article illustrating the advantages of treating substance use disorders and the importance of 

recognizing those in long-term recovery and their families. Include a Web site or telephone number where people 

can find more information—or locate a treatment or recovery support center. Use this article as part of your media 

outreach for your Recovery Month events and post it on your Web site. For more tips on writing and disseminating 

articles for Recovery Month, please refer to the document titled “Writing and Submitting an Op-Ed” in the “Media 

Outreach” section of this planning toolkit.

Athletic Activities – Work with schools, teams, and coaches at the high school or college level to educate students 

about the dangers of steroids and other illegal—or legal—performance-enhancing substances. Some Recovery 

Month activities have been staged at amateur, semi-professional, or professional sporting events. Coordinate a 

run/walk, marathon, sports tournament, or similar event that encourages a healthy lifestyle.

Banners/Ads – Place banners or advertisements promoting September as Recovery Month in your community’s 

most visible areas, such as popular parks, intersections, lobbies of busy office buildings or shops, outdoor 

billboards, and public transportation signs. Keep in mind that advertising costs may be associated with prominent 

displays. You also can add an electronic image of Recovery Month to your organization’s Web site and link to the 

Recovery Month Web site by downloading a banner at www.recoverymonth.gov.
7

Exhibit Booths and Health Fairs – Set up a booth at a local hospital, community center, festival, health fair, 

or wellness event to disseminate pamphlets about effective treatment options and related subjects. If you are 

looking for more active participation, coordinate with other organizations to sponsor a health fair that addresses 

multiple health issues. Be sure to solicit booths by local treatment centers, mutual support groups, faith-based 

organizations, and other service organizations that can offer information about how they assist members of your 

community. Encourage families and children to attend the fair by offering health-related games and giveaways. 

SHIN has many helpful hand-out materials for these types of events. To order materials, call 1-800-662-HELP or 

visit the Web site at www.SAMHSA.gov/SHIN.

High School Assemblies – Coordinate with principals and counselors at local high schools to organize assemblies 

that discuss substance use disorders, warning signs, the difficulties of living with a person with these disorders, 

and the hope and effectiveness of treatment. Educate students about how long-term recovery can restore the 

health of the individual, family, friends, and the community, and how it can give people a renewed outlook on life. 

Explain that there are effective treatment options specifically designed for young people and support programs 

for youths living with family members with substance use disorders. Invite teens in recovery to share personal 

anecdotes at assemblies, but first consult each school’s and district’s guidelines regarding the sharing of sensitive 

and personal information by the students and, if the youth is a minor, obtain parent and/or guardian consent. 

High School or Local College Essay Contest – Work with social workers, advisors, or counselors to have students 

submit essays about the impact of long-term recovery on their lives, either through their own experiences or that 

of a person close to them. Establish criteria for judging the entries and reward winners with a scholarship to further 

their education.

Media Sponsorships – Ask local media outlets to sponsor your Recovery Month event by featuring their logo on 

your promotional materials. A media sponsorship enhances the credibility of your event by showing local support 

and also can help increase media coverage. Typically, only one media outlet will sponsor your event; however, the 

sponsorship of the event will raise the profile of your program and will make it more likely that other outlets will 

cover the event.

Radio Outreach – Coordinate with a local radio DJ, public affairs director, or station manager to promote your 

Recovery Month event and mention key messages about your organization on the air. You also can distribute the 

live-read radio public service announcement (PSA) scripts included in this planning toolkit. Radio is an important 

and powerful tool because most stations appeal to specific audiences. By marketing your event to a specific 

population, you are taking advantage of a great opportunity to interest different groups in your event. Lastly, you 

can order pre-recorded radio PSAs to disseminate to local radio outlets by e-mailing recoverymonth@iqsolutions.

com or calling 240-221-4361. Open-ended television and radio PSAs are available to tailor to your local community.

Recovery Weekend – Reach out to faith leaders and clergy for a “Recovery Weekend.” This is an opportunity for 

religious leaders of all denominations to make recovery part of their sermons/homilies. Discuss the importance 

of early intervention, treatment, and recovery and how it can have an influence on individuals, family members, 

religious organizations, and the entire community. Faith leaders can help their congregations better understand 

substance use disorders and dispel many myths and stigmas associated with recovery. They can provide materials 

for congregants in need of help, using pamphlets and posters that are available at www.SAMHSA.gov/SHIN.

Invite clergy in long-term recovery to share their stories, if possible.
8

media outreach

Webcasts – Recovery Month Webcasts are available to download or order by visiting www.recoverymonth.gov and 

clicking on the “Multimedia” tab. These informative programs can be played at Recovery Month events to educate people 

on the different issues surrounding substance use disorders.

Workplace Partnerships – Urge local employers to promote Recovery Month to their employees. Ask them to display

Recovery Month posters in high-traffic areas. Employers can host seminars that discuss programs and assistance offered 

by their company to their employees in need of treatment or recovery support and their family members. Employers also 

can have their insurance providers present about the benefits available to employees or have a physician talk about the 

effects of addiction on the individual and family.

Make sure that for all planned activities, your materials include phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and Web sites where 

people can get additional information regarding treatment programs and recovery services.

Share Your Activities and Successes

Share your Recovery Month plans and activities with SAMHSA and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), 

along with the general public. Post them on www.recoverymonth.gov to generate momentum for the campaign, which 

will touch millions of people who are affected by substance use disorders.

Share community success stories and other outreach efforts during Recovery Month by completing the “Customer 

Satisfaction Form” in this planning toolkit. Instructions are included on the form. 

Share samples of your organization’s Recovery Month promotional materials with: 

Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs

SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor

Rockville, MD 20857

About Recovery Month and Substance Use Disorders

n Sample materials from this kit are available electronically at the Recovery Month Web site at 

www.recoverymonth.gov. 

n For additional Recovery Month information, visit the Web site or call 1-800-662-HELP. 

n Substance use disorder, treatment, and recovery information is available at SAMHSA’s Web site at www.samhsa.gov.

n Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available can be found at 

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, a searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilities.
media outreach

1

Media Tips: How to Speak with the Media

When reaching out to the media to promote your National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery 

Month) activities, you may find opportunities to speak with the media. This year’s Recovery Month theme is “Join the 

Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery,” and is a perfect opportunity for people in long-term recovery to share 

their stories and the positive impact of recovery with the media. All reporters, editors, and producers from both print and 

broadcast outlets conduct interviews to enhance and better develop their stories. 

Six Tips to Remember Before a Media 

Interview

1. Research and remember your audience. Before the interview, 

explore the publication or broadcast outlet, the reporter, and the 

subjects he or she covers to prepare for what the reporter might ask. 

During the interview, avoid using jargon, terms, and/or acronyms 

unfamiliar to those outside the field. Be prepared to explain basic 

facts about substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery. 

2. Simplify your statements. Reporters do not have time to sit 

through lengthy statements, so prepare three to four key points 

to get across and stick to them. See the sample key messages about Recovery Month at the end of this document 

for assistance in crafting your own messages.

3. Repetition is paramount. Not only is it okay to repeat your key messages, it’s necessary. If you walk away thinking 

that you have over-emphasized your point, give yourself a pat on the back.

4. Be knowledgeable and helpful. Position yourself as an expert by providing as much information as you can about 

Recovery Month, substance use disorders, and recovery for people and their families. Ensure that everything you 

tell the reporter is supported by factual evidence that you can provide to the reporter afterward, if requested. If 

you are unable to answer a reporter’s question, offer to find out quickly or provide additional sources and experts. 

5. Practice, practice, practice. Rehearsing 

before the interview will enable you to 

answer questions more clearly. Also, 

prepare a list of expected questions 

and answers in advance and practice 

answering each one thoroughly. 

6. Adhere to anonymity traditions. People 

willing to come forward about their 

experiences in long-term recovery can 

speak with the media without violating 

the “anonymity” clause of some mutual 

support groups. Many groups permit 

sharing stories as long as membership 

is not mentioned. Be sure to inform the 

media about the reasons for anonymity.

media tips

Media Interview Facts: Interviews 

provide reporters with background information to develop their stories and 

direct quotes that can be attributed to you 

or your organization. Your interview is a 

time to answer questions, but it also is your 

opportunity to tell your story and present your 

message. This is your interview. 

Strengthening Your Interview: Local reporters are interested in 

information specific to their communities. For this, contact your state’s 

Single-State Agency listed in the “Resources” section of this planning 

toolkit. State and some local information also are available from the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA). 

SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health provides national 

and statewide drug use statistics, the National Survey on Substance 

Abuse Treatment Services profiles state facilities, and the Treatment 

Episode Data Set is a resource for national and statewide demographic 

data, including commonly misused drugs. For more information, visit 

http://oas.samhsa.gov/geography.cfm.
2

media outreach

Key Recovery Month Points to Convey During Interviews

You can adapt the following messages to discuss with reporters during interviews:

1. [Organization name] is holding a [event] on [date / time] at [location] to [share the importance of substance use 

disorder treatment and the renewed outlook on life that a commitment to recovery can offer / inspire people 

in need of treatment to seek help / convince our community’s leaders to fund more treatment centers] so that 

more of [city’s] residents will support those in need of treatment and their families. [(Local percentage) of city’s 

residents / 9.2 percent of people nationwide] have a substance use disorder, yet only an estimated [(local 

number) / 1.6 percent of the population] receive treatment. 

2. [Organization name]’s activities coincide with the 19th annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction 

Recovery Month (Recovery Month). Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

(SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Recovery Month is a nationwide celebration 

of people in long-term recovery from substance use disorders, their family’s recovery, and the treatment providers 

who helped them. 

3. This year’s Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery,” showcases true 

stories of people who have journeyed through treatment and long-term recovery—emphasizing that individualized 

treatment is effective. Whether people aim to regain success in the business world or rekindle a connection with 

their family, recovery can help them achieve their goals.

4. Recovery programs, such as [specific programs in your community], provide a broad range of treatment services 

and offer various care options. Frequently, people need family counseling, job training, or assistance paying for 

services, and these programs can help connect people with the services they need. A person who has access to 

treatment can reclaim a healthy and productive life, bring healing to the family, and will help [city] prosper.

Share Your Activities and Successes

Share your Recovery Month plans and activities with SAMHSA and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), 

along with the general public. Post them on www.recoverymonth.gov to generate momentum for the campaign, which

will touch millions of people who are affected by substance use disorders.

Share community success stories and other outreach efforts during Recovery Month by completing the “Customer 

Satisfaction Form” in this planning toolkit. Instructions are included on the form. 

Share samples of your organization’s Recovery Month promotional materials with: 

Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs

SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor

Rockville, MD 20857

About Recovery Month and Substance Use Disorders

n Sample materials from this kit are available electronically at the Recovery Month Web site 

at www.recoverymonth.gov. 

n For additional Recovery Month information, visit the Web site or call 1-800-662-HELP. 

n Substance use disorder, treatment, and recovery information is available at SAMHSA’s Web site at www.samhsa.gov. 

n Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available can be found at 

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilities.
media outreach

1

Writing a Media Advisory 

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) events highlight stories of long-term recovery 

and the importance of sustaining hope of its possibility. A key to an even wider audience for this campaign is attracting 

media interest for your events. This will enable your organization to tell the story of Recovery Month and raise interest in 

issues surrounding substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery. 

A media advisory is the primary tool for informing reporters about your upcoming events and why they should be there. 

It is a glimpse of what the event will entail and, hopefully, will compel the media to attend.

Media Advisories: Only the Basics 

When crafting a media advisory to promote your Recovery Month events, 

follow these suggestions: 

n List just the facts—keep it to one page. This will be the most straightforward 

format for reporters to read and take away the most relevant information. 

n Summarize your event in one sentence. It should be concise and include 

background on your event, why the issues covered are relevant to your 

community, and why the media should be interested. 

n List all the details of the event—what it is, where it will be held, the date and time it will begin, and who is 

participating. Here, make note of local celebrities, policymakers, or high-profile sponsors who are speaking or 

appearing. The more name recognition you have, the more likely media will be interested.

n Remember to include a contact name, a telephone number, and an e-mail address that reporters can use to ask 

questions before or after the event.

Resources to Help You Write a Media Advisory

n The media advisory template at the end of this document can be adapted to fit the nuances of your event. 

Make sure you edit the placeholders in the brackets as necessary. Electronic versions of these materials and other 

templates are available on the Recovery Month Web site, www.recoverymonth.gov. 

n The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, published by the Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the 

premier source for the most recent data on trends of substance use, dependence, and treatment. This survey can 

be found online through SAMHSA’s Web site at www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh.htm. 

media advisory

Media Advisory Facts: A 

media advisory is short, no 

longer than a page. It should 

focus on the “who, what, when, 

where, and why” and include 

the contact information of a 

point person for the organization for further inquiries.
2

media outreach

n Local information, which you can obtain by contacting the Single-State Agency (SSA) in your state, will 

help you customize and localize your advisory even further. Refer to the SSA Directory in the “Resources” 

section of this planning toolkit. State and some local information also are available from SAMHSA. SAMHSA’s 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health provides national and statewide drug use statistics, the National 

Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services profiles state treatment facilities, and the Treatment Episode 

Data Set is a resource for national and statewide demographics data, including commonly misused drugs. 

For more state and local information, visit http://oas.samhsa.gov/geography.cfm. Information on treatment 

facilities in your area can be found at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling 1-800-662-HELP.

Three Tips for Distributing a 

Media Advisory 

1. Place your media advisory in “daybooks” and “week-ahead” 

columns in advance. A “daybook” is a daily listing of all activities that media are invited to attend and is not available to the 

general public. On the other hand, “week-ahead” columns are 

listings published in local newspapers and business publications 

that have the ability to reach a wider audience. 

Calling or e-mailing the reporters or editors of local newspapers 

and business publications that feature upcoming events in the 

community is a great way to request placement of your advisory 

in their week-ahead columns or calendar listings. This will bring your events to the attention of community 

members, in addition to the media, and will encourage them to attend.

2. Create a media list to organize information about reporters. A media list is a useful tool that will help you 

develop and keep an up-to-date, organized list of all the reporters whom you wish to contact. The list 

should include the name of the outlet, contact names, phone numbers, addresses, fax numbers, e-mail 

addresses, and “beats” or topics they typically write about.

A media list also will be useful when distributing a press release, which will contain more information about your 

Recovery Month events and key facts about new trends in substance use and treatment. For more information 

on press releases, see the “Writing an Effective Press Release” document included in this planning toolkit. 

Keep in mind specialized media, such as African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and other minority newspapers 

or radio stations for your media list. Other outlets to consider including are:

n University/college newspapers

n Television, cable, and radio stations 

n Small community papers or neighborhood newsletters

n Publications or newsletters produced by local organizations, such as businesses, hospitals, women’s centers, 

health care clinics, professional associations, mental health 

organizations, church and other faith-based institutions, 

grocery and drug stores, and local civic clubs

Daybook and Week-ahead Facts: To 

find daybooks and week-ahead columns, 

use search engines online to look up 

newswire services, such as Reuters and 

Associated Press. Call their closest bureau 

and ask for information on how to submit 

an item, including how far in advance they 

need your advisory. Some national media 

services, such as PR Newswire, charge for 

their services, so inquire before posting.

Media List Fact: Gather information on all 

types of media outlets (print, television, radio 

and online) using the media directories at your 

local library or bookstore (Bacon’s directories, 

the Yellow Book, and Gebbie’s All-In-One 

Directory are examples). Use this information to 

compile a list to keep all your notes in one place. 
3

Once you have compiled your list of media outlets and reporters, call the outlet’s switchboard or receptionist 

to confirm the reporters’ contact information and determine if any other editors or reporters, such as health 

care reporters, would be interested in attending your Recovery Month event. Other important information 

to ask is each reporter’s preferences about what time of day and how far in advance of the event he or she 

wants to be called, as well as the method of contact preferred; today, most reporters prefer e-mail. Use the 

contact information to submit your media advisory, asking to place your information on the newswire or 

local paper’s daybook the week before, the day before, and the day of the event. 

3. Make follow-up calls to reporters after you e-mail or fax 

your media advisory. Ask if they received your e-mail or 

fax, if they are interested in attending and/or covering 

your event, and if they have any initial questions about 

the event or addiction in general. Being persistent can 

make a difference in generating media interest. 

Share Your Activities and Successes

Share your Recovery Month plans and activities with SAMHSA 

and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), along 

with the general public. Post them on www.recoverymonth.gov to generate momentum for the campaign, 

which will touch millions of people who are affected by substance use disorders.

Share community success stories and other outreach efforts during Recovery Month by completing the “Customer 

Satisfaction Form” in this planning toolkit. Instructions are included on the form. 

Share samples of your organization’s Recovery Month promotional materials with: 

Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs

SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor

Rockville, MD 20857

About Recovery Month and Substance Use Disorders

n Sample materials from this kit are available electronically at the Recovery Month Web site at 

www.recoverymonth.gov. 

n For additional Recovery Month information, visit the Web site or call 1-800-662-HELP. 

n Substance use disorder, treatment, and recovery information is available at SAMHSA’s Web site 

at www.samhsa.gov. 

n Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available can be found at 

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, a searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilities. 

Reporter Fact: Most reporters are very 

busy. Remember to respect the reporter’s 

time by being concise. Practice what you 

will say before you call and prepare in

case the reporter answers your call or 

it goes to voicemail. It will help you feel 

more comfortable. 
media outreach

4

[Please adapt as needed for your event.]

[Date]

Media Advisory

[NAME OF ORGANIZATION] TO HOLD 10TH ANNUAL 5K RUN/WALK TO 

CELEBRATE RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS 

An estimated [(local number) people in (state or community) / 22.6 million people in the United States] suffer from 

substance use disorders and every year [(local number) people in (state or community) / 4 million people nationally]

are able to get help and receive the treatment they need. To celebrate individuals in long-term recovery and their 

families, and the treatment providers that serve our community, [organization name] is hosting the 10th Annual 

5K Run/Walk for Recovery. 

Kicking off the run/walk will be [prominent speaker, such as a mayor]. Also participating in the event are [names of 

other high-profile attendees]. The event will culminate in a rally, including a “Chain of Recovery” featuring participants 

who have been affected by a substance use disorder in their lives connected to each other to visually show how 

widespread addiction is.

The run/walk is part of the 19th annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery 

Month) and will address this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.” Recovery Month

is a nationwide celebration of people in long-term recovery from substance use disorders who have a renewed outlook 

on life and the treatment providers who help them reclaim their lives.

WHO: [participants]

WHEN: [date and time]

WHERE: [address of location]

CONTACT: [name and phone number of primary contact for event]

###

sample media advisory
media outreach

1

Writing an Effective Press Release

As you prepare for the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month), one of the most 

effective ways to spread the word about your activities is to write and distribute a captivating press release to the local media. 

The reason to issue a press release—sometimes called a news release—is to offer the media a compelling story to publish 

about Recovery Month, whether they attend your events or not. Ultimately, the goal is to highlight the importance of this 

campaign and raise awareness of treatment and the benefits of long-term recovery from substance use disorders. 

Press Releases: Exciting, Targeted, and Comprehensive

Some examples of newsworthy Recovery Month events are:

n Holding a run/walk that features a rally with speeches 

from people in long-term recovery and their families

n Convening a community panel to discuss the medical 

issues and science surrounding addiction

n Forming a council or task force to determine if the treatment 

and recovery needs of the community are currently 

being met by existing services, and what can be done 

to improve the availability of treatment programs and 

long-term recovery services

n Conducting a fundraiser featuring a local or national celebrity speaker

n Publicizing the local impact of a national news event, such as the Recovery Month kick-off event in Washington, 

D.C., and offering a local perspective to it

n Announcing the results of a poll or study on substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery

n Honoring local individuals or organizations with a grant or commemorative plaque for their efforts to help those 

with substance use disorders 

n Planning an event to feature a local policymaker or official issuing a Recovery Month proclamation 

Seven Writing Tips for Your Press Release 

1. Brand your release – Use your organization’s letterhead or the Recovery Month letterhead provided in this planning 

toolkit and on the Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov. If using your own, remember to include the logos of the 

event’s partnering organizations.

press Release

Press Release Facts: Your press release should 

include information on your organization’s most 

exciting event/activity for Recovery Month. If 

you are planning more than one event, consider 

sending out separate press releases for each, if 

they can stand on their own. Otherwise, send one 

press release along with a fact sheet describing 

all of the Recovery Month activities that you are 

planning and the target audiences for each event.
2

media outreach

2. Emphasize the most important details – Begin with a headline 

in all CAPS that summarizes the release and engages the media. 

The first paragraph should answer the five basic questions 

about what you are publicizing for Recovery Month: who, 

what, where, when, and why.

3. Be captivating, yet concise – A press release should not be 

longer than three pages, and two-page releases that are short 

and to the point are preferable. If applicable, start with a onesentence summary of your event. It should be a brief explanation 

about why your event is taking place, why it is relevant to your 

community, and why it is newsworthy. Reporters can see hundreds 

of releases a week, so make yours stand out. Remember 

to mention the theme of Recovery Month 2008, which is “Join 

the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.”

4. Highlight local activities and facts throughout the release – 

Local media outlets and audiences are most interested in 

what is happening in your community during Recovery Month. With that in mind, include local statistics 

about the number of people in your state or region who suffer from substance use disorders, as well as the 

number of families affected (if available), and quote experts with name recognition in the community. Contact 

your Single-State Agency (SSA) to find local statistics for your state or city. The contact information for 

all the SSAs can be found in the “Resources” section of this toolkit.

5. Examine the language that you use – Avoid using slang, acronyms, and/or jargon, and if necessary, give 

clear and concise explanations of complicated terms. Spell out acronyms the first time you use them, with 

appropriate abbreviations appearing in parentheses directly after. The abbreviation can be used after this point. 

6. State the facts, quote the opinions – Opinions should be written in direct quotes only. The body of the 

release should be similar to a typical news article you read in your local newspaper; this will make it easier 

for the media to use the release. When quoting an individual in your Recovery Month release, it is essential 

to obtain his or her approval before distributing. 

7. Monitor for accuracy – Be sure to verify all spelling, statistics, names, and titles in your press release. 

Tools to help you customize your release include:

n The press release template at the end of this document can be adapted to fit the unique requirements 

of your event and organization. Make sure you edit the placeholders in the brackets as necessary. 

Electronic versions of these materials and other templates are available on the Recovery Month Web 

site at www.recoverymonth.gov. 

n The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, published by the Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, is the premier source for the most up-to-date trends on substance use and treatment. 

This survey is available through the SAMHSA Web site at www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh.htm. 

Formatting Pointers: At the top of the 

first page, include the name, phone number, and e-mail address of a knowledgeable 

contact who will be readily accessible, able 

to respond to media questions, and can 

refer media to other spokespeople who can 

provide additional information. Begin the 

release with the name of your city and the 

date that the release is disseminated, similar

to any story you would find in your local paper. 

If it is longer than one page, write “MORE” at 

the bottom center of each page; the end of the 

release should be marked by typing “###” 

centered below the last sentence. 
3

n Local statistics, which can be obtained from the Single-State Agency (SSA) in your state, can help 

you customize your release even further. The press release template in this document gives you 

the option to fill in the placeholders with local information or use national statistics. If possible, try 

to seek out local information, as the media is more likely to publish something that is relevant to 

your specific community. Refer to the SSA Directory included in the “Resources” section of this toolkit. 

State and some local information are also available from SAMHSA. SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug 

Use and Health provides national and statewide drug use statistics, the National Survey of Substance 

Abuse Treatment Services profiles state treatment facilities, and the Treatment Episode Data Set is a 

resource for national and statewide demographic data, including commonly misused drugs. For more 

state and local information, visit http://oas.samhsa.gov/geography.cfm. Information on treatment 

facilities in your area can be found at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling 1-800-662-HELP. 

How to Share a Press Release with the Media

For help with your press release distribution, follow the media list and distribution instructions in the “Media 

Advisory” document in this planning toolkit. Develop a media list of reporters who may be interested in covering 

the story and use it to distribute the press release the morning 

of the event. 

Persistence is key. Make follow-up calls to encourage the media 

to write or produce a story, and also to attend the event. Try 

to schedule an interview with an official of your organization 

before your event to provide additional information and background on the subject and your organization. After your event, 

collect samples of any resulting media coverage to document 

your outreach efforts and use in additional promotional materials. 

Share Your Activities and Successes

Share your Recovery Month plans and activities with SAMHSA and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 

(CSAT), along with the general public. Post them on www.recoverymonth.gov to generate momentum for the 

campaign, which will touch millions of people who are affected by substance use disorders.

Share community success stories and other outreach efforts during Recovery Month by completing the “Customer 

Satisfaction Form” in this planning toolkit. Instructions are included on the form. 

Share samples of your organization’s Recovery Month promotional materials with: 

Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs

SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor

Rockville, MD 20857

Distribution Pointers: You can distribute 

your release to local print, broadcast, and 

Internet media by fax or e-mail the morning 

of your Recovery Month event. Also, ensure 

that it is included in any materials you 

distribute at the event. 
4

media outreach

About Recovery Month and Substance Use Disorders

n Sample materials from this kit are available electronically at the Recovery Month Web site at 

www.recoverymonth.gov. 

n For additional Recovery Month information, visit the Web site or call 1-800-662-HELP. 

n Substance use disorder, treatment, and recovery information is available at SAMHSA’s Web site at 

www.samhsa.gov. 

n Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available can be found at 

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, a searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilities.
media outreach

5

sample press release

[Please adapt as needed for your event.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: [Name – Must be a person who is available to answer questions from the media]

[Phone Number – Include cell phone number if the person is not always available at the office]

[E-mail Address]

Sample headline: [NAME OF ORGANIZATION] TO HOLD 10TH ANNUAL 5K RUN/WALK TO CELEBRATE REAL 

PEOPLE IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS 

[(Local number) people in (state or community) / 22.6 million people nationally] 

are affected by substance use disorders

[city, state], [date] – For the [(local number) people in (state or community) / 22.6 million people in the United 

States] who suffer from substance use disorders, asking for help and finding treatment is essential to getting back 

to a healthy, fulfilling life through recovery. In celebration of the [(local number) people in (state or community) / 

4 million people nationally] who receive treatment and pursue recovery every year, [organization] is hosting the 

10th Annual 5K Run/Walk for Recovery. 

This community event highlights the stories of real people in [state or community] who have been affected by 

addiction and have made a step toward long-term recovery. [Organization] hopes that by bringing together the 

individuals, their families, and treatment providers who have helped them achieve recovery, they can further 

support and encourage others on a road to recovery.

“By assisting those in need of treatment onto a path of recovery, we not only aid them in regaining their lives, 

but also can help their families on a path of their own recovery from addiction’s impact, which will benefit the 

entire community,” said [name of a prominent local official], who will speak at the starting line about how 

community members can support people and affected family members seeking treatment for and recovery 

from substance use disorders. The event culminates in a rally, including a “Chain of Recovery” featuring 

participants who are in long-term recovery or have been affected by a substance use disorder in their lives 

connected to each other to visually show how addiction and recovery have touched so many peoples’ lives.

The 2008 National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) theme is “Join the Voices 

for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery” and will celebrate those in recovery who have a renewed outlook on 

life and the treatment and recovery support providers who help them in treatment and recovery. Recovery Month

is a nationwide celebration of people in long-term recovery from substance use disorders and their families, and is 

supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services. Sponsored by [name and brief description of your organization], the 5K Run/Walk 

is part of this 19th annual observance of Recovery Month. 

-MORE-
6

media outreach

“Treatment for substance use disorders is effective and necessary to sustain a healthy and productive society,” said 

[spokesperson, title, organization]. “Substance use disorders take an enormous toll on our community and it is time that 

we support those who need our help. Real people in our community are affected by substance use disorders. The renewed 

hope that springs from long-term recovery truly can make a difference in helping more families get healthy.”

[Organization name] Plans Myriad of Recovery Month Activities

Every September, Recovery Month spreads awareness of how important it is to make treatment accessible and to 

support those in recovery with a variety of events. This year, [organization name] has planned these additional 

Recovery Month events:

n [A fundraising dinner] will be held on [date/time] at [location] to raise money for new substance use disorder 

treatment programs for local residents and support programs for affected children, family, and friends. This event 

will feature [speaker], whose personal story about how long-term recovery renewed [his or her] outlook on life 

inspires the entire community. Anyone from the community who is able may attend and contribute to the fund.

n Educational materials will be distributed [explain where, how, and starting when, such as mailing date or a 

specific date at health fairs] to help families, community members, employers, and faith-based organizations 

become more knowledgeable about substance use and mental disorders. The materials will provide information 

on treatment programs and community-based recovery support programs that are offered to employees, affected 

families, and friends. 

About Recovery Month

During Recovery Month each September, communities across the country join together to help people recognize that 

substance use disorders are treatable diseases. Participating in treatment and/or recovery programs for substance use 

disorders is as effective as receiving treatment for other chronic conditions—yet nearly 21.1 million people needed but did 

not receive treatment at a specialty facility in the past year in 2006, according to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and 

Health: National Findings. One year after treatment, people report a significant reduction in their alcohol and drug use, 

increases in employment and income, and decreases in homelessness.

Throughout September, events nationwide encourage communities, civic leaders, employers, treatment and prevention 

organizations, faith-based organizations, and the recovery community to address the continued need for treatment, 

overcome the barriers that prevent people from seeking help, and ensure access to local treatment facilities.

###
media outreach

1

Writing and Submitting an Op-Ed

One media tool that is effective in raising awareness about National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 

(Recovery Month) is an “opposite editorial,” or “op-ed.” Op-eds are a compelling and expressive method of presenting 

points of view by experts and people in the community, while supported by facts and figures. This approach to promoting 

Recovery Month gives you the opportunity to personally address substance use disorders, treatment, recovery, and the 

renewed outlook on life that can result from a commitment to long-term recovery. You also can showcase this year’s 

theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.” 

Eight Tips to Help You Write Your Op-ed 

1. Stick to a single idea to effectively persuade readers and keep their 

attention focused on the most important issues.

2. Use a local story of recovery to add a personal touch to your op-ed. If 

possible, also include a family member’s healing journey. Referring to a local 

or national event recently in the news also can help bring your story to life. 

3. Plan out your op-ed to stay focused and keep it structured.

4. Speak your mind. You are being asked to contribute because you have something important to say.

5. Back up your opinions with up-to-date facts that are relevant to both the field and your community. 

Statistics or study results add credibility to your argument, but try not to overwhelm readers by burying 

your story in numbers. 

6. Be concise and captivating by using short, yet compelling, words. Newspapers are written for readers at 

a fifth-grade level, so remember to avoid using terms and acronyms unfamiliar to those outside the field. 

Also, do not write more than 600 words; if possible, keep it to 500 words.

7. Consult the Recovery Month planning partners from your state or local area for resources or quotes. See the list 

of Recovery Month partners included in the “Resources” section of this planning toolkit. 

8. Include your full name and a brief description of who you are and what you do at the end of the op-ed, 

illustrating what makes you an expert on the subject that you are writing about. Make sure to include contact 

information with your submission.

Resources to help you write your op-ed include:

n The op-ed template at the end of this document, which can be adapted to fit the nuances of your story. Make sure 

you edit the placeholders in the brackets as necessary. Electronic versions of these materials and other templates 

are available on the Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov. 

op-ed

Op-ed Fact: Writing an op-ed 

turns you into the columnist 

and allows you to express 

your views and present the importance of supporting those 

in recovery. 
2

media outreach

n The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, published by the Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services. This is the premier source for up-to-date national trends on substance use, dependence, and 

treatment, and it is available on the SAMHSA Web site at www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh.htm. This survey 

also includes state-related information, which is available at www.oas.samhsa.gov/states.cfm.

n Local information, which you can obtain by contacting the Single-State Agency (SSA) in your state to 

customize your op-ed even further. Refer to the SSA Directory in the “Resources” section of this toolkit. 

State and some local information also are available from SAMHSA. SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug 

Use and Health provides national and statewide drug use statistics, the National Survey of Substance 

Abuse Treatment Services profiles state treatment facilities, and the Treatment Episode Data Set is a 

resource for national and statewide demographic data, including commonly misused drugs. For more 

state and local information, visit http://oas.samhsa.gov/geography.cfm. Information on treatment facilities 

in your area can be found at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling 1-800-662-HELP.

Submitting Your Op-Ed 

Practice and know exactly what you will say before calling the 

editor. Tell the editor that you are interested in submitting an op-ed 

during Recovery Month in September and ask about any specific 

guidelines (such as word count or submission deadlines). Also, it 

helps to ask for guidance that would help ensure placement, such 

as specific topics that would be of interest to their readers, including 

personal long-term recovery stories or specific research. When 

you call, be respectful of the editor’s time; ask if it is a good time 

to talk before you start presenting the topic. 

Understand the submission guidelines and strictly adhere to them. 

Many newspapers prefer submissions via e-mail, fax, or an online form on their Web sites, while some may ask 

you to send it via U.S. mail. Following their preferences will increase the chances of getting your op-ed placed. 

When you send your submission, include a cover letter that reminds the editor who you are and reference any 

previous contact you may have had. Highlight—clearly and concisely—why the subject is important to the 

newspaper’s readers. 

Make a follow-up call approximately one week after submitting your op-ed to give time for the editor to review it. 

Confirm that the op-ed was received and answer any questions the editor may have. Offer to modify it if the editor 

has reservations about publishing it or suggestions on making it more compelling.

Placement Pointers: Start early when 

submitting to your local newspaper. Many 

papers receive up to 500 submissions 

a week, so it helps to be ahead of the 

submission deadline. Call the paper 

about two months before Recovery 

Month kicks off and ask for the name of 

the editorial page editor. Then, contact 

that person to introduce yourself and 

your issue.
3

Share Your Activities and Successes

Share your Recovery Month plans and activities with SAMHSA and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 

(CSAT), along with the general public. Post them on www.recoverymonth.gov to generate momentum for the 

campaign, which will touch millions of people who are affected by substance use disorders.

Share community success stories and other outreach efforts during Recovery Month by completing the “Customer 

Satisfaction Form” in this planning toolkit. Instructions are included on the form. 

Share samples of your organization’s Recovery Month promotional materials with: 

Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs

SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor

Rockville, MD 20857

About Recovery Month and Substance Use Disorders

n Sample materials from this kit are available electronically at the Recovery Month Web site at 

www.recoverymonth.gov. 

n For additional Recovery Month information, visit the Web site or call 1-800-662-HELP. 

n Substance use disorder, treatment, and recovery information is available at SAMHSA’s Web site at 

www.samhsa.gov. 

n Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available can be found at 

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, a searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilities.
media outreach

4

Approximately 540 Words: Please Adapt With Your Own Compelling Personal Experiences.

[Date]

The Importance of Individualized Treatment and 

Recovery For People With Substance Use Disorders 

At first I didn’t realize I was hurting myself and my family by abusing alcohol and drugs. Eventually, I understood that it 

had become a dependence—an illness that had taken over my life. But it didn’t have to, and I hope my story of long-term 

recovery helps at least one person in [community] obtain the help he or she needs and on a path of recovery. In 2006, 

there were 22.6 million people aged 12 or older with a substance use disorder in the past year, and they all have stories.

[Details about the author’s personal journey through a substance use disorder, treatment, and recovery.]

My story also is a call to action for our community leaders to increase support for people with substance use disorders 

and their families. By joining together, we can reduce barriers, such as stigma or a shortage of treatment programs. Doing 

so is well worth the effort. Substance use disorders are medical conditions, and treatment is just as effective as therapies 

used for conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes. Long-term recovery has changed my life and the 

lives of those around me and I now [insert a positive statement about how you are enjoying long-term recovery.]

I am glad my treatment program was designed specifically for me and that my family got the recovery support they need. 

Substance use disorders affect people in different ways, so it is critical to find an individualized path to recovery. Aligning 

treatment settings and services with each person’s unique background, problems, and needs can help those in recovery 

regain strength and return to a productive life in the family, workplace, and society.

[Use this paragraph only if local statistics are available.] In our own community of [city or region], [number] people suffer 

from substance use disorders, and countless numbers of them do not receive the same access to health care options they 

would if they had other chronic disorders, such as diabetes. These people are all around you—your neighbors, colleagues, 

and others.

Employers, faith-based groups, and policymakers need to understand that treatment is effective and recovery is possible. 

When doors are open to recovery, more people will seek treatment, reclaim their lives and health, and empower others 

to change. For example, [name of facility] in [city] informs our residents of the importance of treatment and encourages 

people to share personal stories of addiction and long-term recovery.

To promote the healing message of recovery, [organization name] is participating in the 19th annual observance of 

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month), a nationwide initiative every September 

supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services. [Organization name] is holding a variety of educational events this month to coincide with this year’s 

Recovery Month theme: “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.” The events in [city/state] include: 

[briefly list events/activities].

By celebrating Recovery Month, you are supporting those already in long-term recovery, like me, and encouraging those in 

need of help to seek treatment. Learning about these issues will make it easier to break down the barriers to treatment, and 

you will be investing in the best interests of all those in our community.

[Your full name] is [insert your title/affiliation or other role in the substance use disorder field].

sample op-ed
media outreach

1

Official Proclamations

Local officials’ endorsements of your National Alcohol and 

Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) campaign 

are an important way to increase its visibility. When policymakers 

endorse the cause, they can attract more people and media 

attention, ultimately showcasing that treatment and recovery 

are goals worth sustaining. 

In 2007, 146 Recovery Month proclamations were issued (see 

www.recoverymonth.gov/2007/proclamations.aspx for a list 

of jurisdictions that support Recovery Month). For previous 

years’ proclamations, please click on the “Our Successes” 

link on the main Recovery Month Web site and select the “Highlights and Accomplishments” link.

Writing Your Proclamation

n Use one of two styles, traditional or modern, outlined in the 

box to the right when writing your proclamation. Take a look at 

the templates of both proclamation types included at the end of 

this document.

n As needed, tailor the templates provided in this document.

Insert local information about specific substance use disorder 

issues, such as a lack of centers that offer individualized care, 

as well as examples of successful treatment and recovery 

outcomes. You also can download these templates from the 

Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov.

Eight Tips for Drafting 

Your Proclamation

1. Find inspiration before you draft your proclamation. You can view other proclamations on the Recovery Month 

Web site, www.recoverymonth.gov, for ideas on what to include.

2. Draft your proclamation before reaching out to the official’s office. That way, the staff member will have a clearer 

understanding of what you want them to support. 

3. Include the 2008 Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery,” when 

crafting your proclamation.

offical proclamations

Proclamation Facts: Proclamations can be issued 

by federal government officials, governors, state 

legislators, or city, county, and town officials. For 

the last several years, the President of the United 

States, along with more than 100 governors, mayors, 

and other officials across the country, have issued 

Recovery Month proclamations.

Two Types of Proclamations: Traditional 

proclamations start with a series of statements 

beginning with the word “Whereas,” which 

means “because” or “since.” The “Whereas” 

clauses state the current state of affairs and 

suggest the reasoning behind the proclamation. 

They are followed by one phrase beginning 

with “Therefore,” which is the root of the 

proclamation and where requests for specific 

support or solutions are made. Modern proclamations have the same points as traditional 

versions, but are written as a statement. 

Both types end by proclaiming September as 

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction 

Recovery Month. 
2

media outreach

4. Reach out to a variety of officials in your area and the corresponding staff members who handle their 

proclamations, typically someone in the communications office. Pick an official who has supported treatment services and recovery in the past or one who is willing to discuss improving access to treatment. 

5. Inquire about the timeline for a proclamation signing by contacting the office of the official three to 

four months before Recovery Month. Introduce Recovery Month and details about your organization’s 

planned activities, including how these are relevant to the welfare of the official’s constituents. 

6. Explain that you would be grateful and honored if they can participate in this noble effort by signing a 

proclamation and that you have the proclamation for them to review.

7. Call back frequently, as you might not hear from the official’s office for days, or sometimes weeks, at a 

time. Do not hesitate to call to check on the status of your proclamation, as you do not want it to get lost 

in the shuffle. 

8. Post it on the Web once you obtain a signed proclamation; send a copy of the proclamation to 

recoverymonth@iqsolutions.com for posting on the Recovery Month Web site, www.recoverymonth.gov. 

You also can mail a hard copy to Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs, Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1 Choke Cherry 

Road, Second Floor, Rockville, MD 20857.

Expanding the Reach of Your Proclamation

Publicizing the proclamation, once it is secured, is another way to bring attention to Recovery Month. Doing so 

also will display your organization and local officials as leaders in promoting long-term recovery.

n Distribute the proclamation to the “local” or “metro” desks of local newspapers, along with a press release 

announcing that a local official has signed the proclamation. Please refer to the tips on how to write a press 

release included in this planning toolkit. 

n Incorporate the proclamation signing as part of another Recovery Month event, such as the rally at the 

conclusion of a run/walk where the official participated. During this media event, you can display the 

proclamation by having it photo-enlarged to a poster size or framed.

n Arrange a “town-hall” meeting with the official after the proclamation signing. This meeting might include 

a roundtable discussion featuring guest treatment and recovery support providers, faith-based groups, and 

others who can further the message of long-term recovery to your state’s policymakers.

n Display copies of the proclamation in the lobbies of public places, such as libraries and government 

buildings. Do not forget to get permission first.
3

Share Your Activities and Successes

Share your Recovery Month plans and activities with SAMHSA and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 

(CSAT), along with the general public. Post them on www.recoverymonth.gov to generate momentum for the 

campaign, which will touch millions of people who are affected by substance use disorders.

Share community success stories and other outreach efforts during Recovery Month by completing the “Customer 

Satisfaction Form” in this planning toolkit. Instructions are included on the form. 

Share samples of your organization’s Recovery Month promotional materials with: 

Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs

SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor

Rockville, MD 20857

About Recovery Month and Substance Use Disorders

n Sample materials from this kit are available electronically at the Recovery Month Web site at 

www.recoverymonth.gov. 

n For additional Recovery Month information, visit the Web site or call 1-800-662-HELP. 

n Substance use disorder, treatment, and recovery information is available at SAMHSA’s Web site at 

www.samhsa.gov. 

n Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available can be found at 

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, a searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilities.
media outreach

4

Traditional Format

WHEREAS, treatment and long-term recovery from substance use disorders can offer a renewed outlook on life for those 

who are addicted and their family members; and

WHEREAS, substance use disorders impact 22.6 million people aged 12 or older in the United States (or 9.2 percent 

of the population), which is more than the number of people living with coronary heart disease, cancer, or Alzheimer’s 

disease combined; and

WHEREAS, people who receive treatment for substance use disorders can lead more productive and fulfilling lives, 

personally and professionally; and

WHEREAS, studies have consistently found that individualized treatment is essential for people to be successful in their 

path of recovery; and

WHEREAS, real stories of long-term recovery can inspire others to ask for help and improve their own lives, the lives of 

their families, and the entire community; and

WHEREAS, it is critical that we educate our community members that substance use disorders are treatable, yet serious 

health care problems, and by treating them like other chronic diseases, we can improve the quality of life for the entire 

community; and

WHEREAS, to help achieve this goal, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and [name of a treatment 

organization in your state or region] invite all residents of [city or state] to participate in National Alcohol and Drug 

Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month); and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, [name and title of your elected official], by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of 

[city, state, or locality], do hereby proclaim the month of September 2008 as

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

in [city or state] and call upon the people of [city or state] to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and 

ceremonies supporting this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this [day of the month] day of September, in the year of our Lord 

two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

___________________________

Signature

[Insert City/State or Other Official Seal]

sample proclamation #1
media outreach

5

Contemporary Format

As many as 22.6 million people aged 12 or older in the United States are currently facing a substance use disorder, 

according to the latest national figures. This is more than the number of people living with coronary heart disease, 

cancer, or Alzheimer’s disease combined. Four million of those with a substance use disorder have made the 

courageous choice to seek out the treatment they need and embark on a path of recovery. We need to recognize the 

achievements of those who seek treatment services, celebrate their successes, and find help for those still in need.

Treatment and long-term recovery from substance use disorders can offer people a renewed outlook on life. These 

disorders also take a toll on the families of these individuals, as well as the communities in which they live. It is critical 

to offer people and their families the treatment and recovery support they need for substance use disorders so they 

may lead more productive and fulfilling lives, personally and professionally. 

Research shows that substance use disorders are medical conditions that can be effectively treated. Treatment 

for substance use disorders is just as effective as treatments for other chronic conditions, such as high blood 

pressure, asthma, and diabetes. By educating our community members that substance use disorders are a treatable, 

yet serious health care problem, and by treating them like other chronic diseases, we can improve the quality of life 

of the entire community.

Studies have consistently found that individualized treatment is essential for people to be successful in their path of 

recovery. By offering a forum where individuals can share their real stories of long-term recovery, we can inspire others 

in need to ask for help and improve their own lives, the lives of their families, and the community as a whole.

For the above reasons, I am asking all citizens of [city or state] to join me in celebrating this September as National 

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month). This year’s Recovery Month theme, “Join the 

Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery,” encourages us all to learn how to help those suffering from 

substance use disorders and their families receive treatment so our community can continue to benefit from 

their contributions.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 

the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the [name of a treatment organization in your state or 

region] welcome your participation in Recovery Month.

sample proclamation #2
6

media outreach

I, [name and title of elected official], do hereby proclaim the month of September 2008 as

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

in [city or state] and call upon our community to observe this month with compelling programs, activities, and events that 

support this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.”

___________________________

Signature

[Insert City/State or Other Official Seal]
media outreach

1

Promoting Recovery Month With Live-Read Radio Public 

Service Announcements

Live-read radio public service announcements (PSAs) are another way to generate media coverage for National Alcohol 

and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month). You can provide a script to local radio disc jockeys (DJs) to read 

on air to raise awareness about Recovery Month.

This year’s theme for Recovery Month is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.” It celebrates people 

in long-term recovery from substance use disorders who have a renewed outlook on life and the treatment providers who 

help them reclaim their lives. The following scripts reflect this year’s theme and can be used to disseminate the Recovery 

Month messages through local radio stations.

Radio PSAs: Quick and Easy

Two 30-second and two 15-second radio PSA scripts to distribute to local radio stations are provided at the end of this 

document. The scripts include a toll-free national helpline, 1-800-662-HELP, a resource managed by the Substance Abuse 

and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

Tools to Make Your Outreach More Efficient

n For local information on services available in your state, visit SAMHSA’s Treatment Locator at 

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or contact your state’s Single-State Agency (SSA) listed in the “Resources” 

section of this planning toolkit. State and some local information also are available from SAMHSA’s National 

Survey on Drug Use and Health, the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, and the 

Treatment Episode Data Set. For more state and local information, visit http://oas.samhsa.gov/geography.cfm.

n Pre-produced radio and television PSAs are available to order and localize by contacting SAMHSA’s Health 

Information Network at recoverymonth@iqsolutions.com or 1-877-SAMHSA-7.

n Feel free to use your state, county, or community’s own toll-free number in place of the national hotline, 

should one exist. A searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilites and the special services 

they provide is available at the SAMHSA Web site www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov. If you refer people to a local 

hotline in your script, please advise those operating it that you will be including their number in the scripts, so 

they can be prepared for a potential increase in calls.

Two Tips for Distributing Live-Read Scripts to Local 

Radio Stations

1. Call local radio stations to obtain the name and contact information for the public affairs director, or the person in 

charge of PSAs or public campaigns, for each station. Call to tell them you are working with the national effort to 

promote National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Explain that you would appreciate the support 

of local radio stations to raise awareness of this federal government initiative, and that treatment and recovery 

from substance use disorders is life changing for people in need, their families, and the entire community. 

2. Fax, e-mail, or mail copies of the PSA scripts to the contact person for consideration. When you send the scripts, 

remember to include a cover letter referencing your previous conversations and your contact information. The 

letter should summarize the main points of the PSA and should be clear about your appreciation of the station’s 

support in disseminating the message of Recovery Month to the community. 

radio public service 

announcements
2008 Live-Read Radio Scripts

:30

Don’t let your life be confined by drug or alcohol addiction. Know that for every lock, there is a key. 

Regaining control of your life can be accomplished, and if you have a problem with addiction, there are real solutions 

to get you on your way. 

This September, celebrate your story and National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month with family, friends, 

and treatment providers. Make a difference—voice your experience.

For drug and alcohol information and treatment referral for you or someone you know, call 1-800-662-H-E-L-P (or replace 

this number with a local treatment provider’s).

:15

Don’t let your life be confined by drug or alcohol addiction. Know that for every lock, there is a key. 

Find a solution and celebrate recovery during National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month this September.

For more information, call 1-800-662-H-E-L-P (or replace this number with a local treatment provider’s).

***

:30

Suffering from drug or alcohol addiction can come at an expense. Don’t allow your hurtful actions to drive the ones who 

love you the most...away. 

If you know someone who struggles with drug or alcohol addiction, listen...and hear what they’re trying to say. 

Find your real voice again this September, and celebrate the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery 

Month with the people who love you most. 

For drug and alcohol information and treatment referral for you or someone you know, call 1-800-662-H-E-L-P (or replace 

this number with a local treatment provider’s).

:15

Drug or alcohol addiction can push those who love you most...away. 

Know that there is hope, and if you know someone battling addiction, listen to what they’re saying. 

Find your real voice again by taking part in National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month this September. 

For more information, call 1-800-662-H-E-L-P (or replace this number with a local treatment provider’s).

2

media outreach
JOIN THE VOICES FOR RECOVERY

real people, real recovery
CAMERA - READY LOGO SHEET

Customize your materials using the artwork provided. Logos below can be printed in either PMS 268 or black.
targeted outreach

1

Overview: Real People, Real Recovery

Real people...

Dependence on alcohol and/or drugs is a widespread health and social problem that, in some way, negatively affects as 

much as 69 percent of the country.1 Everyone has a unique story to share. This September, for the 19th annual National 

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is urging everyone to speak up about their recovery 

experiences. To help start the conversation, and to coincide with this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real 

People, Real Recovery,” we are highlighting individual stories in depth.

Donald J. Kurth, M.D., is chief of addiction medicine at the Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center and an 

associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Preventive Medicine. He also is the mayor of the City of Rancho 

Cucamonga, CA. Don is in long-term recovery for both alcohol and drug addiction and is an example of the “real people, 

real recovery” theme. The following is his story.

The beginning...

“I count my recovery starting with my sobriety date, October 8, 1993; it was a long journey to get to 

that day. I was just a kid, really, when I started getting involved with alcohol and drugs. I come from 

a family where drinking is a part of many social activities and it seemed to me that getting drunk and 

knowing how to drink was a rite of passage when I was growing up.

“I was 12 the first time I got intoxicated. I asked my uncle at Christmas if you could get drunk off wine, 

and he said, ‘Yes, I suppose you could, if you’ve had enough.’ I kept sneaking sips here and there. I 

just drank it down; I felt drunk and I liked it.

“When I was about 14, I started drinking with my buddies. Even then, I was worried about my drinking, 

but I didn’t seek help. Instead, I got into drugs. Living in the ’60s, drug abuse was part of the culture. If 

you wanted to be cool, you had to be using drugs. That might not have really been the case, but that’s 

how it seemed to me.”

Similar to Don, millions of people suffer from substance use disorders every day, sometimes for years. A substance use 

disorder means that a person is dependent on or abuses alcohol and/or drugs, including prescription drugs.2

 Specifically, 

in 2006, an estimated 22.6 million people aged 12 or older (9.2 percent of the population) had a substance use disorder in 

the past year.3 The facts show it is not uncommon and can affect people regardless of their age, race, gender, ethnicity, 

class, employment status, or community.4

Don’s family fostered a culture of drinking, which is the case with many people who depend on alcohol and drugs. Families 

with parents who have a substance use disorder experience many social problems, including an increased risk of their own 

children misusing alcohol and/or drugs themselves. Children from these families also are more likely to have trouble with 

delinquency, school performance, and emotional development, such as hyperactivity and aggressive behavior.5

 Addiction, 

as you will see in Don’s story, does not just stem from one’s environment.

Overview

1

Donald Kurth
targeted outreach

2

A medical illness...

“I started using heroin before Christmas break my senior year of high school and got addicted right away. The rest 

of the year, I would show up for class to be counted present and then leave. I think the school actually felt sorry for 

me because I had so many problems, so I ended up graduating on time. I don’t think they passed me just to pass 

me—I had done well in school before and I think that helped—but I was physically dependent on heroin. If I didn’t 

use, I would get physically ill, so I kept using.”

As Don found, it is easy to become physically and psychologically dependent on a substance. Furthermore, addiction 

often co-occurs with mental health disorders. It is a medical condition that can be effectively treated, just as numerous 

other illnesses are treatable.6, 7 Treatment for drug use disorders is just as effective as treatments for other chronic 

conditions, such as high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes.8

Substance use disorders are surprisingly common compared with the number of people who suffer from other 

well-known diseases. One in four deaths each year is attributable to alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use.9

 Compared 

with the 2006 estimate that 22.6 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year10:

n 15.2 million adults in the United States had diabetes as of 2007.11

n Approximately 1.44 million Americans were expected to be diagnosed with cancer and 560,000 were predicted 

to die from the disease in 2007.12

n 15.8 million people today suffer from coronary heart disease.13

n More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease.14

Addiction can have a detrimental effect on a person’s health. There are more deaths, illnesses, and disabilities from 

substance use disorders than from any other preventable health condition. Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each 

of the top three causes of death: heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Cirrhosis (liver scarring), the 10th leading cause of 

death, is largely preventable—nearly half of all cirrhosis deaths are linked to alcohol. Drug-related deaths are typically 

underestimated, as many tolls do not take into account deaths from associated diseases, such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, 

homicides, falls, and motor vehicle crashes.15

As Don’s journey shows, treatment is effective in offering people a way to overcome substance use disorders and 

commit to long-term recovery.

Into treatment...

“I had been seeing a few doctors and tried to get on methadone, a medication used to treat opiate dependence, 

but the doctor said I was too young and hadn’t been through enough treatment programs to qualify for the drug. 

When I was homeless and living in the streets in New York, I heard about a treatment facility in the city and went to 

them for help, but they didn’t have any beds available. They said that if I came back to meetings every day, I might 

be able to get a bed. I did gradually decrease my heroin use for a little while, but kept on using cocaine. 

“I got arrested August 12, 1969, and pled guilty. The judge gave me probation with a stipulation that I had to enter 

a drug program. My probation officer found me a residential program, but before I went, I spent some brief time in 

jail. While I was there, one of the guys came to me and said, ‘Hey kid, if you really want to get clean, you can do 

it in that program you are going to. I know, because I was there once.’ When I asked him why he hadn’t stayed, he 

explained that he was too old to change. He was only 24 (I was 20 at the time). Nevertheless, he was inspirational 

to me and I entered the program believing it might be my only chance to change my life if I wanted to.
3

“My treatment program was a therapeutic, residential community geared toward people addicted to drugs. Looking 

back, treatment was extremely different in the late 1960s and early 1970s than it is now; the rules were much more 

lenient. Since this program was less strict than was necessary for my specific needs, my chance to develop a truly 

abstinence-based recovery was delayed for several years.

“Once I got to treatment, I was fully committed to it—almost too much. The counselors didn’t want to believe that 

I was truly committed and motivated to change, but I didn’t think there were any other chances for me. That’s the 

thing about addiction; you never know when your last day is going to be. I felt a lot safer in treatment, but it was 

still extremely tough. 

“I had entered treatment on December 29, 1969, and was there for more than two years. After that, I never touched 

drugs again. 

“In treatment, you learn to overcome the challenges that you will continue to face in life, but you do it in a protected 

environment. There is a special bond between people who have been in a therapeutic community and we are all 

very grateful even though it was a hard thing to go through.”

Treatment’s success and effectiveness hinges on whether or not a provider properly identifies the best treatment 

option to meet the needs of the person who seeks help. Such unique factors include what substances were abused, 

a person’s cultural background, family responsibilities, other health considerations, and faith or religious preferences.16

For more information on the effectiveness of treatment, please see “A Guide to Treatment” in this planning toolkit.

As Don experienced, accessing treatment can be difficult. In 2006, while 22.6 million people aged 12 or older met 

the criteria for a substance use disorder in the past year, only 4 million people (1.6 percent of population) actually 

received treatment for it.17 This is troubling due to the positive impact treatment can have on people in need, their 

family members, and entire communities. 

Substance use disorders are treatable diseases. Up to 70 percent of patients in treatment for alcohol dependence are 

successful, cocaine treatment is successful for 60 percent, and opiate treatment is successful for up to 80 percent of 

those in treatment.18 People make substantial progress through treatment and recovery, and success can be compared 

with that of other chronic, relapsing conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. Since substance use 

disorders can be a recurring, chronic disease, a person might experience more than one round of intense treatment 

before long-term recovery is possible. 

Treatment for a substance use disorder helps the person beyond just eliminating alcohol and/or drug use. More than 

half of the people assessed in a recent study reported that drug abuse treatment had improved their health, helped 

them address their emotional or mental health problems and plan their future, and improved their family relationships.19

The key is to make sure that individualized treatment and recovery supports are available to every American in need 

of care whenever treatment is requested.

Rejected...And then bouncing back...

“Unfortunately, a huge wall of discrimination exists for individuals who have been in jail or have had legal problems 

with drugs. Luckily, my perseverance helped me overcome some of the barriers to circumvent any preconceived 

notions others had. 

“When I was using drugs before entering treatment, I had flunked out of college twice. To graduate from my 

treatment program, I needed to make progress toward a defined goal, such as going back to school. The process 

of applying, getting in, and finishing school wasn’t easy due to the discrimination people in recovery face. I applied 

to a small university and when they turned me down, I was crushed. I went to speak with the dean of students 

and she asked, ‘Why would we want to take someone like you? We have lots of applicants who don’t have 

these problems.’
targeted outreach

4

“I felt dejected and made an appointment with the president of the university. I said that I wanted to take two 

classes at night. At first he just shook his head and told me, ‘No.’ He could see the disappointment in my eyes. 

But he thought for a minute and said, ‘Okay, I’ll give you a chance. I’ll let you take one class and if you do well, 

come back and talk to me.’ 

“Determined to succeed, I bought some study guides that recommended simple things to do, such as showing up 

for class, paying attention, and taking notes. These basic skills helped me get an A in this first class. Invited back 

for the next semester, I took two classes, then some more after that, majoring in psychology. Eventually, after I was 

able to take out a loan and got financial support from a recovery organization, I was able to go to school full time 

and kept getting straight As. 

“My mentor at school was a Ph.D. and chair of my department. He said that if I wanted to go to a more prestigious 

college, he would write me a recommendation. I thought, as hard as it was to get into this college, how much 

harder would it be to get into a better college? I applied to four Ivy League schools. After getting rejected by three 

of them, I received an acceptance from Columbia University in New York City. I was so grateful, but needed to 

figure out how to afford it. The school saw to it that I got the financial support I needed. I was, and still am, grateful 

to Columbia for giving me the opportunity. I found out later that I had been rejected from the others because they 

thought I might fall under the academic pressure and leave a ‘black mark’ on the university.

“I continued to face obstacles due to my drug abuse when applying to medical schools. Some rejected me right 

off the bat, even though I had great recommendations and grades. Others interviewed me, but were very negative, 

only focusing on my past and the things I did before treatment. At Columbia, I could tell that the interviewer was 

excited to talk to someone who had overcome so much. He was so enthusiastic about me and my future prospects 

and I knew he would advocate for me. 

“It is important for people in recovery to learn perseverance. Other people’s stories can be extremely inspiring, 

and if I could accomplish what I have so far, other people can, too.”

Stigma and discrimination, which detract from the character or reputation of a person, continue to be strong 

barriers for those with substance use disorders and their family members.20 Nearly 25 percent of people who 

needed treatment, but did not receive it, have cited reasons related to stigma, such as a negative effect on a job or 

concern that it might cause neighbors or the community to have a negative impression.21 People in recovery and the 

general public recognize that stigma, shame, and discrimination against people with substance use disorders and in 

recovery are problems that must be solved. In fact:

n Nearly a quarter of people in recovery report that they personally have been denied a job, and 12 percent 

have been denied a promotion.22

n Two-thirds of the recovery community believe it is important to convey to the public how shame and 

discrimination hinder the recovery process.23

n Two-thirds of the general public believe that a stigma exists toward people in recovery from a substance 

use disorder.24

n 74 percent say that when people are ashamed to talk to others about their own or a family member’s addiction, 

this attitude must change.25

n 64 percent of people believe that a policy banning students with drug convictions from receiving Federal 

financial aid to pay for college should be changed.26
5

Don’s story shows the true impact of recovery on a person’s life. Receiving treatment can increase the probability of 

obtaining employment and increasing earnings.27 Additionally, reported job problems, including incomplete work, 

absenteeism, tardiness, work-related injuries, mistakes, and disagreements with supervisors are cut by an average of 

75 percent among employees who have received treatment for substance use disorders.28 Don’s determination that he 

gained in treatment, along with his desire to change and others’ belief in him, helped him overcome many of these barriers.

Real recovery...

“The best part about recovery is waking up clean and sober every day. It’s a much better life overall. When I was 

using drugs and drinking, I couldn’t see that. Now, I have a rich, full life with many exciting things to do. It didn’t 

happen overnight, though. I had to build this life up over many years. Even though I had embarked on a successful 

career following completion of the drug program, some of my old demons continued to haunt me. 

“People with an addiction tend to substitute one substance for another at times. I think I was an alcoholic before 

I became addicted to heroin and cocaine. I don’t think I recognized my dependence on alcohol until the 1980s. 

Drinking was a normal activity to me and I surrounded myself with people who felt the same. 

“But at first, in the early years after I finished my treatment program, I rarely drank. I went back to school and 

wanted to do well. As the years went by and I started to do well, I wanted to fit in with the other kids, so I started 

drinking more and more. Eventually, it got away from me. 

“In 1993, I entered a treatment program for my alcohol dependence, stayed for 31 days, and got connected with 

12-step recovery. This has been the anchor in my recovery.

“I believe treatment should be available upon request for anyone who wants it. We lose so many people every 

week due to addiction; more than many other diseases that people face. It is the root cause of so many other 

diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. So many accidents and injuries could be prevented—and many lives 

could be saved—if we could have just gotten that person into treatment even one day sooner. 

“Treatment taught me a lot of lessons that I would not have had otherwise: life skills, perseverance, determination, 

and not giving up no matter how bleak things look. You just dust yourself off and get yourself back on track; 

it doesn’t matter that all the odds are against you. You have to have a desire to succeed.”

Whether you are a family member of someone with a substance use disorder, an employer, a member of the faith 

community, a civil service worker, or involved in the recovery community, it is important to keep in mind that recovery 

is different for each individual and his or her family members. When you are celebrating Recovery Month with your 

family and community this September, seek out individual stories to better understand the ups and downs people go 

through on their road from dependence to long-term recovery, their triumphs, failures, successes, and barriers. Do 

your part to support every person and his or her family and spread the message to your community that there is hope 

and recovery is possible.

For more resources and organizations that can help provide treatment, visit the Recovery Month Web site at 

www.recoverymonth.gov. Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available can be found 

at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, a searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilities. For additional 

Recovery Month materials, visit www.recoverymonth.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP.
targeted outreach

6

SOURCES

1 What Does America Think About Addiction Prevention and Treatment? Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 24, March 2007, p. 1.

2 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4293. Rockville, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 

2007, p. 69.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid, pp. 23, 71-74.

5 Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem. The Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University and the Robert 

Wood Johnson Foundation, February 2001, p. 62.

6 Pathways of Addiction: Opportunities in Drug Abuse Research. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, 1996.

7 Kleber, H.D., O’Brien, C.P., Lewis, D.C., McLellan, A.T. “Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: Implications for treatment, insurance, and 

outcomes evaluation.” Journal of the American Medical Association, p. 1689.

8 Ibid.

9 Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem, p. 6.

10 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 69.

11 “Diabetes Mellitus Statistics.” American Heart Association Web site: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4551. Accessed July 

26, 2007.

12 “Cancer Deaths Drop for Second Consecutive Year.” American Cancer Society Web site: www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_2_1x_

Cancer_Deaths_Drop_for_Second_Consecutive_Year.asp. Accessed July 26, 2007.

13 “Cardiovascular Disease Statistics.” American Heart Association Web site: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4478. Accessed 

July 26, 2007.

14 “What is Alzheimer’s?” Alzheimer’s Association Web site: www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp. Accessed July 26, 2007.

15 Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem, pp. 6, 50, 54.

16 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. NIH Publication No. 99-4180. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, October 1999, p. 3.

17 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 6, 69, 75.

18 Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem, pp. 109, 110.

19 Mojtabai, R., M.D., Ph.D., “Datapoints: Perceived Benefits of Substance Abuse Treatments.” Psychiatric Services, 54(6), June 2003, p. 780.

20 Faces & Voices of Recovery Public Survey. Washington, D.C.: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., and Coldwater Corporation, 

May 4, 2004, p. 2.

21 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 79.

22 The Face of Recovery. Washington, D.C.: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., October, 2001, p. 10.

23 Ibid.

24 Faces & Voices of Recovery Public Survey, p. 2.

25 Ibid.

26 Ibid.

27 Wickizer, T.M., Ph.D., M.P.H. The Impact of Substance Abuse Treatment on Employment Outcomes Among AFDC Clients in Washington State. 

DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 01-3508. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2001.

28 Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Outcome Research. St. Paul, MN: CATOR Connection, 1990.
targeted outreach

1

Commonly Misused Substances

Millions of people who once suffered from a substance use disorder have reclaimed their lives through treatment and 

long-term recovery. Across the country, people are learning how the destructive power of alcohol and drug addiction 

can negatively affect lives, families, and communities. 

Overall, use rates for alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs among America’s adolescents aged 12 to 17 have declined since 

2002; this includes a significant drop in drug use within the past month (11.6 percent in 2002 versus 9.8 percent in 2006).1, 2 

However, while signs of healthier behavior exist, steps must continue to be taken to assist and encourage those in need 

to turn to treatment and seek recovery. 

A substance use disorder means that a person is dependent on or abuses alcohol and/or drugs, including prescription 

drugs.3

 Substance use disorders affect people nationwide, regardless of race, class, gender, ethnicity, or employment 

status.4

 It is important to recognize that, like other mental disorders and chronic ailments, substance use disorders are 

medical conditions that can be treated.5

Raising awareness of the true stories of treatment and long-term recovery can influence those currently struggling with 

addiction. In 2006, of the 22.6 million people in need of treatment for an alcohol and/or drug use problem in the past year, 

only 4 million received some form of treatment.6

 To bridge this gap, it is necessary to raise awareness and expand the 

dialogue about substance use disorders, as well as about the substances that are commonly misused. 

There is still much work to be done to increase awareness of treatment and recovery. As individuals and communities, 

you have an opportunity to participate in this call to action. You can help by showing support for people with substance 

use disorders and offering forums where people can share their stories in your community. As you read the following 

facts about alcohol and drug abuse in the United States, consider the consequences on families, neighbors, and 

society as a whole. 

When substance use begins...

Substance use can occur at any age and at any time. In 2006: 

n The average age of first-time use of inhalants was nearly 16 (among people aged 12 to 49).7

n An estimated 2.8 million people aged 12 or older used an illicit drug for the first time within the past 12 months; 

this is an average of nearly 8,000 new users each day.

n The largest number of recent new users aged 12 or older appeared in the nonmedical use of pain relievers 

(2.2 million) and marijuana (2.1 million).8

The average age of first use of pain relievers among people 12 to 49 was 21.9 years. 9

The average age of first use of marijuana among people 12 to 49 was 17.4 years.10

n 4.4 million people aged 12 or older used alcohol for the first time in the past 12 months—approximately 12,000 

new users per day. Of these, 89.2 percent were under age 21 at the time of initiation.11

These alarming numbers serve as an indicator of emerging patterns in substance use disorders.12

commonly misused substances

1
Captain cody (codeine), H,

smack, dope, white horse

The numbers...

Today, there are a variety of commonly misused substances. The following chart is a reflection of the 218.3 million illicit drug, 

alcohol, and tobacco users aged 12 or older in 2006. It is broken down by each substance, the numbers of people using 

each, and, when applicable, common “street” names.13, 14

Commonly Misused 

Substances

218.3 Million Current Users*

Heroin

338,000 people

Methamphetamine

731,000 people

Inhalants

761,000 people

Alcohol

125 million people

Marijuana

14.8 million people

Crack

702,000

people

Ecstasy 

(MDMA)

528,000 people

Tobacco Products

72.9 million people

Cocaine

2.4 million 

people

Hallucinogens

1 million 

people

Pot, weed, Mary Jane,

reefer, ganja, hash

Whippets, laughing 

gas, poppers

Crank, meth, speed, ice

LSD, acid, boomers, yellow

Coke, C, blow, crack

Pain Relievers

5.2 million

people

Prescriptiontype Drugs

7 million people

* Aged 12 or older

targeted outreach

2
3

Emerging trends: prescription drugs, methamphetamine, and alcohol

The use of alcohol or illicit substances has a negative impact on the health and well-being of individuals, their families, 

and society.15 Each year, new trends emerge about the use of specific drugs. In 2006, reports including the Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health noted 

the alarming increase in the abuse of prescription drugs.16, 17 Also in 2006, the National Drug Intelligence Center’s 

National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) revealed that 78.8 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies reported 

either high or moderate availability of illegally diverted pharmaceuticals.18 More than half of the people who use 

prescription-type psychotherapeutics (pain relievers, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants) nonmedically obtained 

the drugs “from a friend or relative for free.”19

Even though the past month use of all drugs by teens has dropped by 18 percent between 2002 and 2006, reports 

indicate a growing concern about teens intentionally using prescription medicines to get high.20, 21 Behind marijuana, 

prescription drugs have become the second most abused drug among young people ages 12 to 17; but for those aged 

12 and 13, they are abused the most.22

In 2006, an estimated 7 million people aged 12 or older, or 2.8 percent of the population, had used prescription 

psychotherapeutic medications nonmedically in the past month.23

n Between 2005 and 2006, the use of pain relievers increased by 11 percent, from 4.7 million in 2005 to 5.2 

million in 2006.24

n Four in 10 teens aged 12 to 17 agree with the misconception that, even if prescription medicines are not 

prescribed by a doctor, they are much safer to use than illegal drugs.25

Opioids, a type of narcotic, are among the most addictive pain medications, and some that are commonly prescribed 

include hydrocodone (Vicodin®) and oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®).26 Pain relievers are the most abused type 

of prescription drug among those aged 12 to 17. Since 2005, there has been an increase in the use of OxyContin® by 

8th and 10th graders.27

Just as people often don’t recognize the risks of misusing prescription drugs, nearly 1 in 7 youths between ages 12 and 

17 believe that there is little or no risk in taking methamphetamine (meth) on a regular basis.28

n On average, teens were 12 or older when they first used meth, with the majority, 77 percent, aged 15 or 

younger at the time.29

n The rate of lifetime use of methamphetamine for people aged 12 or older increased from 5.2 percent in 2005 

to 5.8 percent in 2006.30

The use of alcohol has always caused concern, with more than half of people aged 12 or older (50.9 percent) reporting 

that they were current alcohol drinkers in 2006.31 Among those aged 12 to 20, nearly 10.8 million reported using 

alcohol in the past month.32 Each day, there were an estimated 12,000 new alcohol users aged 12 or older, translating 

to approximately 4.4 million people who used alcohol for the first time in the past 12 months. Perhaps most alarming 

is that the vast majority (89.2 percent) of new users were younger than 21 when they first consumed alcohol.33

3
targeted outreach

4

The health effects...

Substance misuse has serious and potentially deadly consequences. For example, drugs such as heroin, cocaine, 

steroids, and methamphetamines provoke risky behaviors (needle sharing and unsafe sex) that increase a person’s 

chances of acquiring HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.34 Substance misuse takes a gradual, yet powerful, 

toll on the human body, affecting a person’s brain and motor functions, in addition to a number of other health 

consequences. The following diagram and chart outline the body organs and systems impacted by drug use,

as well as other potential side effects that are harmful to a person’s health.35

1

2

7

8

5

6

4

3

Respiratory system

Liver

Kidneys

Bones and 

Muscles

Brain

Heart

Gastrointestinal 

system

Circulatory 

system
5

The Health Effects of Commonly Misused Substances36, 37

Impacted Organ/System Substances that Impact It Health Effects

1 Respiratory system, lungs Tobacco products, marijuana, 

inhalants, methamphetamines

Lung and esophagus damage, 

coughing, infections

2 Liver Steroids, heroin, methamphetamines, alcohol

Liver damage, tumors

3 Circulatory system, 

blood pressure

Cocaine, MDMA (Ecstacy), 

tobacco products

Constricted blood vessels

4 Stomach, gastrointestinal 

system

Heroin, tobacco products, 

cocaine

Infertility, vomiting, nausea

5

Brain, memory, pleasure 

circuit/emotional limbic 

system, senses (sight, smell, 

taste), sensory system, mood

Opioids, CNS depressants, 

cocaine, marijuana, 

methamphetamines, 

inhalants, LSD, alcohol, 

stimulants, MDMA (Ecstacy), 

hallucinogens, heroin

Seizures, brain damage, 

memory loss, hallucination 

Flushing of skin, dry mouth,

blurred vision, narcolepsy, 

tiredness

Euphoria, anger, panic, paranoia, 

aggression, depression

6

Chest, heart Tobacco products, inhalants, 

cocaine, marijuana, MDMA 

(Ecstacy), hallucinogens, 

heroin/opioids, stimulants

Increased heart rate, irregular 

heart rhythm, heart disease, 

chest pain, collapsed veins

7 Kidneys MDMA (Ecstacy), methamphetamines, tobacco products

Kidney damage/failure, kidney 

infections

8 Bones, muscles Heroin, opioids, steroids Stunted growth, poor muscle 

control, bone pain
targeted outreach

6

The consequences...

The continuous misuse of substances can produce unfortunate situations that can put individuals in danger of hurting 

themselves and others. While the following statistics are only a mere glimpse of the reality, these data reflect the 

serious impact that alcohol- and drug-related emergencies have on public health, as well as the influence substance 

use can have on a family.38

In 2006, the rippling effect of alcohol could be seen in the 17,590 fatalities from alcohol-related traffic crashes and the 

13,470 people who were killed in crashes involving drunk drivers.39 Often, families living with a substance user face 

certain consequences, including: 

n Financial Struggles – Financial pressures can put an immense amount of stress on families, sometimes 

causing relatives to work harder to compensate for the substance user’s lost wages due to job loss, 

drug habits, incarceration, or hospitalization.40

n Marital Problems – Substance use can affect the quality of marriages and increase the risk of divorce.41

n Partner Violence – Increased levels of drug and alcohol use in both the aggressor and victim of partner 

violence can interfere with effective communication and increase aggressive tendencies.42

n Child Abuse and Neglect – According to a report by Columbia University’s National Center on 

Addiction and Substance Abuse, nearly 70 percent of all reported child-maltreatment cases involve 

substance abuse.43

n Exposure to Crime – Exposing children of illicit drug users to high levels of drug use and criminal 

activity can hinder their moral development, while increasing their chances of also using drugs 

and/or alcohol.44

Getting help...

In 2006, while 22.6 million people aged 12 or older met the criteria for a substance use disorder in the past year, only 

4 million people (1.6 percent of the population) actually received treatment for it.45 This is troubling due to the positive 

impact treatment can have on people in need, their family members, and entire communities. 

Substance use disorders are treatable diseases. Up to 70 percent of patients in treatment for alcohol dependence are 

successful, cocaine treatment is successful for 60 percent, and opiate treatment is successful for up to 80 percent of 

those in treatment. People make substantial progress through treatment and recovery, and success can be compared 

with that of other chronic, relapsing conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension.46 Since substance use 

disorders can be a recurring, chronic disease, a person might experience more than one round of intense treatment 

before long-term recovery is possible. 
7

Substance use disorders are a reality in the United States. However, treatment is available and recovery is possible. 

By encouraging and publicizing the discussion of substance use disorders and sharing stories of real people in 

long-term recovery, communities and family members can support and encourage those with substance use 

disorders to get better. In doing so, people are helping to enrich lives, while improving health and celebrating 

the real recovery of addicted individuals and their families throughout the country. 

For more resources and organizations that can help provide treatment, visit the Recovery Month Web site at 

www.recoverymonth.gov. Information on treatment options in your area and the special services available can 

be found at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, a searchable database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment facilities. 

For additional Recovery Month materials, visit www.recoverymonth.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP.
targeted outreach

8

SOURCES

1 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4293. Rockville, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 

2007, p. 2.

2 New National Survey Reveals Drug Use Down Among Adolescents in U.S. – Success in Substance Abuse Recovery Highlighted. U.S.

 Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, news release, September 6, 2007. 

3 The NSDUH Report: Patterns and Trends in Nonmedical Prescription Pain Reliever Use: 2002 to 2005. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, April 6, 2007. 

4 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 23, 71-74.

5 Ibid, p. 69. 

6 Ibid, pp. 6, 69. 

7 Ibid, pp. 50, 51.

8 Ibid, p. 50.

9 Ibid.

10 Ibid.

11 Ibid, p. 55.

12 Ibid, p. 45.

13 Ibid, pp. 1, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 41.

14 NIDA: Commonly Abused Drugs Chart. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 

National Institute on Drug Abuse, updated December 2004.

15 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 1, 16, 17, 31, 41, 232.

16 Teens Turn Away from Street Drugs, Move to Prescription Drugs, New Report Reveals. Office of National Drug Control Policy, news release. 

February 2007.

17 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 1, 20, 50, 53.

18 “Drug Facts & Figures: Prescription Drugs.” Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site: www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/

prescrptn_drgs/index.html. Accessed September 20, 2007.

19 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 29. 

20 The NSDUH Report: Patterns and Trends in Nonmedical Prescription Pain Reliever Use: 2002 to 2005. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Sciences, April 6, 2007.

21 Teens Turn Away from Street Drugs, Move to Prescription Drugs, New Report Reveals, February 2007. 

22 Teens and Prescription Drugs, An Analysis of Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat. The Office of National Drug Control Policy, 

Executive Office of the President, February 2007, p. 2.

23 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 1.

24 Ibid.

25 Teens and Prescription Drugs, An Analysis of Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat, p. 3.

26 Pain-pill addiction: What’s the risk? The Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), June 2006. 

27 Teens and Prescription Drugs, An Analysis of Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat, p. 6.

28 The Meth Project: National Use & Attitudes Survey 2007, National survey measuring attitudes and behaviors towards methamphetamine in 

America. The Meth Project, GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, September 2007, p. 2.

29 Ibid, p. 19. 

30 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 18.

31 Ibid, p. 31.

32 Ibid, p. 33.

33 Ibid, p. 55.

34 NIDA Report: HIV, Hepatitis and Other Infectious Diseases, April 2005. 

35 “Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use.” American Council for Drug Education Web site: www.acde.org/common/Symptom.htm. Accessed 

September 20, 2007. 

36 “NIDA: Commonly Abused Drugs Chart.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse Web site: www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html. 

Accessed September 28, 2007.

37 “Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use.” American Council for Drug Education’s Web site: www.acde.org/common/System.htm. Accessed

September 28, 2007. 

38 “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).” Drug Abuse Warning Network Web site: http://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/tools/faqs.asp. Accessed November 

16, 2007. 

39 “Fatalities.” The Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Web site: www.madd.org/Victim-Services/Victim-Services/Statistics/AllStats.

aspx#STAT_4. Accessed December 4, 2007.

40 Family Matters: Substance Abuse and the American Family. New York: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia 

University, March 2005, p. 15. 

41 Ibid, p. 17.

42 Ibid, pp. 19, 20.

43 Ibid, p. 27.

44 Ibid, p. 22.

45 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 6, 69, 75

46 Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem. The Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University and the Robert 

Wood Johnson Foundation, February 2001, pp. 109, 110.
targeted outreach

1

A Guide to Treatment: How to Help People 

Affected by Substance Use Disorders

Real people...

Addiction affects millions of people every year, with 69 percent of Americans reporting that they know someone who 

struggles with alcohol or drugs.1 In 2006, 22.6 million people aged 12 or older were living with a substance use disorder in 

the past year, making it more common than coronary heart disease.2, 3

A substance use disorder means that a person is dependent on or abuses alcohol and/or drugs, including the nonmedical 

use of prescription drugs.4

 Fortunately, many people find refuge in treatment and long-term recovery. In 2006, 4 million 

people aged 12 or older received some form of treatment, ranging from residential and outpatient programs to self-help 

groups.5

 Similar to other chronic disorders, substance use disorders are medical conditions that can be treated, and more 

importantly, for which recovery is possible.6

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), successful treatment can 

encourage people to go to drug and alcohol counseling and group meetings, avoid the people, places, and situations that 

trigger trouble, work with a counselor to show a commitment to change, and learn anger management and job skills to open 

more choices in life.7

 Many different treatment options exist, which is important because substance use disorders affect 

people from all walks of life and do not discriminate based on age, race, gender, ethnicity, class, or employment status.8

To receive the most effective and comprehensive treatment, it is essential that people with substance use disorders, 

together with their providers, identify the most appropriate course of treatment for them and their families.9 Effective 

treatment depends on a variety of factors; treatment must take into account a person’s cultural background, other health 

conditions, family and work responsibilities, and the specific substances to which a person is addicted.10 According to 

SAMHSA, in 2006, 83 percent of treatment facilities offered at least one special program or group for certain client types.11

The following sections describe different types and levels of treatment available. This is not an all-inclusive list; it focuses 

on groups with specific needs that may require particular attention in treatment. While certain treatment options are not 

necessarily the best for everyone, the specific types that follow have proven successful for many.

Adolescents

Teens begin using alcohol and drugs for different reasons than adults. For example, peer pressure may affect adolescents 

more than other age groups. Adolescent substance use impairs their cognitive, physical, and emotional development.12 

In addition to gender and race issues—such as culture and heritage that need to be factored into treatment—physical and 

mental developmental issues, other disorders, and diverse value sets also need to be considered when treating youths 

with substance use disorders.13

Treatment for young people addicted to alcohol and/or drugs must tackle each aspect of their experiences. For many 

adolescents, the root of a substance use disorder is in the home; therefore, programs should attempt to involve family 

members and address addiction or other related issues in the home. Families often hold the key to changing a youth’s 

environment and making it more conducive to recovery.14

a guide to treatment

1
targeted outreach

2

Taking these considerations into account will help make treatment for adolescents more effective. One treatment 

study researched adolescent, community-based programs that addressed peer relationships, educational concerns, 

and family issues such as parent-child relationships and parental substance abuse. This form of programming saw a 

decrease in drinking, illicit drug use, and criminal involvement among those who obtained treatment in this setting—

in addition to improved school performance and self esteem and fewer thoughts of suicide.15, 16

Older adults

Older adults are particularly at risk for prescription drug abuse, even inadvertently. People aged 65 and older consume 

one-third of all medications taken and are more likely to be prescribed long-term and multiple prescriptions, which 

could lead to unintentional misuse. Because older adults are more vulnerable to a medicine’s effects due to changes 

in drug metabolism with age, this type of dependence can be particularly dangerous.17

Through treatment and recovery, many older adults will have better physical and mental health and will be less likely 

to encounter illness and disability.18 Unfortunately, treatment programs specifically designed for older adults are not 

widespread—only 7 percent of facilities report having a special program or group designed specifically for seniors.19 

However, even in a general treatment program, older adults with substance use disorders have responded well to 

age-specific, supportive, and non-confrontational group treatment that aims to build or rebuild self esteem.20

People with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders

Many times, people with substance use disorders have co-occurring serious psychological distress, also known as 

mental health disorders, such as anxiety or mood disorders.21 In 2006, more than 22 percent of those 18 or older with 

serious psychological distress also were dependent on or abused alcohol and/or drugs.22 People suffering from both 

substance use and mental health disorders are said to have co-occurring disorders.

Ensuring that treatment is available and accessible in a collaborated treatment process for both disorders is 

essential to providing a successful path of recovery. The treatment of both mental health and substance use disorders 

can help prevent the exacerbation of other health problems, including cardiac and pulmonary diseases, according 

to SAMHSA’s Report to Congress on the Prevention and Treatment of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse Disorders 

and Mental Health Disorders.

23

Employees

Many people with substance use disorders are employed. In 2006, 61.5 percent of adults with a substance use 

disorder also were employed full time—translating into nearly 13 million people.24 Many companies are supportive 

of treatment. An overwhelming majority of human resources professionals (92 percent) agree that an effective 

treatment program increases employee productivity.25

In fact, treatment can make a truly significant difference in the workplace. Reported job problems, including incomplete 

work, absenteeism, tardiness, work-related injuries, mistakes, and disagreements with supervisors, are cut by an 

average of 75 percent among employees who have received treatment for substance use disorders.26
3

Since a large number of people with substance use disorders are employed full time, many treatment programs take 

this under consideration. Employees seeking treatment often can do so without interfering with their ability to perform 

their jobs. Intensive outpatient programs are effective and allow people to continue to work, while seeking treatment 

outside of work.27 Additionally, many companies offer employee assistance programs, which can help workers find 

a suitable treatment and recovery support program and provide confidential problem identification, short-term 

counseling, and follow-up services to help resolve the problem.28

Treatment and recovery options

There is a wide range of treatment options available today. The following chart outlines some of the common avenues 

people may take as part of their treatment and recovery process.

Medical Detoxification

Administered under the care of a physician who helps manage physical withdrawal symptoms, detoxification is a set of interventions aimed at managing 

a person’s safe withdrawal from a substance. Detoxification alone does not 

lead to lasting abstinence, since it does not address the psychological and 

behavioral facets of addiction.29

Inpatient Programs and 

Therapeutic Communities

Inpatient treatment is a type of program where people stay overnight at a 

hospital or treatment facility, for a few days to several months, to participate 

in rehabilitation and recovery.30 Programs can be short or long term, lasting 

3 to 6 weeks or many months. This type of treatment is often followed by 

extended participation in outpatient therapy (e.g., 12-step programs).31, 32

Some programs, like therapeutic communities, are long term, more structured, 

and focused on people with a long history of addiction.33

Outpatient Programs

These are programs where people live at home and receive treatment services 

during the day.34 Outpatient treatment can be offered in health clinics, 

community mental health clinics, counselors’ offices, hospital clinics, local 

health department offices, or at inpatient programs with outpatient clinics.35

Medical Maintenance 

Programs

This involves the use of medications, such as buprenorphine or 

naltrexone, as a component of treatment for addiction to opioids and 

alcohol, respectively.36, 37 Medication, such as methadone treatment, is 

used to help wean patients off of their dependency.38 More information 

can be found at www.dpt.samhsa.gov.
targeted outreach

4

For confidential information and treatment referral, please call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP 

or visit SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov. For more

information and materials about substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery, visit SAMHSA’s Center 

for Substance Abuse Treatment’s Web site at www.csat.samhsa.gov. Additional information is available at 

www.recoverymonth.gov. 

Therapy, Counseling, 

and Support Groups

Individual and/or group counseling and other behavioral therapies are essential 

components of effective long-term treatment. Therapy confronts issues of 

motivation, builds skills to resist substance use, replaces destructive activities 

with constructive behavior, and improves problem-solving abilities, as well 

as facilitates interpersonal relationships.39

Ongoing Support 

and Aftercare

Participation in mutual support groups during and following treatment is often 

helpful in sustaining recovery.40
5

SOURCES

1 What Does America Think About Addiction Prevention and Treatment? Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 24, March 2007, p. 1.

2 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4293. Rockville, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 

2007, p. 69.

3 “Cardiovascular Disease Statistics.” American Heart Association Web site: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4478. Accessed 

July 26, 2007.

4 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 69.

5 Ibid, pp. 74, 75.

6 Pathways of Addiction: Opportunities in Drug Abuse Research. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, 1996.

7 Alcohol and Drug Treatment: How it Works and How it Can Help You. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4292. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2007, p. 3.

8 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 23, 71-74. 

9 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. NIH Publication No. 99-4180. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, October 1999, p. 3.

10 Ibid.

11 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2006 Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities. DHHS Publication 

No. (SMA) 06-4296. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration, Office of Applied Studies, October 2007, p. 37.

12 Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 32: Treatment of Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 

99-3283. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center 

for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1999, section entitled “Executive Summary and Recommendations.”

13 Ibid.

14 Ibid.

15 Martin, K. Adolescent Treatment Programs Reduce Drug Abuse, Produce Other Improvements. NIDA Notes Volume 17, Number 1, April 2002. 

NIDA Web site: www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol17N1/Adolescent.html. Accessed September 26, 2007.

16 Hser, Y., Grella, C., Hsieh, S., Anglin, M.D. “An evaluation of drug treatment for adolescents in four U.S. cities.” Archives of General Psychiatry, 

58, July 2001, pp. 689-695.

17 “Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction.” National Institute on Drug Abuse Research and Report Series. Publication Number: 01-4881. 

Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, July 2001, pp. 5, 6.

18 “Substance Abuse and Misuse Among Older Adults.” Geriatric Mental Health Foundation Web site: www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/

factsheets/substnabuse_factsheet.html. Accessed September 18, 2007.

19 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2006 Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities. DHHS Publication 

No. (SMA) 06-4296. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration, Office of Applied Studies, October 2007, p. 37.

20 “Clinical Guidelines for Alcohol Use Disorders in Older Adults.” The American Geriatrics Society Web site, November 2003: 

www.americangeriatrics.org/products/positionpapers/alcoholPF.shtml, section entitled “Features of preferred treatment options for 

abuse/dependence among older adults.” Accessed September 18, 2007. 

21 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 83.

22 Ibid, p. 85.

23 Report to Congress on the Prevention and Treatment of Co-occurring Substance Abuse Disorders and Mental Health Disorders. Rockville, MD: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2002, p. ix.

24 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 74.

25 “Hazelden Foundation survey reveals disparity between severity of problem and employer assistance.” Hazelden Web site: www.hazelden.org/

web/public/2007workplacesurvey.page. Accessed September 18, 2007.

26 Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Outcome Research. St. Paul, MN: CATOR Connection, 1990.

27 Chalk, Mary Beth. Telephone Substance Abuse Treatment: The Next Generation of Care, pp. 17, 18.

28 U.S. Department of Labor Web site: www.dol.gov/asp/programs/drugs/workingpartners/dfworkplace/ea.asp, section entitled “Employee 

Assistance,” summary of p. 1. Accessed September 18, 2007.

29 Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 45: Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 06-4131. 

Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for 

Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006, pp. xv, 4.

30 “Inpatient Treatment.” Partnership for a Drug-Free America Web site: www.drugfree.org/Intervention/Glossary/Inpatient_Treatment. Accessed 

January 2, 2008.

31 “Drug Abuse and Addiction: Rehab, Self-Help and Treatment Options.” The Helpguide Web site: www.helpguide.org/mental/drug_abuse_

addiction_rehab_treatment.htm. Accessed September 26, 2007. 

32 Treatment Methods for Drug Addiction. Connecticut Clearinghouse, A Program of the Wheeler Clinic by the Department of Mental Health & 

Addiction Services, July 2004. Connecticut Clearinghouse Web site: www.ctclearinghouse.org/topics/customer-files/Treatment-Methods-forDrug-Addiction.pdf. Accessed September 26, 2007.

33 Ibid.
targeted outreach

6

34 “Outpatient Treatment.” Partnership for a Drug-Free America Web site: www.drugfree.org/Intervention/Glossary/Outpatient_Treatment. 

Accessed January 2, 2008.

35 What is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 04-3955. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2004. pp 9, 10, 11. 

36 Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 40: Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction. DHHS 

Publication No. (SMA) 04-3939. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2004, pp. 51, 58-59.

37 Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 28: Naltrexone and Alcoholism Treatment. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 98-3206. Rockville, MD: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse 

Treatment, 1998, Executive Summary.

38 “Drug Abuse and Addiction: Rehab, Self-Help and Treatment Options.” The Helpguide Web site: www.helpguide.org/mental/drug_abuse_

addiction_rehab_treatment.htm. Accessed September 26, 2007.

39 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide, p. 4.

40 Ibid, p. 5.
targeted outreach

1

Join the Voices for Recovery

Every year for National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month), the Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment shares the voices of many who have 

been through their own journey of addiction, treatment, and recovery. 

This year’s theme for Recovery Month is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery,” and with that in 

mind, the following stories represent the unique, real people who have seen their lives renewed through treatment and 

recovery. Share these vignettes to raise awareness of substance use disorders. Take what you learn from them to help 

someone you know realize he or she may have a problem with alcohol and/or drugs. Most importantly, spread the word 

that treatment is effective and recovery is possible.

Art Zwerling

Registered Nurse Anesthetist

I’m an alcoholic/addict who has been continuously sober since October 21, 1987. I am employed full 

time as a certified registered nurse anesthetist in the Philadelphia area. 

In October 1987, I was admitted to the Friends Hospital Alcoholism Recovery Program following

a death-defying relapse of my addiction to alcohol, sedatives, and pain medication. I was indeed 

fortunate to have been given the gift of desperation. I had been so completely defeated and 

spiritually eviscerated by my addiction that I was ready and willing to do whatever Doris, the 

director of my program, suggested to begin the road back to sobriety. While undergoing an 

excruciating detoxification, I was sent to a meeting with the Philadelphia Recovering Nurses 

Association. Doris introduced me to the group. There began my journey in recovery and adventures with advocating 

for health care professionals with the disease of chemical dependency. 

I have been tempted with relapse several times. In one particular example, I landed in the emergency room for a back 

problem. Despite my protests that I’m in recovery and I’ll do fine with a mild pain reliever, the hospital staff indicated that

I needed a stronger analgesic to be able to take an x-ray. I wanted another shot before the nurse had removed the syringe. 

Fortunately, my fear of relapse outweighed my rationalizations about trying to get more pain medication. When I got home 

I tore up the prescription for Percocet®. 

My recovery has helped me to further my career over the years. I have been a certified addictions counselor, group 

and family therapist, physician assistant, research associate in neuropharmacology, and critical care nurse. Currently 

I am completing my doctoral program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN.

Join the voices for recovery

1
targeted outreach

2

Barbara Nicholson Brown

Publisher, Arizona Together

Founder, The Art of Recovery

With over 17 years of continuous sobriety, I am still amazed at how my life has changed. As a 

young girl, I received the message that drinking was fun, made people laugh and joke, and caused 

you to think there was not a care in the world. Later I would see it destroy our family due to my 

alcoholic mother. I swore I would never be like her. But I followed in her path, step by step. From 

my first drink to my last, I was a blackout drinker. Somehow I managed to keep a job (sometimes), 

but I lost friends, respect, and self esteem along the way. I never wanted to admit I had a problem, 

though I knew it all along. Like many others I lied, cheated, and stole to get what I wanted. One 

drink led to 5 or 10 or 20, one bottle led to 5 in a sitting. At the end of 24 years of living driven by 

getting high, I am amazed I made it out alive. As a single woman, I was unable to have relationships 

because everything depended on how much others used. It was a selfish existence based on fear and self loathing. 

By the grace of God I hit my bottom in 1990. None of it was pretty. The bright side is I was given a chance to take a 

different course of action and I chose to do so out of desperation. Today I am publisher of a recovery newspaper, 

Arizona Together, and am the founder of The Art of Recovery Expo in Phoenix, AZ. We are part of Recovery Month

and we offer others a place to discover how to get help for themselves or their loved ones. 

Whose life is not touched by addiction? The work I have done to stay sober has been well worth the effort and I can 

never say thank you enough for the help I received. It really is one day at time. Life does not end because we get sober, 

life gets real and we get real with it. Drinking and drugging never made anything about my life better. My hand is out to 

help anyone who needs it.

Tonja Myles

Co-Founder and CEO, Set Free Indeed Ministry and Free Indeed Treatment Center

I had a traumatic experience early in my life, which accounts for many of my poor decisions. Once 

I started using marijuana, I said that was as far as I would go. I was fooling myself, and not long 

after, I started abusing cocaine. To help finance my habit, I started taking money from my parents. 

Addiction makes you become a different version of yourself; all my conniving and manipulative 

behavior was rooted in my drug dependence. 

Eventually, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I went to my grandmother for guidance. I 

think it is because of her prayers that I am still alive after all I’ve been through. She said, “Tonja, God 

can heal you from this mess.” It was a blessing to hear that through my faith, I could be forgiven. 

That night, I gave my life to the Lord and vowed to work toward sobriety.

I have started faith-based recovery treatment facilities, with the help and support of my husband. Even though I have 

committed my life to helping others, I still make sure I am sustaining my own recovery, no matter how long I have been 

sober. Ensuring that I continue to stay healthy is the only way I keep fighting my cause. 

My wish is for people to look within their families and their communities to know that addiction isn’t pretty but it’s 

real—and people do recover. If I could do anything, it would be to make it better known that people don’t have to suffer 

in silence. There is hope, help, and healing.
3

Lynn Marie Smith

Advisory Board, Partnership for a Drug Free America

Author, Speaker

I never wanted to become an addict, but it happened anyway. When I was offered drugs in a posh 

New York City apartment, it didn’t seem like a dangerous choice to make. Once I’d experienced the 

“high” of drugs, it was easy to go back to them, to ease my nerves, to get over a bad day, to numb 

the pain, for an extra burst of energy. My life quickly spiraled out of control. I rarely ate or slept, 

and when I did sleep I had nightmares and panic attacks. I ignored my deteriorating condition 

until one night I began to hallucinate uncontrollably. I spent 14 days in a psychiatric ward receiving 

treatment. I was placed on antipsychotics, antidepressants, sleeping medications, and mood 

stabilizers; basically they traded one set of drugs for another. The outcome was frightening and

life-altering. I was lucky enough to survive and, with faith and determination, recover. 

I have come to a place of love and understanding not only for myself, but also for all of the dark roads I have traveled. 

All that is left from these experiences are the lessons, the love. Today, I fulfill my life’s mission by inspiring people to 

live their truth and look within themselves for peace and happiness. I travel throughout North America, speaking in 

schools, jails, colleges, churches, and rehab programs. I have appeared on several television shows, including Oprah, 

MTV’s True Life, and The Dr. Keith Ablow Show. I am an advisory board member of the Partnership for a Drug Free 

America and have testified before Congress for reforms in drug education and policy. My book, Rolling Away, My 

Agony with Ecstasy was published by Simon and Schuster and I am currently in the process of publishing two more 

books: Dear Addict and Dying to LIV. I have been given a second chance, and that is not something everyone gets.

Regena Grant

Center Manager, Haight Ashbury Free Clinics Smith House/Smith Ryan Residential 

Detox for Women

As of April 8, 2008, I have been in long-term recovery for 7 years and 8 days. With every 

passing day, this number changes. Every day is better than the last; each is a true blessing. 

I was dependent on crack cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. I started off with recreational use, which 

quickly became abuse. I then became completely addicted. 

Once I got into recovery, I heard traumatic stories of abuse, abandonment, molestation, and more. 

None of those things happened to me. I had a secure family, a great childhood. However, I now 

know that addiction doesn’t care who you are.

The day I celebrated being clean for 2 years, the center manager where I received treatment asked if I wanted to work 

for the program. I became an on-call counselor and soon, became a permanent part-time counselor. Not long after that, 

I was promoted to lead treatment groups. I couldn’t believe that I was working full time, providing for my family, and 

helping people who were just like me before treatment. 

I couldn’t have gotten clean and sober without my family. My kids lived with my mother and grandmother when I 

couldn’t take care of them. They all helped each other. My life has completely turned around, and I am so lucky to have 

the opportunity to help others do the same.
targeted outreach

4

Reverend Hugh Tudor Foley

Priest and Treatment Center Chaplain

In 2001, I was confronted for my increasing alcoholic behavior—drinking at work, which 

happens to be a church—and a visible lack of ability to function. As a result, I went to Silver 

Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT. The gifts I received there gave me the foundation of recovery 

that continues today. Much of my work as a priest reflects what I have learned from meetings, 

sponsors, reading, and study. The wisdom I have discovered, as I see my Higher Power working 

through others, continues to be awesome. 

In addition to my parish service, I have begun a part-time chaplaincy at my treatment alma mater, 

Silver Hill Hospital. As I walk the same paths on that campus today that I walked as a patient, I am 

reminded daily of the gifts of recovery. The acknowledgement that spirituality plays a major role in recovery by clinicians 

encourages my own ministry. As chair of two diocesan committees on substance abuse, I have discovered that education 

of clergy is critical to helping so many who are in harm’s way. I try to follow the example of the many in recovery before 

me, while the support group to which I belong and all who attend remain anonymous. I am open about my continuing 

recovery so I can teach, counsel, and write. I encourage public awareness and clergy understanding, and I am an

advocate for legislative support for equality in insurance coverage for addiction recovery and mental illness.

Donald Kurth, M.D.

Chief of Addiction Medicine, Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center 

Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Preventive Medicine

Mayor, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

I count my recovery starting with my sobriety date, October 8, 1993; it was a long journey to get 

to that day. I was just a kid, really, when I started getting involved with alcohol and drugs. I come 

from a family where drinking is a part of many social activities, and it seemed to me that getting 

drunk and knowing how to drink was a rite of passage when I was growing up.

When I was about 14, I started really drinking with my buddies. I was using heroin before 

Christmas break my senior year of high school and got addicted right away. I got arrested in my 

early 20s and the judge gave me probation with a stipulation that I had to enter a drug program. 

I entered treatment on December 29, 1969, and was there for 27 months. After that, I never

touched drugs again. 

My initial treatment didn’t address my alcohol dependence, and in 1993, I entered a treatment program for it, stayed for 

31 days, and got connected with 12-step recovery. This has been the anchor in my recovery since.

In treatment, you learn to overcome the challenges that you will continue to face in life, but you do it in a protected 

environment. Unfortunately, a huge wall of discrimination exists for individuals who have been in jail or have had legal 

problems with drugs. Luckily, I am very persistent and recognized the importance of accomplishing my goals, such as 

finishing my education. My perseverance helped me overcome some of these barriers people in recovery experience 

and helped me circumvent any preconceived notions others had. 
5

Brenda Shebanek

Doctoral Candidate, Clinical Psychology

My addiction began when I was 13 after the death of my beloved mother and brother. I was lost 

in addiction for 21 years. The barriers to my recovery were unresolved grief, a lack of family and 

financial support, and a lack of services. However, recovery has given me the life that I deserved. 

Life now is richer in every way. I have healthy and rich family relationships, an interesting and 

gratifying career, a home, and a passion for helping others find their way out of difficulty. 

I have been in recovery now for more than 12 years and I am currently completing a doctorate 

in clinical psychology. My research interest is the stigma of addiction. The higher I go in my 

education and career, I can’t help but wonder if my past history of addiction affects the way 

people will view me, and if the social stigma associated with addiction and the discrimination that grows from this 

stigma will be a barrier to my future success. It makes me wonder how anyone can find the hope to recover when 

they face so many obstacles, especially if they have gotten into trouble with the law as a result of their addiction. 

As I study stigmatizing attitudes and stereotypes that people hold about those who have struggled with addiction, I am 

amazed at the obstacles that people face and yet still recover! It takes a lot of courage and determination. If you are 

struggling, don’t give up. If you know someone who has had an addiction, please remember that this does not mean 

that they are a bad or untrustworthy person, but more likely that life events, genetics, personality, the era that they 

grew up in, and environmental factors have all converged into this problem. It is not a life sentence. Change happens.

William Moyers

Vice President of External Relations, Hazelden

Author

I’ve been clean and sober since October 12, 1994, and my story is like many others. I had no 

idea that my casual use of legal and illegal substances could hijack my brain and steal my soul. 

I’m not what you expect. I had an idyllic childhood. I’m the product of two parents who loved 

me unconditionally. 

My first experimentation was around age 16 with marijuana. I voluntarily tried it and knew 

what I was using. This eventually led me down a path of drinking and a dependence on crack 

cocaine. I didn’t have any consequences early on. It’s clear to me now that, even though I tried 

to maintain a semblance of normalcy, those substances started to take over my life. 

I’m proof that addiction doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you are from the quiet suburbs of Long Island or the 

inner city of Chicago. Whether you are white or black, Jewish or Christian, it doesn’t matter. In 1989, I hit bottom in 

New York City. In the fall of 1989, I was sent to a treatment program. However, between 1989 and 1994, I was in and 

out of treatment four times, even though I was sober for nearly four of those years. 

In 1994, I was 35 years old and relapsed, again. I got one more chance, and I’ve been clean and sober ever since. 

Then the rest of my miracle happened and now I continue to live in recovery. Treatment is not a cure; it’s a solution. 
targeted outreach

6

I finally took personal responsibility for my disease and accepted the fact that I have a chronic illness and, to survive it, 

I have to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. 

I’m more than a treatment provider; I’m a recovery advocate. I advocate shifting the debate from just talking about 

the problem to working toward a solution—recovery. It doesn’t really matter how someone finds their way on a 

path of recovery. Whether they find an inpatient program, work the 12 steps, or find it on their own, I just want 

people to get well. 

Benneth Lee

Father, Advocate, Teacher

I first joined a gang when I was 10 years old. A gang provided protection and a way to escape 

the shame of poverty in my rough neighborhood where I lived on Chicago’s west side. I learned 

to hustle—as a result I had nice clothes; I drove nice cars. I also was becoming more and more 

entrenched in a life of crime and addiction. 

Arrested repeatedly, I served my first of several prison sentences at age 15. At 17, I began using 

heroin and eventually became addicted. My life consisted of drugs, crime, and jail time—a cycle 

repeated over and over again. At age 30, I was a high school dropout, could barely read, and 

I hadn’t held an official job in my life. What I had was an extensive criminal history, a serious 

addiction, and a reputation as a high-profile gang leader. I wanted out, but I didn’t know where to start. 

Things began to change for me in 1984. My cellmate at the time was an individual I used to hustle with on the streets. 

He told me that an organization called TASC could help me achieve the changes that I now desired. I was assigned to 

TASC as part of my probation and received my first chance at treatment for my substance use disorder. 

Over the course of two years, I went through the whole spectrum of treatment, starting in a residential program and 

gradually moving to less supervised forms of treatment. Each step strengthened my recovery and my resolve. With the 

support of my TASC and treatment counselors, I began looking for a job. I looked for three months before I even got 

my first interview. I finally entered the workforce with a position at a warehouse, and successfully completed parole 

and probation at age 32. 

I wanted to do more and help others struggling through life experiences similar to mine. So I enrolled in a training 

program for addiction counselors. That was almost 20 years ago. Today, I continue to work with individuals who are 

gang-affiliated and addicted, along with the agencies and institutions where they are involved. No matter how busy 

I get, I reach inside of myself every day to show others who might feel like I felt—as a kid of 10 or a man of 30—that 

there is another way. And, there are people and organizations that are here to help. 
targeted outreach

1

Treatment Providers and the Recovery 

Community: People Who Change Lives

A community with a history...

Substance use disorders affect millions, and no one witnesses more of their devastation than treatment providers 

and the recovery community. These groups of people see first hand the ramifications that addiction can have on a 

person’s life and how it affects their families. In fact, many treatment providers and individuals in the recovery 

community have experienced their own or a family member’s dependence on alcohol or drugs, making them 

important shepherds of these messages to society.

Year after year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance 

Abuse Treatment (CSAT) encourages every person to join this community and to help raise awareness about substance 

use disorders, treatment, and recovery. 

As part of the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) this September, 

SAMHSA is sharing the stories of real people as part of its theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real 

Recovery.” To coincide with this theme, SAMHSA is highlighting people who have experienced addiction and want to 

share their story of long-term recovery. The following is the experience of William Moyers. A former journalist, William 

now works with Hazelden, a treatment facility, is a founding member of Faces and Voices of Recovery, and is a recovery 

advocate and author.

No discrimination...

“I’ve been clean and sober since October 12, 1994, and my story is like many others. I had no idea that 

my casual use of legal and illegal substances could hijack my brain and steal my soul. I’m not what 

you expect. I’m the product of two parents who loved me unconditionally. I lacked for nothing morally, 

financially, emotionally, and spiritually. When I was born in 1959, my father was an ordained Southern 

Baptist minister, so I never struggled with a relationship with God. I always knew of a power greater 

than myself. 

“When I was a teenager, I did what a lot of teenagers did back then and continue to do today—

experiment with mood- and mind-altering substances. My first experimentation was around age 

16 with marijuana. I had no idea what effect it would have on me—in the short or long term. At first, 

it made me feel better about myself; it smoothed the rough edges of my imperfections. I instantly 

found what I thought was relief from all that ailed me, which was largely thoughts that I didn’t measure up or 

wasn’t perfect enough.

“I began to use alcohol when 18 was still the legal drinking age. I continued to be a good student and was the captain 

of the track team, a starting player on the football team, and the co-editor of the yearbook. It’s clear to me now that, 

even though I tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy, those substances started to take over my life. No one seemed 

to notice, though—I looked ‘normal.’ 

treatment providers and 

the recovery community

1

William Moyers
targeted outreach

2

“Even so, I did end up having one legal offense. I was arrested for a crime against property while I was intoxicated. 

And yet, because I didn’t ‘look’ like an addict or an alcoholic, everyone who learned about my arrest—my parents, 

my pastor, my girlfriend, my friends—couldn’t believe that I did that. While everyone chocked it up to a college 

prank, in reality it was probably the first big red flag of my addiction. Being drunk wasn’t an excuse, but it was an 

explanation why a logical person would break the law. Yet nobody saw it for what it really was—active alcoholism. 

“I’m proof that addiction doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you are from the quiet suburbs of Long Island or the 

inner city of Chicago. Whether you are white or black, Jewish or Christian, it doesn’t matter. I’m a prime example 

that you don’t have to look the part to become the part.”

Treatment providers, whether or not they have experienced their own addictions, know the realities of substance 

use disorders. In 2006, an estimated 22.6 million people aged 12 or older (9.2 percent of the population) suffered from 

a substance use disorder in the past year.1

 A substance use disorder means that a person is dependent on or abuses 

alcohol and/or drugs, including the nonmedical use of prescription drugs.2

As William’s life and the research show, substance use disorders are not uncommon and can affect people regardless 

of their age, race, gender, ethnicity, class, employment status, or community.3

 Marijuana was a popular drug of choice 

in William’s youth, and it continues to be widely used today. In 2006, marijuana was the most commonly used drug; 

4.2 million people aged 12 or older were dependent on or abused it, and more than 59 percent of all those with an illicit 

drug dependence were addicted to marijuana.4

 Alcohol dependence also was common, with nearly 19 million people 

aged 12 or older abusing or dependent on alcohol.5

There is no single cause of addiction. For a long time, society viewed a person’s addiction as a sign of lacking 

discipline or morality, or how they were raised. But William’s parents loved and supported him. Now, it is widely 

recognized that the causes of substance abuse are multifaceted, involving psychological, environmental, biological, 

and cultural factors.6 Not only are the causes of addiction complex, but many people dependent on alcohol and/or 

drugs also rely on a tangled web to hide their reality from others.

A double life...

“For the next 9 years, up until about 1989, I continued to lead a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ existence. On the outside, 

I was a competent reporter in Dallas and New York. I was married to a woman who, at the time, had no idea I 

was struggling with addiction. I was an active member of my church. I didn’t look, much less act (in public at 

least), like what people might think an alcoholic or drug addict would be like. My use of alcohol led to hard drugs, 

and by the time I was 30 years old, I was addicted to crack cocaine. While I owned a home, I spent most of my 

days and evenings in crack houses. I was functioning less and less, while making more and more of an effort to 

maintain the appearance of a functional person, a task that became increasingly difficult. My marriage was in 

trouble. My seemingly perfect life was starting to unravel.”
3

As many treatment providers and people in recovery can attest, substance use disorders can lead people to be 

in denial and feel indifferent about their struggle. This, along with the shame and stigma associated with substance 

use disorders, can prevent many from seeking the treatment they need. During the years 2004 through 2006, people 

who were aware they had a problem and needed treatment for a substance use disorder but did not receive it at a 

specialty facility listed the following reasons:

n 37.2 percent were not ready to stop using.

n 13.3 percent thought it would have a negative effect on their job.

n 11 percent were concerned that it might cause neighbors or the community to have a negative opinion 

of them.7

William, like many others, wrestled with a dependence on both alcohol and drugs. In 2006, 57.6 percent of youths aged 

12 to 17 who were heavy drinkers also were current illicit drug users.8

 Among the 16.9 million heavy drinkers aged 12 

or older, 32.6 percent were current illicit drug users. People who were not current alcohol users were less likely to have 

used illicit drugs in the past month (3.4 percent).9

 William, like many who face addiction, was about to hit his personal 

low point.

Picking myself up, falling, and finding redemption...

“In 1989, I hit bottom. I was locked up in a psychiatric ward in a hospital for almost 3 weeks, mentally unstable 

from my cocaine addiction. In the fall of 1989, I was sent to Hazelden, a treatment program in Minnesota. Between 

1989 and 1994, I was in and out of treatment four times, even though I was sober for nearly 4 of those years. I was 

very fortunate that I didn’t die and that I kept getting one opportunity after another.

“In 1994, I was working as a journalist for CNN in Atlanta and was remarried to a woman who had been sober for 

5 years herself, with two small boys at home. I was 35 years old and relapsed, again. My only explanation is that I 

have a chronic disease that I was not paying attention to and never truly became a willing participant in managing 

it until that point. On the morning of October 12, 1994, my wife, parents, employer, and a representative from the 

county sheriff’s department staged an intervention to pluck me from the abyss of darkness, despair, and death. 

“So I got one more chance, and I’ve been clean and sober ever since. I went to a residential treatment facility for 

100 days in Atlanta, a place called Ridgeview Institute. From counselors to clergy and even the household help, 

everyone who was involved in my treatment conveyed a sense of compassion, dignity, and respect. They were 

good to me, but at times that meant challenging me on my honesty and willingness.

“Then the rest of my miracle happened and now I continue to live in recovery. Recovery, for me, is grounded in 

the 12 steps—in an awareness of a power greater than me, God. That recovery is rooted in the fellowship of my 

fellow travelers, other people who are like me—people in recovery. On that October 12, I finally took personal 

responsibility for my disease and accepted the fact that I have a chronic illness and, to survive it, I have to be 

part of the solution, not part of the problem. 
targeted outreach

4

“During my other treatment experiences, I didn’t understand that the biggest priority in my life had to be recovery. 

To service all the other priorities in my life, recovery must be put first. I didn’t understand that every morning 

when I woke up, I had to put that commitment first. And every night, I have to remember to be thankful that I have 

completed another day of sobriety. Early on, I viewed recovery like someone might view taking out the garbage. I 

would think about it maybe once a week, but certainly not every day. But in recovery, I had to see that every day is 

critical to the success of the entire process.”

William, like so many others in the recovery community, entered a pattern of abuse that spun out of control and 

into a chronic illness—a common reality of addiction.10 Substance use disorders are medical conditions that can 

be effectively treated, just as numerous other illnesses are treatable.11, 12

Treatment for drug use disorders is just as effective as treatment for other chronic conditions, such as high blood 

pressure, asthma, and diabetes.13 For example, up to 70 percent of patients in treatment for alcohol dependence, 

60 percent in treatment for a cocaine dependence, and up to 80 percent of those in opiate treatment are successful.14

Recovery is possible when a long-lasting commitment is made; however, relapse is possible. Just as someone who is 

being treated for asthma might struggle with staying healthy, relapse does not mean that treatment will never work or 

the person is not making an effort to succeed.15 William relapsed several times throughout his recovery. His experience 

reiterates the need to educate the community that recovery from a substance use disorder can be a long-term process 

requiring multiple episodes of treatment.16

While it is a somewhat frequent occurrence, relapse sometimes can be prevented. People who received treatment 

for a substance use disorder within 30 days of going through detoxification took 40 percent longer to relapse, if at all, 

according to research from SAMHSA.17 Detoxification is a type of treatment facility where many people go through 

addiction withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, people who attended support programs, such as 12-step programs 

including Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, in addition to receiving treatment, are more likely to

sustain recovery.18

Recovery homes also help prevent relapse. Oxford House alone has more than 1,200 democratically run, self-supporting, 

drug-free homes to help people sustain their recovery. The success rate in helping people achieve sobriety in this type 

of setting ranges from 65 to 87 percent.19

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a potential relapse to alert treatment providers about can help those in the 

recovery community sustain each other. Things to watch for include:

n Complacency when life begins to improve. People in long-term recovery may believe that they no longer need 

to focus on their recovery efforts; they may be convinced they will never begin using again.

n Lack of self-care as the person becomes exhausted and develops or returns to irregular eating or poor general 

health habits.

n Increasing or return to denial. People in long-term recovery may start rationalizing, justifying, minimizing, or 

generalizing addictive thinking and behavior.
5

n Isolation and attempting to solve problems on their own; they may not share what is going on with others.

n Setting unrealistic goals or wanting too much progress too quickly.

n Discounting or discontinuing a recovery program, such as neglecting to attend 12-step meetings or 

counseling sessions.20

What now...

“Part of my sobriety includes listening to others and what was around me. In detoxification, I had a spiritual 

awakening that led me back to Minnesota, the location of my first round of treatment. I didn’t have—or even 

need to know—the answer for why I was impelled to move back, but I knew I needed to get back there and trust 

the process; trust myself in recovery.

“One year after my family and I moved, I happened upon an ad for a position at Hazelden for a public policy 

specialist. I originally didn’t go back to Hazelden to help save the world from alcohol and drug addiction; 

I went back to stay sober for myself. However, in the process, I’ve found a way to help achieve both.

“Eleven years later, I’m the vice president of external relations at Hazelden. Most of my work is spent out in the 

field, down in the trenches with people in recovery. I was fortunate enough to have published a memoir a few 

years ago and from it have received thousands of e-mails from people who are just like me and have families 

just like mine. I answer every e-mail. I feel my book has changed a lot of the public understanding about addiction 

because it was written by a person no different than your neighbor.

“I’m more than a treatment provider; I’m a recovery advocate. I advocate shifting the debate from just talking about 

the problem to working toward a solution—recovery. It doesn’t really matter how someone finds their way on a 

path of recovery. Whether they find an inpatient program, work the 12 steps, or find it on their own, I just want 

people to get well.”

Recovery opens a world of possibilities. Many people who achieve long-term recovery become active in the recovery 

community or even treatment providers themselves. Half of the general recovery community has said that they would 

be very or fairly likely to actively take part in a public campaign to speak out about the benefits of recovery. People in 

recovery want others to know that they overcame personal and professional barriers to turn their lives around. After all 

they have been through, many want to give back and help others in need. Perhaps most importantly, people who have 

been through treatment and recovery want everyone to know that people dependent on alcohol and/or drugs can get 

better and help others do the same.21

To improve access to treatment and recovery services, SAMHSA administers the Access to Recovery grant 

program, an initiative announced by President Bush in 2003 to help people in need of treatment secure the best 

options available to meet their needs. The competitive grant program gives recipient states, territories, the District of 

Columbia, and tribal organizations broad discretion to design and implement federally supported voucher programs to 

pay for a range of effective, community-based substance use disorder clinical treatment and recovery support services. 

By providing vouchers to people who need treatment, the grant program promotes individual choice for treatment and 

recovery services. It also expands access to care and increases substance use disorder treatment capacity.
targeted outreach

6

Another grant program offered by SAMHSA is the Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP). In RCSP 

grant projects, peer-to-peer recovery support services are provided to help people initiate and sustain recovery 

from substance use disorders. Some RCSP grant projects also offer support to family members of people needing, 

seeking, or in recovery. More information can be found at http://rcsp.samhsa.gov/index.htm.

Sustaining recovery...

“I now have three children—all of whom are pre-teens or teenagers and entering their formidable years. It also 

is the same time when many teenagers begin to experiment with risky behaviors, just as I did. Both my wife and

I are in recovery, so it is very important to us that our children know they are at risk of inheriting what is now 

known to be a genetic predisposition to alcohol and drug addiction. Even though we have both been clean and 

sober for so long, my children are still susceptible to becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs. Because of this, 

we are incredibly open with them about our experiences and the impact they have on our lives. We’ve explained 

what it means to be addicted, what treatment is, and what recovery is and set clear expectations and boundaries. 

They understand it’s possible to have a good time at a football game or celebrate a birthday without drinking. 

“Because of the shame and stigma associated with addiction, some people feel that by spreading the message 

that help is available, we are condoning experimentation. We are not. There needs to be an acknowledgement that 

whether you are 16 or 70, help is available for you. You shouldn’t be shamed into running away from it. 

“I believe that coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. And that’s the only way I can explain how my 

life has worked out. For example, the day I found the wonderful opportunity at Hazelden was the first day I’ve ever 

read the classifieds in the newspaper. I believe that was a coincidence through God. The only way I’ve been able 

to continue my commitment to recovery is to trust the process and trust the coincidences. Addiction does not 

discriminate and neither does recovery.”

William and his wife make it a priority for their children to understand their experiences—something everyone 

can achieve. As a treatment provider or member of the recovery community, you can serve as a role model, telling 

people what to expect from treatment and that it is effective and recovery is possible. Communicating this concept is 

paramount because stigma and misconceptions about substance use disorders and treatment can keep people from 

seeking help.22, 23

To raise awareness nationwide, hundreds of communities and thousands of people across the country will recognize 

Recovery Month this September. Treatment providers and the recovery community already do so much to help this 

cause, but you can go a step further during Recovery Month and beyond by:

1. Reaching out to families. Family members—children, spouses, and even parents—of people with substance 

use disorders are frequently in need of education and support and may require referrals that can help them 

understand the recovery process. Make sure you are addressing their needs in your outreach efforts.

2. Creating a community coalition. Community coalitions are an excellent way to consolidate resources. They 

provide support services and plans for those in need. Information on how to form a coalition and examples 

of local coalitions that support community-wide efforts are available in the “Building Community Coalitions” 

document in this planning toolkit.
7

3. Planning or sponsoring an event. Events can educate the community about substance use disorders, 

treatment, and recovery. An example could be a run/walk event or any other activity that promotes 

a healthy lifestyle.

4. Speaking with key influencers. Open a dialogue with elected officials, local business leaders, or other 

influencers about substance use disorders and what they can do to make treatment more accessible to 

members of the community. 

For more resources that can help treatment providers and the recovery community, please consult the 

“Provider and Professional Organizations” section in the “Recovery Month Resources” brochure in this planning 

toolkit, or visit the Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov. For additional Recovery Month

materials, visit www.recoverymonth.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP.
targeted outreach

8

SOURCES

1 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4293. Rockville, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 

2007, p. 69.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid, pp. 71-74.

4 Ibid, p. 70.

5 Ibid, p. 69.

6 “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention at Stanford.” Stanford University Web site: www.stanford.edu/dept/helpcenter/AlcoholDrugs.html. 

Accessed August 23, 2007.

7 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 79.

8 Ibid, p. 29.

9 Ibid, p. 37.

10 Leshner, A.I. “Oops: How Casual Drug Use Leads to Addiction.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 

National Institute on Drug Abuse Web site: www.nida.nih.gov/Published_Articles/Oops.html. Accessed August 23, 2007.

11 Pathways of Addiction: Opportunities in Drug Abuse Research. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, 1996.

12 Kleber, H.D., O’Brien, C.P., Lewis, D.C., McLellan, A.T. “Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: Implications for treatment, insurance, and 

outcomes evaluation.” Journal of the American Medical Association, p. 1689.

13 Ibid.

14 Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem. The Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University and the Robert 

Wood Johnson Foundation, February 2001, pp. 109, 110.

15 “New Insights into Relapse.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse 

Web site: www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol17N3/DirRepVol17N3.html. Accessed September 25, 2007.

16 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. NIH Publication No. 99-4180. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, October 1999, p. 5.

17 Mark, T.L., Vandivort-Warren, R., Montejano, L.B. “Factors affecting detoxification readmission: Analysis of public sector data from three states.” 

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 31(4), 2006, pp. 439-445.

18 So Help Me God: Substance Abuse, Religion and Spirituality. New York: The National Center on Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 

November 2001, p. 3.

19 Oxford House Web site: www.oxfordhouse.org/userfiles/file/doc/ap_depaul.pdf. Accessed January 3, 2008.

20 “Signs and Symptoms.” The Watershed Addiction Treatment Programs Web site: www.thewatershed.com/symptoms.html. Accessed 

September 25, 2007.

21 The Face of Recovery. Washington, D.C.: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., October, 2001, pp. 13, 14.

22 “The President’s National Drug Control Strategy.” Washington, D.C.: Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site, March 2004: 

www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/policy/ndcs04/message%5Fdata%5Fsupl.html. Accessed December 14, 2004.

23 Faces & Voices of Recovery Public Survey. Washington, D.C.: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., and Coldwater Corporation, 

May 4, 2004, p. 1.

 
targeted outreach

1

Families: The Unsung Heroes of Recovery

A family disease...

Substance use disorders can be isolating for people suffering from them, as well as for their families. All involved may 

suffer from health consequences or face stigma and discrimination. An alcohol and/or drug addiction can become so 

consuming that many people lose sight of what really matters. In addition to becoming separated from their communities, 

people with substance use disorders often detach from their families, whose needs also must be addressed throughout the 

recovery process. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 

(CSAT) makes it a priority to raise awareness about these issues and celebrate those who have entered a path of recovery, 

as well as their families. SAMHSA is celebrating the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 

(Recovery Month) this September.

As part of this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery,” SAMHSA is urging people from 

every community to share their stories of addiction, treatment, and long-term recovery. To that end, the following is the 

story of Regena Grant, center manager at the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics Smith House/Smith Ryan Residential Detox for 

Women. Her family was instrumental in helping her pick up the pieces from her addiction and put her life back together 

through treatment and long-term recovery.

Never fitting in...

“As of April 8, 2008, I have been in long-term recovery for 7 years and 8 days. With every passing 

day, this number changes. Each day is better than the last; each is a true blessing. I was dependent 

on crack cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. As with many people with addictions, I started off with

recreational use, which quickly became abuse. I then became completely addicted. 

“I couldn’t have gotten clean and sober without my family. My kids lived with my mother and 

grandmother during the last six months of my addiction when I couldn’t take care of them. My 

grandmother took care of my newborn when I was in treatment, and when I was at my lowest point, 

she was so supportive of me.

“My parents divorced when I was 2 years old. Going back and forth between my parents was normal 

for me. My father was very strict. He instilled in me education and a work ethic to always succeed. 

Living with my father growing up, I became a ‘people pleaser.’

“Once I got into recovery, I heard all of these traumatic stories of why people were addicted. Some were abused, 

abandoned, molested, and other horrible stories. None of those things happened to me. I had a secure family, a great 

childhood. I wondered, ‘Why was I an addict?’

“For me, addiction stemmed from my inability to love myself. When I started putting the pieces of my puzzle together, it 

occurred to me that when the kids at school and my cousin would tease me, it affected my self worth. My family is very 

fair skinned, while I am very dark skinned. As young as 5 years old, I even remember trying to wash the black off of me.”

families

1

Regena Grant
targeted outreach

2

People from all backgrounds are susceptible to addiction, and most Americans face a substance use disorder at some 

point in life, whether it is their own or that of a friend or family member. In fact, 69 percent of people have known 

someone who has a problem with alcohol or drugs.1

 A substance use disorder means that a person is dependent on or 

abuses alcohol and/or drugs, including the nonmedical use of prescription drugs.2

 Substance use disorders can affect 

people regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, class, employment status, or community.3

There is no single cause of substance use disorders. Regena’s parents were supportive and wanted the best for her, yet 

she still went down a road of addiction. For a long time, society viewed a person dependent on alcohol and/or drugs as 

lacking discipline or morality. Now, it is widely recognized that the causes of substance abuse are complex, involving 

psychological, environmental, biological, and cultural factors. Treatment is designed to approach the illness comprehensively 

and includes a variety of therapies and methods to help individuals in recovery through changing their behaviors.4

A slippery slope...

“My mother was much more lenient than my father. With my newfound freedom, I became pregnant when I was 

16, giving birth at 17. My entire family was supportive of me, even my father, who I thought would be upset. After I 

had my baby, I moved out of my mom’s house and in with a new boyfriend. He pressured me to smoke marijuana, 

and one day I did. After a while of recreational use, I tried crack mixed with marijuana. The very first time I smoked 

it, I was addicted. I was 18 years old. I also started drinking at age 19. 

“When I was 21, I became pregnant with my second son, and managed to stay clean during my pregnancy. I will never

forget when I went into premature labor with my second child. The doctor came in and told me, ‘Everything is 

going to be okay with your baby, but you have AIDS.’ In reality, I actually was just HIV positive. But this was 1990, a 

time when HIV hadn’t really hit the heterosexual community and the disease wasn’t well understood. I didn’t know 

what to think. I thought I was going to die and that my baby was going to die. Thank God, my baby was HIV negative.

“But until I got clean—10 years later—all my aspirations and hopes went out the window. I was in denial about my 

situation and got re-acquainted with my addiction. I was in such a fog that 4 months after my new son was born, I 

became pregnant again. I started using, and my grandmother and mother basically locked me in the house for the 

last 4 months of my pregnancy so I wouldn’t use. That’s the only reason my third child wasn’t born addicted, and 

fortunately, was HIV negative.

“I was in so much emotional pain and hurt at the time. Even though I was surrounded by my family, I felt so 

alone and isolated with my disease. Drugs became my friend, my escape. I didn’t think I was deserving of love 

or attention and blocked out everything around me.”

No one plans to become addicted to alcohol or drugs, yet so many who do enter a pattern of abuse that spins out 

of control.5

 But there is hope; substance use disorders are medical conditions that can be effectively treated, just

as numerous other illnesses are treatable.6, 7 In fact, treatment for substance use disorders is just as effective as 

treatments for other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes.8

In 2006, 22.6 million people aged 12 or older were suffering from a substance use disorder in the past year, and many 

abused the same substances as Regena:

n 23 percent of the population reported binge drinking in the last 30 days; 6.9 percent of the population reported 

heavy drinking.

n 0.7 percent of the population (1.7 million people) reported a dependence on crack cocaine and 1.7 percent a 

dependence on marijuana (4.2 million people).9
3

Risky behaviors can be associated with substance use disorders and are one of the main factors in the spread of HIV 

infection in the United States. Many young smokers of crack cocaine, particularly women who engaged in risky behavior, 

are at higher risk for HIV infection, exhibiting HIV prevalence rates as high as 30 percent.10 Drugs can change the way 

the brain works, disrupting how people weigh risks and benefits when making decisions.11 Regena did not abuse any 

injectable drugs—a high-risk behavior attributed to many cases of HIV—yet she still was infected with the disease.

Losing my family...

“My addiction progressively got worse over a period of years until it finally spiraled out of control. I became 

homeless and my mother took my children from me. Throughout my life and my addiction, I had a list of things 

that I said I would never do. One by one, I started crossing things off the list because of my actions. I had said 

that if my mother ever took my kids, I would stop using; if I became homeless and living on the street, I would 

stop using. Nothing mattered and I kept on my downward spiral.

“One day, a man saw me sitting outside a store and asked if I needed shelter for the night. He got me a hotel room 

and I used the opportunity to drink and use. The next day, another man asked if he could help me. He was a Hell’s 

Angel who told me, ‘You are in hell and I’m your angel.’ He fed me and told me how he overcame an addiction to 

methamphetamine, and that if he could do it, I could, too.

“I heard him talk, but I didn’t really listen to what he said. I didn’t process it. Over the next three months or so, I did 

a lot of things that were risky and dangerous. I was in pure survival mode and did what I thought I needed to do to 

keep using.”

Regena’s experience made it clear that addiction does not just negatively affect the person abusing alcohol and/or 

drugs, but the entire family, spanning generations. Nearly 24 percent of children (or 17 million) live in a household 

where a parent or other adult is a binge or heavy drinker, and approximately 13 percent of children (or 9.2 million) 

live in one where a parent or other adult uses illicit drugs.12

Regena had the support of her mother and grandmother to help with her children when her addiction was at its peak, 

but many other families are not as lucky. Children whose families do not receive appropriate treatment for substance 

use disorders are more likely to remain in foster care longer and re-enter the system after they have returned home.13 

Family members living with someone who has a substance use disorder can suffer from psychological and emotional 

stress, as well as physical problems such as insomnia, headaches, allergies, asthma, gastrointestinal problems, 

cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.14

School trouble is another side effect of having a parent who has a substance use disorder. While some children 

may mask the confusion and isolation that stem from a family member’s substance use disorder by becoming high 

achievers in school, many others are at a greater risk of encountering academic problems because of an unstable 

home environment.15

Even though Regena was able to get shelter for her children, she was homeless for a while, as are many others with 

substance use disorders. In 2004, there were 175,300 cases in which a homeless person was admitted to substance 

abuse treatment (about 13 percent of all treatment admissions in which SAMHSA’s Treatment Episode Data Set

recorded known living arrangements). This was an increase from 10 percent of TEDS admissions reported to be 

homeless in 2000. Alcohol was the primary substance of abuse for more than half of the substance abuse treatment 

admissions who were homeless (52 percent), followed by opiates (21 percent) and cocaine (17 percent).16
targeted outreach

4

If at first you don’t succeed...

“When you are using drugs, you become fearless. I only lived this risky lifestyle for 2 or 3 months because 

I received some unexpected news. I was pregnant again. It remained a mystery to me for quite some time. 

Even though I lived on the wild side, I thought I didn’t do anything to cause a pregnancy. I checked myself into a 

psychiatric facility I had been to a few times because of my own past attempts on my life. I didn’t really want to die. 

I just wanted to stop using drugs and couldn’t. The case manager there recommended me to a treatment facility.

“The first program they found for me wouldn’t allow me to disclose my HIV status to others in the facility because 

they didn’t want me to feel alienated. I said that they needed to find me another program because I already felt 

alienated. They referred me to Lodestar House, a program for HIV-positive women and part of Haight Ashbury Free 

Clinics. While there, I had a vision. It was of the man who had gotten me the hotel room when I needed a place to 

stay. I had blacked out and didn’t remember what had happened that night. The vision showed me what happened 

and how I had become pregnant the third time.

“After I had my baby, my treatment program allowed me to live with my grandmother for 3 months so I could spend 

time with my newborn. My grandmother had always believed that for the first 30 days, a new mother had to stay in 

the house to bond with her child. On day 31, I went out and smoked crack. I had tried to get clean for my baby, not 

because I was sick and tired of using drugs. I relapsed and was brought back to the program after about 2 days. 

“Once back in treatment, I was doing well, but soon after I left the grounds, I relapsed again. The next morning as 

the sun came up, I had a feeling that I could only describe as being lost in my own soul. I felt so empty and alone, 

mentally and emotionally bankrupt. It was a feeling I never wanted to have again. I had always made promises that 

I would never use again, but this time it was different. It was the last time I used drugs.

“In the program, I vowed to do whatever the counselors told me to do. After my detoxification—a type of treatment 

facility where many people go through their addiction withdrawal symptoms—I started working the 12 steps and 

following the program so I could see my kids. My family was included in treatment events and spent weekends 

with me during visiting hours. 

“Everyone was very involved in my treatment. I made a commitment to them and myself, and I stayed clean. At 

the end of my 17 months living at the treatment center, the center manager said, ‘Regena, I see something in you. 

When you stay clean for two years, I will guarantee you a job.’ She didn’t say if, she said when.”

Substance use disorders are family diseases, since the consequences of addiction and importance of long-term 

recovery affect all members of the family. Regena relapsed in her initial treatment, and it is important for families 

to understand that recovery from a substance use disorder can be a long-term process requiring multiple episodes 

of treatment.17 The treatment and recovery process can be healing for the entire family, and it is important to have 

individualized care addressing the specific needs of the family for a more successful treatment and long-term recovery.

A successful treatment program matches treatment settings, interventions, and services to each person’s specific 

problems and needs. This is critical for success in rejoining the community and becoming a productive member in the 

family, workplace, and society.18 For Regena, it was essential that she was treated in a program that addressed her HIV 

status in addition to her substance use disorder. Treatment for substance disorders, HIV/AIDS, and other co-occurring 

conditions, such as medical, psychological, and familial problems, should reflect the interconnected relationships of 

each condition and be coordinated as much as possible.19

Fortunately, family members can help motivate their loved ones to access treatment and celebrate their successes in 

long-term recovery. Treatment and recovery support programs can make a difference in engaging family members and 

utilizing a family’s strengths and resources to promote a lifestyle without alcohol and drugs. These programs also can 

help families recognize their own needs, provide healing for each other, and help prevent substance use disorders from 

moving from one generation to another.20
5

Family-oriented programs are widely available and effective. Resources such as Al-Anon Family Groups are open to 

anyone affected by someone else’s drinking. Recently, Al-Anon found that 82 percent of their members reported much 

improved mental health and well-being due to Al-Anon and 73 percent reported a greater ability to function at home, 

school, or work.21 In addition, there are programs and resources to help children understand how a parent’s substance 

use disorder affects them. SAMHSA’s Children’s Program Kit provides activities and information for educational support 

programs for children of addicted parents. The Strengthening Families and Celebrating Families! programs offer recovery 

support for the whole family. For these and more family-related recovery resources, please visit the Recovery Month

Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov.

Programs for parents with addiction help them address the disease, improve their lives and successfully resume their 

parenting roles. According to one study, women who stayed in comprehensive treatment longer than three months 

were more likely to remain alcohol and drug free than those who left within the first three months of treatment (68 

percent versus 48 percent).22

Building a life...

“My only housing option after treatment was a subsidized housing project in an area that wasn’t conducive to helping 

me stay clean. The building my mother lived in was secure and safe. I wanted to live there to be closer to her and to 

commit to my sobriety. The building manager would see me visiting my kids all the time, but said that I had to earn 

three times the rent to live there, which wasn’t realistic. Soon, the manager said, ‘I’m going to take a chance on you.’

 “All I had the day I left the program was $5, four kids, and two keys, but I was thankful to be alive and healthy. 

When I left the program, I had been clean one year. I got my kids back that same day and moved into my brand 

new apartment.

“In the one-bedroom apartment, I gave my kids the bedroom while I slept on a sofa bed. This is how we lived for 

2 1/2 years. People would ask how I could live in a one bedroom with all of my kids. I would reply, ‘Humbly and 

gratefully! Because I used to sleep outside.’ 

“The day I celebrated being clean for 2 years, the center manager of Lodestar House called me and asked if I was 

ready to come to work. I was shocked because I didn’t think she had been serious. I became an on-call counselor 

for the program. Soon, I became a permanent part-time counselor. Not long after that, I was promoted to a primary 

counselor of Lodestar House, where I would lead treatment groups. I couldn’t believe that I was working full time, 

providing for my family, and helping people who were just like me before treatment. 

“I said before that my father instilled in me education and a work ethic. Addiction did not take that away. I was 

promoted to supervisor at Lodestar House, the very same detox center where I was a client, and a year ago, I was 

promoted to center manager of Haight Ashbury Free Clinic’s Residential Detox Services for Women. This job is 

truly a blessing because I am helping people, and since I’ve been there, I can relate to the clients. 

“I’ve never once in the four years I’ve worked said, ‘I don’t want to go to work today.’ I’m blessed for every day I 

get to come in and plant the seed of recovery in others. This job has empowered me and I wouldn’t change a thing. 

I’m grateful to have gone through my experiences with addiction and for my HIV status because it has made me 

the strong, black woman I never thought I could be.

“I used to say, ‘Why me? Why did I use drugs? Why did I get HIV?’ Now I know why. It’s so I can give others hope 

and help them save themselves.
targeted outreach

6

“I had been clean and in recovery for about 2 years when my grandmother passed away. I’m so happy she had the 

opportunity to see me clean. My mother has stuck with me through it all. She had a heart attack about a year and a 

half ago and has been in and out of the hospital. I’m now able to help take care of her just like she took care of me. 

“She inspires me to keep going every day. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she responded, 

‘Just for you to stay clean.’ I’m very open and honest with my children, and they don’t have any shame. I’ve heard 

them talking to their friends about how proud they were that I got clean; I am just as proud of them. My children 

are now 21, 17, 16, and 6. I never thought I would be sober or see my oldest son graduate high school. I’m also a 

grandmother now, too!”

Since Regena was able to find support from both the older and younger generations of her family, she trusts that 

they will continue to look out for her. It also is important for parents to understand that their children may need help 

and recovery support for the pain and losses that can be caused by addiction. At the same time, older children and 

immediate family members need to know how to recognize the signs and symptoms of substance use disorders. 

The following are the physical and behavioral signs to watch for23:

Physical symptoms

n Any changes in eating habits; unexplained weight loss or gain

n Inability to sleep; awake at unusual times; unusual laziness

n Red, watery eyes; pupils larger or smaller than usual; blank stare

n Cold, sweaty palms; hands shaking

n Puffy face; blushing; paleness

n Smell of substance on breath, body, or clothes

n Extreme hyperactivity; excessive talkativeness

n Nausea; vomiting; excessive sweating

Behavioral symptoms

n Change in overall attitude/personality with no other identifiable cause

n Changes in friends; new hang-outs; sudden avoidance of old crowd; reluctance to talk about new friends; 

associating with known drug users

n Change in activities or hobbies

n Change in habits at home; loss of interest in family and family activities

n General lack of motivation, energy, and self-esteem; an “I don’t care” attitude

n Moodiness; irritability; nervousness
7

n Silliness; giddiness; paranoia

n Secretive or suspicious behavior

n Chronic dishonesty

n Unexplained need for money, or stealing money or items

Family members also can use a variety of resources designed to help families cope with a substance use disorder. 

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) provides programs, publications, research, conferences, professional 

development, and consultation to address the needs of American children, young people, and families. For more 

information, contact CWLA at 202-638-4918 or visit www.cwla.org. Additionally, the National Association for Children 

of Alcoholics (NACoA) is a national nonprofit organization that works on behalf of children of alcohol- and drugdependent parents and their family members. For more information, call 888-55-4COAS or visit www.nacoa.org. 

Making a difference...

“My greatest wish for the recovery community is for programs to not be dependent on a specific budget. Any 

program should be available to every person seeking treatment. When funding runs out and treatment programs 

close, people are not getting the help they need. Every time we have a review at our facility, there is a fear that one 

of our programs will be shut down. Every month, our program has a waiting list of at least 30 women. People need 

to reach out to touch the community and share their stories so everyone can be healthy. My life has completely 

turned around, and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to help others do the same.”

All of us can help make Regena’s dream a reality by continuing to raise awareness about substance use disorders 

and how they are a family disease. This September, hundreds of communities and thousands of people all across 

the country—both those in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder and their families—will recognize 

Recovery Month. Family members and people in the community interested in making a difference can help celebrate 

Recovery Month this September and beyond in the following ways:

1. Speak out about your experiences with a family member’s substance use disorder and recovery. Use Recovery 

Month to tell your friends, coworkers, and fellow community members about how you supported a family 

member through treatment and recovery and found healing for yourself, too.

2. Talk to local elected officials about substance use disorders and what they can do to make treatment more 

accessible to members of the community. Explain that addiction is a medical illness and that treatment is effective.

3. Volunteer to be a mentor for a child who has a parent or close relative with a substance use disorder. Mentors 

can serve as crucial support figures, promoting learning, providing exposure to positive influences, and helping 

youths realize their full potential at a difficult time.

4. Plan an event at your workplace, religious institution, or community center that celebrates people in long-term 

recovery and educates those unfamiliar with substance use disorders about the signs and how to help.

For more resources that can help people dealing with substance use disorders in their family, please consult the 

“Family and Social Services” section in the “Recovery Month Resources” brochure in this planning toolkit, or visit 

the Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov. For additional Recovery Month materials, visit 

www.recoverymonth.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP.
targeted outreach

8

SOURCES

1 What Does America Think About Addiction Prevention and Treatment? Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 24, March 2007, p. 1.

2 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4293. Rockville, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 

2007, p. 69.

3 Ibid, pp. 71-74.

4 “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention at Stanford.” Stanford University Web site: www.stanford.edu/dept/helpcenter/AlcoholDrugs.html. 

Accessed August 23, 2007.

5 Leshner, A.I. “Oops: How Casual Drug Use Leads to Addiction.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 

National Institute on Drug Abuse Web site: www.nida.nih.gov/Published_Articles/Oops.html. Accessed August 23, 2007.

6 Pathways of Addiction: Opportunities in Drug Abuse Research. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, 1996.

7 Kleber, H.D., O’Brien, C.P., Lewis, D.C., McLellan, A.T. “Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: Implications for treatment, insurance, and 

outcomes evaluation.” Journal of the American Medical Association, p. 1689.

8 Ibid.

9 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 3,70, 255.

10 Drug Abuse and AIDS: Intertwined Epidemics. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute 

on Drug Abuse Web site: www.nida.nih.gov/OOA/InterEpidem.html. Accessed August 23, 2007.

11 “Drugs and HIV: Learn the Link.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse 

Web site: http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/english/learn/overview.html. Accessed August 23, 2007.

12 Family Matters: Substance Abuse and the American Family. New York, NY: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at 

Columbia University, March 2005, p. ii.

13 Blending perspectives and building common ground: A report to Congress on substance abuse and child protection. Washington, D.C.: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, 1999.

14 Family Matters: Substance Abuse and the American Family, p. 7.

15 Ibid, p. 21.

16 The DASIS Report: Homeless Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment: 2004. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, 2006, p. 1.

17 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. NIH Publication No. 99-4180. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, October 1999, p. 5.

18 Ibid.

19 Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 37: Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with HIV/AIDS. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 

00-3410. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2000, section entitled “Executive Summary and Recommendations.”

20 Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 39: Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 04-3957. 

Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2004, section entitled “Chapter 1: Family Therapy in Substance Abuse Treatment.”

21 “Member Survey Results.” Al-Anon Family Groups Web site: www.al-anon.alateen.org/pdf/Al-Anon%20presentation_files/frame.htm. 

Accessed September 18, 2007.

22 Benefits of residential substance abuse treatment for pregnant and parenting women: Highlights from a study of 50 centers for substance 

abuse treatment demonstration programs. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, September 2001.

23 “Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use.” American Council for Drug Education’s Web site: www.acde.org/parent/signs.htm. Accessed 

January 22, 2008.
targeted outreach

1

Faith-Based Organizations: How Faith 

Leaders Can Help People on a Path of Recovery

Anyone can be affected by a substance use disorder—a neighbor, a co-worker, a loyal church parishioner. Luckily, 

treatment and recovery are possible for people addicted to alcohol and/or drugs, and many find healing through 

faith-based recovery.

As part of the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) this September, the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) 

is asking people to raise awareness about substance use disorders, treatment, and people in long-term recovery, including 

those in the faith community. 

This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery” and highlights true individual stories 

of addiction, treatment, and recovery. The following is the story of Tonja Myles, co-founder and CEO of the Set Free 

Indeed Ministry and Free Indeed Treatment Center, which offers faith-based support for those who need help conquering 

a substance use disorder. Tonja was dependent on drugs for 5 years and has benefited from faith-based recovery for 

more than 20 years.

A root cause...

“I had a traumatic experience early in my life, which accounts for many of the poor decisions I made 

leading to my addiction. My experiences shaped who I’ve become—both good and bad. When I was 

7 years old, I was molested. This early trauma made me grow up fast. When I was 15, I sang in a band 

and was introduced to marijuana. During this time, I engaged in other self-destructive behaviors, such 

as cutting myself and attempting suicide. I had a lot of mental and emotional issues stemming from 

my early terrible experience.

“Once I started using marijuana, I said that was as far as I would go. Of course, I was fooling myself, 

and not long after, I started abusing cocaine. When I was in college, I abused prescription drugs, 

rounding out the trifecta of my drug abuse. My boyfriend at the time sold drugs on campus and I 

started selling with him. With my constant access to drugs of all kinds, my addiction got progressively 

worse. To help finance my habit, I started taking money from my parents without their knowledge. Addiction makes 

you become a different version of yourself; all the conniving and manipulative behavior I engaged in was rooted in my 

drug dependence. I hated who I was and how bad I let myself get out of control, but I still didn’t stop. 

“When I was at my lowest point of addiction, my mom also was an alcoholic nearing her bottom. Living in a house 

with an alcoholic and being dependent on drugs was a disastrous mix. Interestingly, through all the experiences I 

had, I never developed a dependence on alcohol. Drugs—cocaine, crack, and pills—were ‘safe’ for me, but I saw what 

alcohol did to my mother and it scared me. My dad also used alcohol and drugs, but was a ‘functioning’ abuser and 

able to carry on a normal life with seemingly little consequence. It was a world I had always known and I felt it was 

excusable for me to be involved, since I had seen my family sink into that lifestyle. It was ironic because while I had 

no problem seeing myself succumb to the darkness of addiction, I hated seeing my parents in that world.

faith-based organizations

1

Tonja Myles
targeted outreach

2

“Growing up, even during the lowest points of my addiction, I continued to go to church and tried to talk about 

what I was going through. Even though my church was compassionate and caring, I didn’t know how to utilize their 

offerings to help me conquer my dependence on drugs. Instead of employing the help of the community around 

me, I let my drug use continue to get worse. I dropped out of college and my parents were extremely disappointed 

in my choices. I worked as a call girl and was on a train to nowhere. My life was completely out of control.”

Tonja’s horrific experience in her childhood affected her deeply and led her down a road of addiction and other selfdestructive behavior. Also, her family history of addiction may have contributed to her own dependence. For a long 

time, society viewed a person’s alcohol and/or drug dependence as a sign of lacking discipline or morality. Now, it 

is widely recognized that the causes of substance abuse are multifaceted, involving psychological, environmental, 

biological, and cultural factors.1 Millions of people are affected, with an estimated 22.6 million people aged 12 or older 

(9.2 percent of the population) suffering from a substance use disorder in 2006.2

Substance use disorders can affect people regardless of their age, race, gender, ethnicity, class, employment status, or 

community.3

 A substance use disorder means that a person is dependent on or abuses alcohol and/or drugs, including 

the nonmedical use of prescription drugs.4

 Similar to Tonja, many people experience an addiction to more than one 

substance. About half of the patients in a study of 26 outpatient treatment programs abused more than one drug.5

The drugs that Tonja abused were commonly used nationwide in 2006. For example:

n Marijuana was not only the most commonly used illicit drug, but the one with the highest rate of dependence 

and abuse: 4.2 million people were dependent on or abused it, and 60 percent of all people aged 12 or older 

who were dependent on or abused any illicit drug were dependent on or abused marijuana.6

n 1.7 million people were dependent on or abused cocaine.7

n Prescription drug use is an emerging trend, especially among college-aged people (18 to 25). There were 7 

million people (or 2.8 percent of the population) aged 12 or older who used prescription-type psychotherapeutic 

drugs nonmedically in the past month. Among college-aged people, the problem was even more widespread, 

with 6.4 percent using prescription-type drugs nonmedically.8

Finding faith, finding myself...

“Eventually, as the saying goes, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was done with covering up the lies. I 

had tried everything and nothing worked to dim the pain I had been in my entire life. I again tried to take my own 

life and thank God I wasn’t successful. That day, however, I died a spiritual death and went to my grandmother’s 

house for her guidance. I think it is because of her prayers that I am still alive after all I’ve been through. She said, 

‘Tonja, God can set you free. He can heal you from all of this mess.’ Honestly, I just wanted to be forgiven for all the 

wrongs I had done. It was a blessing to hear that through my faith, I could be forgiven. That night, I gave my life to 

the Lord and vowed to work toward sobriety.

“I made another promise to God that night. I said, ‘God, if you help me, I will spend the rest of my life helping 

others.’ I went through my own spiritual rehab program. Through my church and my prayers, I learned how to 

eat, talk, and dress differently. I had to truly change every aspect of my life to lead a fully healed existence. I 

finished school and worked on my character—who I was. I worked on ensuring that the people I hurt forgave me. 

I worked to figure out what I needed to do to continue on this positive path. 
3

“While I was confronting my addiction, my mother was hiding in hers. Her behavior was out of control; she almost 

burned down the house a few times. Luckily, I had already been clean and sober for one year and was in a position 

to help her. I had talked to a counselor and was told about interventions through our sheriff’s department as a way 

to get a loved one into treatment. I talked to my brother, sister, and father about it and they were hesitant at first. 

They said, ‘What are people going to say if we let someone take Mom away?’ I responded, ‘Well, what are they 

going to say if we let her drink herself to death?’

“Finally, I convinced my family that an intervention was necessary to save my mother’s life. A sheriff came to 

the house to pick her up and take her to treatment. To see a sheriff put your mother in the back seat of a police 

car was just heart wrenching—one of the most horrific sights I’ve seen. The first seven days she was in the 

treatment center were hard on her and our family—she said she hated me and I could feel her resentment. 

However, 30 days later, she finally had clarity and told me that this was the best thing that could have happened 

to her, and it saved her life.”

Millions of others have experienced the healing Tonja and her mother found through treatment and recovery. In 

2006, there were 4 million people aged 12 or older who received some kind of treatment for a substance use disorder 

and more than half (2.2 million) received support at a self-help group.9 For many, that path of treatment and long-term 

recovery is entrenched in faith.

Spiritual faith is largely intertwined with sustaining health and addressing health-related issues. As much as 79 

percent of Americans believe that spiritual faith can help people recover from disease and 63 percent think that 

physicians should talk to patients about spiritual faith.10 Doctors are supportive of this finding; 99 percent of family 

physicians are convinced that religious beliefs can heal and 75 percent believe that the prayers of others can promote 

a person’s recovery.11

Because of the association many people make between spirituality and medical care, it is important for faith-based 

groups to know that substance use disorders are medical conditions that can be and are effectively treated, similar 

to many other illnesses.12, 13 Treatment for drug use disorders is just as effective as treatments for other chronic 

conditions, such as high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes.14 Just as there is a medical aspect to addiction that 

is addressed in treatment and recovery, people with substance use disorders often rely on their spiritual faith to help 

them through long-term recovery.

People who attend spiritually based recovery support programs, such as 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous 

or Narcotics Anonymous, in addition to receiving other treatment are more likely to sustain recovery. Furthermore, 

individuals in successful recovery often show greater levels of faith and spirituality than those who relapse.15 For those 

concerned that they are not religious enough to qualify for this type of recovery, previous religious or spiritual devotion 

is not required to gain the benefit of a faith-based recovery, including through the 12-step process.16
targeted outreach

4

Recovery through faith...

“My mother and I both found recovery, but in different ways. I found it through going to church and she supported 

her sobriety through a 12-step group. When she got out of treatment and went to the support group, she had a 

large network of individuals who encouraged her and continued to offer her help at every turn. My faith-based 

approach to treatment didn’t have that fellowship, and initially I was resentful of my mother’s program.

“One day I asked myself, ‘Why did I hate the 12 steps so much? Why was I so jealous of what my mom had?’ 

I realized that I was envious of how supportive my mom’s fellowship was compared with what I had at my church. 

My mom’s group had regular meetings and a hotline; it was more understanding of what we all were going 

through. Even though my church tried to give support to people overcoming addiction, it just didn’t offer the 

necessary comprehensive approach. I felt ashamed that I started to embrace a program not directly tied to my 

church. This was why I was so resistant to 12-step recovery for so long despite the fact that it did still have a 

spiritual component.

“While going to church and praying helped me get clean and sober, I knew I needed more to stay that way. 

The church offered me so many wonderful things, but I found myself asking, ‘What about fellowship, what about 

accountability, what about meetings where people understood what you were going through? How can I bring this 

to my church?’ I knew that while I was able to achieve sobriety through my church, others might want the comfort 

of a church with the added support of a treatment center or 12-step group. My church and other religious groups 

needed to understand how many people were suffering in silence with no consistent support to help them. I knew 

I had to do something.

“After about 4 years in recovery—when I was confident that I had turned my life completely around—I felt that it 

was time to fulfill the promise to God I made the night I began my recovery. It was time to start giving back. I went 

into neighborhoods and schools to talk to people about my addiction to help people avoid my experiences, and 

to offer solace for those who are in need of help. My church didn’t have a lot of resources for people who were 

suffering from a dependence, so I began to network and try to close the gap between the recovery and faith-based 

communities. I wrote a letter to my state’s governor and told him that we had a problem in our communities that 

needed to be fixed. He listened and was open to fostering a partnership. In 1998, I planted the seed for a faithbased recovery partnership in Louisiana.

“Shortly after I began to implement a comprehensive faith-based recovery approach in my community, I met 

my husband, a minister. Together, we would go to the areas of town where people were suffering from addiction 

the most. In these communities, we would bring together all of the local government agencies who could offer 

services that complemented our unique faith-based approach to recovery. 

“Initially, the churches and synagogues I worked with were nervous about holding meetings for people in recovery 

in their pews because they—like many people—were worried about the stigma of addiction. Because most people 

who are addicted are only hurting themselves and often their families, there is no need to be fearful as many in the 

church were. Addiction is the great equalizer. It doesn’t care who you are; it just wants to see you suffer. Recovery 

wants to see you succeed. 
5

“We started to train churches and other religious groups, offering programs to help them understand addiction and 

learn how to become a resource to refer people to treatment. In 2003, we opened up Louisiana’s first faith-based 

licensed treatment clinic. Over the years, it grew into two facilities—one for treatment services and the other for 

recovery support services, such as vocational training. Recently, we were fortunate enough to integrate the two 

and are now in a 35,000-square-foot complex. We’re continuing to train faith-based groups and religious 

organizations across the country on how to address addiction in their communities.”

Tonja and her husband have made great strides to integrate faith, spirituality, and traditional recovery practices. 

While the religious community is aware of the prevalence of substance use disorders in their congregations, many 

do not know how to help those in need. Clergy members can and do help people with substance use disorders; 

however, there are still gaps in how they approach congregants and those who suffer from addiction and their 

families. In fact: 

n 94 percent of clergy members recognize addiction as an important issue among family members in 

their congregations.

n Only 12.5 percent of clergy completed coursework related to substance use disorders while studying to be a 

member of the clergy.

n Only 36.5 percent preach a sermon on substance use disorders more than once a year.17

Congregants view their clergy as important counsel in helping them deal with addiction, even though they are 

usually woefully unprepared to deal with such crises. Questionnaires of Catholic clergy compiled over 8 years by 

Georgetown University’s Woodstock Theological Center found near unanimity in identifying addiction as one of 

the three most problematic social issues they are called upon to deal with in their parishes.18 People may turn to 

clergy for help because they have greater access to faith-based groups than health care professionals, there is 

little expense for help, or they have a preexisting relationship with members of the clergy.19

For clergy to truly be able to help people with substance use disorders or who are already in long-term recovery, 

they need to understand that stigma and shame are a reality. In 2006, 11 percent of people who were aware they 

had a problem and needed treatment for a substance use disorder but did not receive it at a specialty facility were 

concerned that it might cause neighbors or the community to have a negative opinion of them.20 In a survey of the 

recovery community itself, 40 percent listed embarrassment or shame as an obstacle to recovery.21 Faith leaders can 

help overcome stigma by gaining the knowledge and tools to find help for people who need it. Organizations can 

play a critical role in improving access to long-term recovery by making their communities safe havens for people 

suffering from a substance use disorder and their families.
targeted outreach

6

Fortunately, resources exist to help faith-based groups, churches, and synagogues that want to become more 

educated about issues related to substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery. Guidelines for clergy education 

on addiction were defined at a 2003 meeting supported by SAMHSA. The meeting developed key proficiencies to 

enable clergy and other pastoral ministers to encourage faith communities to help reduce addiction and its impact 

on families and children. Some of the areas for clergy to concentrate on are:

n How addiction manifests itself and signs to watch for 

n The effects of alcohol and/or drugs on thinking and reasoning 

n The role alcohol and/or drugs may play in a person’s life 

n How substance use disorders affect families, workplaces, and communities22

More information about this meeting can be found in Core Competencies for Clergy and Other Pastoral Ministers 

in Addressing Alcohol and Drug Dependence and the Impact of Family Members. The full report is available at 

www.hhs.gov/fbci/docs/competency.pdf. 

Additionally, the Clergy Education and Training Project (CETP), an initiative designed specifically for faith leaders by 

the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) with support from SAMHSA, provides education and 

tools for clergy and other pastoral ministers. CETP developed a toolkit for use by pastoral counselors and other 

professionals to train clergy at the local level. The toolkit, titled Spiritual Caregiving to Help Addicted Persons and 

Families: A Pastoral Counselor’s Curriculum for the Education of Faith Leaders, has been distributed to more than 

1,160 clergy educators since 2006. For more information on this and other publications, please visit the CETP Web 

site at www.nacoa.org/clergy.htm. 

Hope, help, and healing...

“Even though I have committed my life to helping others, I still need to check in with myself to make sure I am 

sustaining my own recovery no matter how long I have been sober. I need to make sure I continue to take care of 

myself to have any hope of successfully helping others. Ensuring that I continue to stay healthy is the only way I 

keep fighting my cause. 

“My wish is for people to look within their families and their communities to know that addiction isn’t pretty but it’s 

real—and people do recover. I hate to see people suffering because I’ve been there, both with my own addiction 

and with my family members’ dependence. If I could do anything, it would be to make it better known that people 

don’t have to suffer in silence. People aren’t alone. There is hope, help, and healing.”

Tonja is proof that people can find their own road of long-term recovery. Whether you are the leader of a prominent 

faith-based organization, someone in recovery who has found guidance through spirituality, or simply active in 

your local church or synagogue, you can reach members of your community who need your help in recovering 

from a substance use disorder. This September, hundreds of communities and thousands of people across the 

country will recognize Recovery Month. 
7

Following are ways you can become active in your community throughout September and beyond:

1. Organize a clergy training program to integrate a faith-based approach to treatment in your community.

2. Research the treatment facilities already available in your community so you are equipped to refer someone 

with a substance use disorder who approaches you.

3. Arrange a series of Recovery Month activities, such as mentioning recovery in your sermons, holding events, 

and offering space in your facility for recovery groups to meet during September and beyond. Provide child 

care for people who attend the meetings.

4. Partner with local recovery and health organizations to potentially plan a larger treatment program in your 

community that addresses substance use disorders using a faith-based approach. Use your partnership to 

create a community network of congregants and clergy to offer support for those already in recovery.

For more resources that can help clergy and faith-based groups, please consult the “Faith-Based Organizations” 

section in the “Recovery Month Resources” brochure in this planning toolkit, or visit the Recovery Month Web site 

at www.recoverymonth.gov. For additional Recovery Month materials, visit www.recoverymonth.gov or call 

1-800-662-HELP.
targeted outreach

8

SOURCES

1 “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention at Stanford.” Stanford University Web site: www.stanford.edu/dept/helpcenter/AlcoholDrugs.html. 

Accessed August 23, 2007.

2 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4293. Rockville, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 

2007, p. 69.

3 Ibid, pp. 71-74.

4 Ibid, p. 69.

5 Stocker, S. “Men and Women in Drug Abuse Treatment Relapse at Different Rates and for Different Reasons.” NIDA Notes, Bethesda, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Vol. 13, Number 4, November 1998.

6 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 70.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid, pp. 1, 22.

9 Ibid, p. 6.

10 So Help Me God: Substance Abuse, Religion and Spirituality. New York: The National Center on Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 

November 2001, p. 3.

11 Sloan, R.P., Bagiella, E., Powell, T. “Religion, spirituality, and medicine.” Lancet, 353(9153), 1999, pp. 664.667.

12 Pathways of Addiction: Opportunities in Drug Abuse Research. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, 1996.

13 Kleber, H.D., O’Brien, C.P., Lewis, D.C., McLellan, A.T. “Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: Implications for treatment, insurance, and 

outcomes evaluation.” Journal of the American Medical Association, p. 1689.

14 Ibid.

15 So Help Me God: Substance Abuse, Religion and Spirituality, p. 3.

16 Jones, G.S. The surrender experience in recovery from substance dependence: A multiple case study. Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Dissertation 

Services, 1994.

17 So Help Me God: Substance Abuse, Religion and Spirituality, p. 19.

18 Ibid.

19 Arnold, J.D. and Schick, C. “Counseling by clergy: A review of empirical research.” Journal of Pastoral Counseling, 14, 1979, pp. 76-101.

20 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 79.

21 The Face of Recovery. Washington, D.C.: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., October, 2001, p. 8.

22 Core Competencies for Clergy and Other Pastoral Ministers in Addressing Alcohol and Drug Dependence and the Impact on Family Members, 

DHHS Publication No. [XXXX]. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2004, p. ii.
targeted outreach

1

Employers: How the Workforce Can 

Foster a Recovery Environment

Substance use disorders can affect anyone—from a mechanic, to a teacher, to a high-powered attorney. The workforce 

is one of the largest groups affected by this problem. In 2006, 61.5 percent of adults aged 18 or older with a substance 

use disorder also were employed full time—translating into nearly 13 million people.1

 Every person with an alcohol and/or 

drug dependence has a unique story to share.

To educate people about this reality, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center 

for Substance Abuse Treatment is urging people in the workplace—from entry-level to executive—to speak up about their 

experiences with substance use disorders. This effort is part of the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery 

Month (Recovery Month). To help start the conversation, and to coincide with this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for 

Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery,” we are highlighting individual stories of addiction and long-term recovery.

The following story is told by David Taylor, senior partner in a Washington, D.C., law firm and the chair of the D.C. Bar 

Lawyer Assistance Program. David is in long-term recovery for an alcohol dependence and has made it his mission to 

spread the word about addiction and recovery in the workplace.

Late onset alcoholism...

“As the chair of the D.C. Bar Lawyer Assistance Program, I reach out to a number of law firms, courts, 

and law schools to catch this disease of addiction as early as possible in the workplace and get people 

who are afflicted the help they need and into long-term recovery. However, it took me quite some time 

to get to my own long-term recovery. I was successful in law from the beginning, clerking on the D.C. 

Circuit and making partner in a law firm before I was 30, but I was an active alcoholic for 21 years. I 

have been dancing around recovery for 16 years, but have been consistently sober for 8 years.

“My story is atypical. At my support group meetings I have heard many people say that they fell in love 

with booze at a very early age—high school or college. I wasn’t like that. I didn’t start drinking until after 

I got out of law school. Sure, I had the occasional drink, such as champagne at a wedding, but I grew 

up in a household where no alcohol was consumed. I was in sports in high school and college and, in 

those days (the late 1950s through early 1960s), alcohol and sports didn’t mix.

“After I graduated from Georgetown Law School and clerked on the D.C. Circuit, I started working at a law firm in 1970, 

the height of the ‘two-martini lunch.’ We would wine and dine clients; the partners and associates at my law firm would 

often meet after work for a few drinks. I didn’t really understand anything about the disease of alcoholism, but I knew 

that I could drink more than anyone and not show the effects. I had no idea that this was a bad sign; I thought it was a 

good sign that I could more than keep up with my colleagues.

“Gradually, however, the progressive disease of addiction caught up with me and my drinking became a real 

problem. Colleagues started talking about exactly how much alcohol I was consuming. Of course I was in denial, so 

I ignored the chatter. Unfortunately, my employer didn’t, and I ended up getting fired as a direct result of my drinking. 

EMPLOYERS

1

David Taylor
targeted outreach

2

There was no intervention, just a pink slip. That was followed by a divorce, which was then followed by a bankruptcy 

and two separate convictions for drunk driving.

“My life was in a shambles, and, when I finally admitted to myself that I had a problem and decided that I needed 

to stop drinking, I realized that—horror of horrors—I couldn’t. I continued to stall getting help. I was practicing

international commercial and foreign trade law at the time and joined a firm in Paris where no one knew about 

my drinking. My secret life didn’t last too long; I lost that job, too. I came back to Washington, D.C., in 1991 without 

a job, home, or family.” 

David embodies the fact that a person with a substance use disorder can go from the highest of highs to the lowest 

of lows. Specifically, a substance use disorder means that a person is dependent on or abuses alcohol and/or drugs, 

including the nonmedical use of prescription drugs.2

 Alcohol was David’s substance of choice and it remains one for 

many today. In 2006, of the 22.6 million people aged 12 or older (9.2 percent of the population) who were suffering 

from a substance use disorder, 15.6 million were dependent on or abused alcohol, but not illicit drugs.3

Workplaces recognize the scope of this problem, particularly within their walls. More than two-thirds of human resources 

(HR) professionals believe that addiction is one of the most serious issues they face in their company, and they see the 

consequences. Absenteeism, reduced productivity, and a lack of trust are all serious side effects of alcohol and drug 

addiction, affecting companies all across the country.4

Peer pressure may seem like something only teenagers face, but David worked in a culture of drinking, and many others 

have to address similar pressures. Studies of male-dominated occupations have described heavy drinking cultures in 

which workers use drinking to build solidarity and show conformity to the group. Some male-dominated occupations, 

such as law in the 1970s, therefore tend to have high rates of heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems.5

Assistance...

“Fortunately, I did not get into any trouble with the Bar Association or have any negative letters or complaints from 

my clients. I always zealously protected my law license. Since I still received the Bar magazine, even while in Paris, 

I was fortunate enough to see an advertisement for the Lawyer’s Counseling Program (which recently changed its 

name to the Lawyer Assistance Program, the group I currently chair). When I made my way back to Washington, 

I called the director and told her that I might have a drinking problem. I didn’t have a job or insurance at the time, 

which made it difficult to get into an in-patient program. The director referred me to outpatient treatment, and I 

kept sober for about 5 months. Eventually, however, I had a drink. 

“I had made a contract with my support group and my counselor that if I drank again, even if it was just once, I 

would find a way to get to an in-patient treatment facility. Luckily by that time, the Lawyer Assistance Program had 

developed a fund to help get people in need to an in-patient center. They provided me with a loan that I was to pay 

back over time, and because of that, I was able to get into a 28-day treatment program. Immediately thereafter, 

I lived at an Oxford House—an organization of 1,200 democratically run, self-supporting, substance-free houses. 

I had owned several very large homes and had been what I thought was a big-shot lawyer. To live with so many 

others was an extremely challenging, humbling experience that was helpful to my recovery. I went to meetings 

every day, worked the program, and slowly got better.”
3

Different options exist for people looking for treatment for a substance use disorder. In 2006, 4 million people received 

some form of treatment in the past year, ranging from residential and outpatient programs to self-help groups.6 In 

places like Oxford House, the success rate in helping people achieve sobriety ranges from 65 to 87 percent.7

Some may be ashamed to enter treatment out of concern that their employers might have a negative perception 

about addiction; however, many companies are supportive of treatment. An overwhelming majority of HR 

professionals (92 percent) agree that an effective treatment program increases employee productivity.8 

Workplaces can adopt the following initiatives to improve their support of people with substance use disorders.

Employee assistance programs

Employee assistance programs (EAPs), such as the one David was referred to and eventually found solace 

from, can provide confidential problem identification, short-term counseling, and even referral to an appropriate 

treatment program.9

According to a SAMHSA study, nearly 70 million people (or more than 58 percent of the nearly 115 million full-time 

workers) reported that their employer offered an EAP.10 Approximately four to six percent of employees will contact 

an EAP on their own every year; many EAPs also offer services to dependent family members.11 When companies 

implement EAPs, they can see less absenteeism, fewer accidents, decreased use of medical and insurance benefits, 

savings in workers’ compensation claims, and fewer grievances and arbitrations across the board.12

Drug-free workplaces

Drug-free workplaces are free of the health, safety, and productivity hazards caused by employees’ misuse of alcohol 

and/or drugs. Many employers develop programs to offer a better work environment for their staff members.13 A 

drug-free workplace typically includes five components:

n Drug-free workplace policy – This is the backbone of a drug-free workplace program and often where the 

company’s position and rules concerning alcohol and drug use are written.

n Supervisor training – As part of a program, an organization typically trains those who supervise others about 

the drug-free program and their role in its implementation.

n Employee education – Targeting all employees, education includes walking through the drug-free workplace 

policy, describing the impact addiction has on the workplace, and teaching the signs and symptoms to 

watch for.

n Employee assistance programs – As mentioned above, an EAP is a confidential work-focused initiative 

designed to assist people with substance use disorders.

n Drug testing – Some workplaces may feel it is necessary to drug test employees to ensure that the workplace 

policy is followed.14, 15
targeted outreach

4

Certain federal and state laws may affect how drug-free workplace programs—particularly those including drug 

testing—are administered. For more information about these laws, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s 

Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace on the Web at www.dol.gov/workingpartners. SAMHSA’s 

workplace resource center can be found at www.workplace.samhsa.gov.

My medical illness...

“The general public and the workforce, along with people who suffer from a problem with alcohol or drugs 

themselves, need to realize that alcohol or drug dependence is a disease. Just as a diabetic is responsible for 

injecting insulin, we need to manage our chronic illness and take responsibility for our recovery. Moreover, we’re 

responsible for sustaining our recovery by checking in, going to support groups, and using the tools we are given. 

Finally, we have a duty to share our story. What helps me more than anything is speaking with and helping others 

who are suffering from addiction. 

“Being vocal about addiction is important because there are literally millions of Americans in recovery today 

and hardly anyone knows it. Many, many people with alcohol or drug addiction go into treatment programs 

and recovery, get better, and literally fade into the woodwork. People still have a mistaken view of addiction as a 

moral or willpower issue; they think that it only happens to people who bring it on themselves, and are of a certain 

financial or social background. That’s just not true; it is a disease that knows no boundaries and it affects people 

of all races, religions, genders, and socio-economic groups. It’s important for people in recovery to express 

themselves to discount any myths that hide the reality of dependence. It is everywhere, it is a disease, and it 

is highly treatable if the individual will seek help from others who have been there and know what it’s like.

“Recovery becomes a way of life and brings with it a constant analysis of oneself and one’s attitudes and 

relationships with others. As I was getting my life together during my recovery, I was fortunate that my program 

consisted of lawyers helping other lawyers. I got a job at a law firm and have continued to work in firms where 

at least one or two of the other lawyers were in recovery. This offered an excellent peer support opportunity to 

help me sustain my recovery. 

“Surrounding myself with a recovery environment also seeped into my home life. I always said that if I got remarried, 

it would be to someone who is in recovery or works in the recovery community. My foresight came true and I 

ended up marrying someone who is the president and CEO of a nonprofit that runs treatment programs and who 

is extremely supportive of my recovery.”

David personifies that anyone can be afflicted with addiction. In fact, it has been proven that substance use disorders 

can affect people regardless of their age, race, gender, ethnicity, class, employment status, or community.16 Addiction 

is actually a medical condition that can be effectively treated, just as numerous other illnesses are treatable.17,18

Treatment for drug use disorders is just as effective as treatment for other chronic conditions, such as high blood 

pressure, asthma, and diabetes.19
5

David also found that there is a misconception over the origins of alcohol and/or drug dependence. The causes of 

substance abuse are multifaceted, involving psychological, environmental, biological, and cultural factors.20 The 

stigma about the causes of substance use disorders can restrict people’s access to treatment. More than half of HR 

professionals believe that getting employees to acknowledge or talk about the issue is their toughest challenge in 

helping employees get into treatment.21 People with substance use disorders also are aware of this: 13.3 percent of 

people who were aware they had a problem and needed treatment for a substance use disorder, but did not receive 

it at a specialty facility, said they were concerned about a possible negative effect on their job.22

The good news is that employees can seek treatment without interfering with their ability to perform their jobs. 

Intensive outpatient programs are effective and allow people to continue to work, while seeking treatment.23 Effective 

treatment takes into account individual factors, such as a person’s cultural background, other health conditions, 

family and work responsibilities, and the specific substances that have been abused.24

Relapse...

“I was what I now call ‘dry, but not sober’ for 5 years, but I developed a serious fear of relapse. I knew that I wasn’t 

growing spiritually and keeping up with the maintenance needed for my recovery. I was picking and choosing what 

aspects of my program I would abide by and not seeing things in the big picture. My recovery and relapses have 

been very much tied into being a lawyer in that sort of work environment. I was told in my first treatment facility, 

Suburban Hospital, that lawyers, the clergy, doctors, and college professors have a hard time grasping what may 

be needed to recover from alcoholism or other substance dependence diseases. I was told this was because they 

are ’overeducated’ and tend to intellectualize and rationalize everything. I refused to believe that I couldn’t quit on 

my own. Intellectualizing, I learned, was detrimental to my recovery. 

“As time went on, I checked into a relapse prevention program in suburban Washington, D.C., to try to truly sustain 

my sobriety. I didn’t get it at first, and relapsed. It was precisely as I feared: I wasn’t growing spiritually, an aspect 

that would be necessary for me to fully commit to sobriety. Luckily, I eventually got back into a rehabilitation center 

and started my long, and so far successful, road to recovery. There I learned that I had not yet adopted a recovery 

lifestyle. Sure, I had been going to meetings, but I would hang up my life on the doorknob when I went to a support 

meeting and would pick it back up when I left. I wasn’t living the program fully.”

Long-term recovery is attainable when a long-lasting commitment is made. Relapse is still possible, but does not 

mean that treatment does not work or the person is not making an effort.25 David relapsed near the beginning of his 

recovery and again many years later. Employers should be aware of the signs and symptoms of relapse and know 

that recovery can be a long-term process requiring multiple episodes of treatment.26 Signs to watch for include:

n Complacency when life begins to improve. People in long-term recovery may believe that they no longer need 

to focus on their recovery efforts; they may be convinced they will never begin using again.

n Lack of self-care as the person becomes exhausted and develops or returns to irregular eating or poor general 

health habits.
targeted outreach

6

n Increasing or return to denial. People in long-term recovery may start rationalizing, justifying, minimizing, 

or generalizing addictive thinking and behavior.

n Isolation and attempting to solve problems on their own; they may not share what is going on with others.

n Setting unrealistic goals or wanting too much progress too quickly.

n Discounting or discontinuing a recovery program, such as neglecting to attend 12-step meetings or 

counseling sessions.27

Attaining success...

“I had always considered myself a smart guy and I was successful. I didn’t need to ask for advice or help; I assumed 

I had all the answers. I’ve heard at support group meetings that, ‘We enter into a 12-step program a big shot and 

work our way up to servant.’ Recovery is about learning to care enough about yourself to get better, listening to 

other people, communication, knowing when to ask for help, and offering help to others. Addiction stunts your 

emotional and spiritual growth. The good news is that everyone with this disease can get better with the right tools 

and that help is out there.

“I have spoken with many employers who say that—all other things being equal—they actually would rather hire 

someone in recovery because they know that we have a certain way of living that makes us better employees. We 

have gained a certain amount of humility and responsibility, and are mindful of taking care of ourselves and others 

around us, and are gracious. There is still more work to be done, though, and I hope there continues to be more 

knowledge and understanding in the workplace, and in society, about this disease.”

David’s experience with employers that are supportive of people in long-term recovery is quite accurate. A majority of 

HR professionals report that they would be just as or more likely to hire a candidate in an executive position who was 

in recovery from a substance use disorder as they would for someone who is not in recovery.28

While hiring people in recovery is a start to make the realities of addiction, treatment, and recovery better known in the 

workplace, there is much more employers can do to help. This September and beyond, employers and workers can 

join the millions nationwide who celebrate Recovery Month. Start by:

1. Educating your employees. Education can work wonders to help your employees who are suffering from 

addiction. Discuss the treatment options that are available, communicate the options your company offers 

for people seeking help, and teach colleagues the signs and symptoms of substance use disorders.

2. Changing the company’s culture. Offering alcohol-free events and establishing a drug-free workplace policy 

can make people in long-term recovery at your company feel more at home and confident that you are 

committed to promoting a safe recovery environment.
7

3. Sponsoring local activities. Many nonprofits hold events during Recovery Month, including walk/runs and 

health fairs. Donate to the cause and put together a team of employees to participate, or set up a booth.

4. Listening to your employees. Happy employees are more productive. Take the time to listen to what 

services they would like to conquer substance use disorders and related issues. Ensure confidentiality of 

their responses and modify your workplace programming based on the results.

For more resources that can help employers and employees, please consult the “Workplace, Labor, and Insurance” 

section in the “Recovery Month Resources” brochure in this planning toolkit, or visit the Recovery Month Web site 

at www.recoverymonth.gov. For additional Recovery Month materials, visit www.recoverymonth.gov or call 

1-800-662-HELP.
targeted outreach

8

SOURCES

1 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4293. Rockville, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 

2007, p. 74.

2 Ibid, p. 69.

3 Ibid.

4 “Hazelden Foundation survey reveals disparity between severity of problem and employer assistance.” Hazelden Web site: www.hazelden.org/

web/public/2007workplacesurvey.page. Accessed September 18, 2007.

5 “Alcohol and the Workplace.” Alcohol Alert. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Web site: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa44.htm, No. 44, July 1999.

6 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 74, 75.

7 Oxford House Web site: www.oxfordhouse.org/userfiles/file/doc/ap_depaul.pdf. Accessed January 3, 2008.

8 “Hazelden Foundation survey reveals disparity between severity of problem and employer assistance.” Hazelden Web site: www.hazelden.org/

web/public/2007workplacesurvey.page. Accessed September 18, 2007.

9 U.S. Department of Labor Web site: www.dol.gov/asp/programs/drugs/workingpartners/dfworkplace/ea.asp, section entitled “Employee 

Assistance,” summary of p. 1. Accessed October 31, 2006.

10 Larson, S.L., Eyerman, J., Foster, M.S., Gfroerer, J.C. Worker Substance Use and Workplace Policies and Programs. DHHS Publication No. 

(SMA) 07-4273, Analytic Series A-29. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, June 2007, p. 29.

11 “How does an EAP help employees?” Drug-Free Workplace Advisor. U.S. Department of Labor Web site: www.dol.gov/elaws/asp/drugfree/

drugs/assistance/Screen95.asp. Accessed October 10, 2007.

12 What Works: Workplaces Without Alcohol and Other Drugs. U.S. Government Printing Office 282-148/54629. Washington, D.C.: U.S. 

Department of Labor, October 1991 (reprinted 1994), p. 11.

13 “Frequently Asked Questions.” U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Web site: www.dol.gov/asp/programs/

drugs/workingpartners/faq.asp. Accessed August 1, 2006.

14 Ibid.

15 Making Your Workplace Drug Free: A Kit for Employers. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Division of Workplace Programs Web site: 

http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/workit. Accessed September 20, 2006.

16 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, pp. 71-74.

17 Pathways of Addiction: Opportunities in Drug Abuse Research. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, 1996.

18 Kleber, H.D., O’Brien, C.P., Lewis, D.C., McLellan, A.T. “Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: Implications for treatment, insurance, 

and outcomes evaluation.” Journal of the American Medical Association, p. 1689.

19 Ibid.

20 “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention at Stanford.” Stanford University Web site: www.stanford.edu/dept/helpcenter/AlcoholDrugs.html. 

Accessed August 23, 2007.

21 “Hazelden Foundation survey reveals disparity between severity of problem and employer assistance.” Hazelden Web site: www.hazelden.org/

web/public/2007workplacesurvey.page. Accessed September 18, 2007.

22 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, p. 79.

23 Chalk, Mary Beth. Telephone Substance Abuse Treatment: The Next Generation of Care, pp. 17, 18.

24 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. NIH Publication No. 99-4180. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, October 1999, p. 3.

25 “New Insights into Relapse.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse 

Web site: www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol17N3/DirRepVol17N3.html. Accessed September 25, 2007.

26 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide, p. 5.

27 “Signs and Symptoms.” The Watershed Addiction Treatment Programs Web site: www.thewatershed.com/symptoms.html. Accessed 

September 25, 2007.

28 “Workplace Addiction Survey – 2003.” Hazelden Web site: www.hazelden.org/web/public/workplacesurvey2003.page. Accessed 

October 10, 2007.
targeted outreach

1

Civil Service Workers: How Local and State 

Government and Justice Personnel Can Make a Difference

Everyone is affected; no one is immune...

Substance use disorders can affect anyone—all ages, races, and communities. Alcohol and drug addiction affect parents, 

college professors, even Members of the United States Congress. A substance use disorder means that a person is 

dependent on or abuses alcohol and/or drugs, including prescription drugs.1

Each year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse 

Treatment (CSAT) urges every American to “join the voices” in a collective effort to raise awareness about the opportunities 

for and value of recovery. This September, for the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 

(Recovery Month), SAMHSA is urging everyone to speak up about their experiences with substance use disorders.

To help start the conversation, and to coincide with this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Real People, 

Real Recovery,” we are highlighting individual stories of long-term recovery in depth. Here, you will read about an elected 

official who battled his substance use disorder, along with tips on what government and justice system employees, as 

well as child welfare and social service workers, can do. The following story is told by United States Congressman Jim 

Ramstad (R-MN). A congressman from the third district of Minnesota since 1991, Ramstad has a distinguished career in 

public service. He also is in long-term recovery from alcoholism.

A breakthrough...

“On July 31, 1981, I woke up from my last alcoholic blackout in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, jail cell, 

under arrest for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. After my release from jail, I was fortunate to 

enter St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Center (now Fairview Recovery Services) in Minneapolis, where 

I started on the road to recovery.

“I am alive and sober today only because of the grace of God, my treatment experience, and the 

program of recovery.

“At St. Mary’s, I was taught by Counselor Cal and others how to clean house and live a sober 

lifestyle. I learned to live life on life’s terms and depend on my Higher Power and the fellowship of 

others in recovery.”

Congressman Ramstad isn’t alone. In 2006, 22.6 million people aged 12 or older had substance use disorders in the past year. 

Like many others suffering from a substance use disorder, Congressman Ramstad was successfully employed. Specifically:

n More than three-quarters of people aged 18 or older who had a substance use disorder were employed. 

n Among the 54 million adult binge drinkers in 2006, 42.9 million (79.4 percent) were employed either full or part time. 

n Among the 16.3 million heavy drinkers, 12.9 million (79.2 percent) were employed.2

civil service workers

1

Representative

Jim Ramstad
targeted outreach

2

Many Americans have started on personal recovery journeys. Through treatment and long-term recovery from alcohol 

and/or drug dependence, millions of Americans and their families have been able to reclaim their lives, contribute 

fully to their communities, and help further the powerful message that recovery is possible.3 Congressman Ramstad’s 

course happened to be through a treatment center, though there are many other methods, such as outpatient therapy 

and self-help groups.

When more people receive treatment for a substance use disorder, a community experiences benefits that trickle 

down to everyone, including people in the criminal justice system. For example, one group of inmates who received 

treatment for a substance use disorder had re-arrest rates drop from 75 percent to 27 percent.4

 Inmates also were 

more likely to receive treatment, with the number of inmates who participated in treatment or other recovery support 

programs growing nearly 10 percent (between 1996 and 2002) among those who used alcohol or drugs at the time of 

their offense or on a previous occasion.5

Families also benefit from the healing power of recovery. After people complete treatment, there is a 19-percent 

increase in employment and an 11-percent decrease in the number of people who receive public support, such as 

welfare.6

 Because of their long-term recovery from addiction, more people are transforming their communities by 

holding jobs, avoiding incarceration, and reuniting with their families.

A disease with a face...

“In addition to being a person in recovery, I have also served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991. I 

represent Minnesota’s 3rd District, and serve on the House Ways and Means Committee and as Ranking Member of 

its Oversight Subcommittee. I am also a member of the Health Subcommittee. 

“I’ve actually been involved in public service nearly my entire adult life. In my early 20s, after graduating from the 

University of Minnesota and the George Washington University Law School, I worked as a staff member on Capitol 

Hill. I was also an officer in the United States Army Reserve from 1968 to 1974. 

“My political career began in the Minnesota State Senate, where I served from 1981 to 1990 before entering the 

U.S. Congress. 

“While I am deeply committed to my career as a public servant, nothing is more important to me than my 

long-term recovery from alcoholism. I haven’t had a drink in 26 years and I’m living proof that people can 

recover one day at a time from this deadly disease. That’s why I have made a point to tell my story on national 

TV, at Congressional hearings, and to anyone who reaches out for help. 

“My story of alcoholism and recovery is similar to many of the stories I hear. I drank for 12 years, binge drinking for 

the last few years, mostly on weekends. Today, I’m convinced that if I hadn’t ended up in that Sioux Falls jail cell, 

and then gotten into treatment and on the road to recovery, I would surely be dead by now. 
3

“But at the time, I thought that being in that lonely jail cell was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. 

I didn’t want to see anybody, and I certainly didn’t want to face my alcoholism. Yet over time, I realized the 

more honest I was about my problem the better I felt. The more I opened up, the more people came forward 

to support me. 

 “I remember early on in my recovery somebody asked me, ‘Would you be embarrassed to talk about your disease 

if you had cancer or diabetes?’ I said, ‘Of course not.’ They said, ‘Well, you have a disease.’” 

Substance use disorders are complex and can co-occur with mental health disorders. Substance use disorders, as well 

as co-occurring disorders, are medical conditions that can be effectively treated, just as numerous other illnesses are 

treatable.7, 8 Treatment for drug use disorders is just as beneficial as treatments for other chronic conditions, such as 

high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes.9

Even though people can be treated for an addiction, if someone continues down a destructive course, he or she 

might face other chronic illnesses. Substance use disorders cause more deaths, illnesses, and disabilities than any 

other preventable health condition. Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: 

heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Cirrhosis (liver scarring) is the 10th leading cause of death and is largely preventable—

nearly half of all cirrhosis deaths are linked to alcohol. Drug-related deaths are typically underestimated, as many tolls 

do not take into account deaths from associated diseases, such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, homicides, falls, and motor 

vehicle crashes.10

Addiction doesn’t simply negatively affect a person’s health, it can tear the fabric of many community institutions, 

such as the criminal justice and social service systems. In 2002, more than two-thirds of jail inmates were found to 

abuse or depend on alcohol or drugs. Jail inmates who met the criteria for a substance use disorder were also twice 

as likely to have been homeless in the year before their offense or have a parent or guardian who abused alcohol or 

drugs than those who did not have a substance use disorder.11

Nearly 750,000 people in state and federal prisons are parents to approximately 1.5 million children. As many as 

80 percent of families in the child welfare system have a family member with a substance use disorder.12, 13 Children 

whose families do not receive appropriate treatment for substance use disorders are more likely to remain in foster 

care longer and re-enter the system once they have returned home.14

Family and social service workers can turn these problems around and ultimately improve the lives of children who 

have a parent struggling with a substance use disorder. Family and social services personnel can help the child get 

involved in specialized educational support groups provided by local schools, faith communities, youth organizations, 

child welfare agencies, and treatment centers. These programs can help children develop strong social skills and a 

close bond with a caregiver.15

Parents also benefit from the valuable resources that fit their specific needs. According to one study, women who 

stayed in comprehensive treatment longer than 3 months were more likely to remain alcohol and drug free than 

those who left within the first 3 months of treatment (68 percent versus 48 percent).16 These programs for parents 

with substance use disorders help improve their lives and help them resume their parenting roles. 
targeted outreach

4

Helping others...

“Today, telling my story of recovery is part of telling people who I am. I have also used my experience to try to 

expand access to chemical dependency treatment for others. In September 1997, I introduced a bill in Congress to 

guarantee equal insurance protections for people recovering from chemical addiction. While we have made some 

progress in this area over the past 10 years, we still have a long way to go. 

“Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and I also launched the bipartisan Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery 

Caucus in 2004 to educate lawmakers about the devastating effects of chemical addiction and the promise and 

possibility of recovery. Members of Congress must realize that addiction to alcohol and other drugs is truly 

America’s #1 public health problem. 

“My good friend, the late Senator Paul Wellstone, used to remind me that it took 40 years to enact a comprehensive 

civil rights law. I believe equitable treatment for people suffering from chemical addiction represents the next great 

civil rights debate. And while I hope it won’t take another 40 years to enact The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and 

Addiction Equity Act, I will not rest until we begin treating addiction as a disease. The American Medical Association 

(AMA) classified alcoholism as a disease over 50 years ago, and it is long overdue for it to be treated like the 

progressive, fatal disease it is!”

Treatment and recovery continue to enhance the quality of life for people with substance use disorders and their 

families. The individualized treatment methods, criminal justice interventions, and legislative policies discussed 

below are the cornerstones necessary to help your community, just as Congressman Ramstad helps his every day. 

Individualized and family treatment

Embarking on a path of recovery hinges on people with substance use disorders getting the type of treatment they 

need, when they need it. Just as substance use disorders affect people regardless of race, gender, or age, treatment 

should be personalized to best confront addiction.17

A successful treatment program that matches treatment settings, interventions, and services to each individual’s 

specific problems and needs is critical to his or her ultimate success in returning to productive functioning in the 

family, workplace, and society.18 Some examples of how treatment could differ between unique groups are:

n Older adults with substance use disorders have been shown to respond well to age-specific, supportive, and 

non-confrontational group treatment that aims to build or rebuild self-esteem.19

n Among juvenile offenders, the most effective treatments are behavioral therapies, intensive case management, 

cognitive-behavioral skills training, family-oriented therapies, and multi-systemic therapy.20

Because substance use disorders affect the entire family, everyone should be involved in the treatment and recovery 

process. This includes pooling resources and support from many different family and social service departments. 
5

Families who face addiction and are involved in the child welfare system require a comprehensive array of services 

and support networks to achieve long-term recovery from addiction, including access to housing, transportation, 

therapy (including family and trauma recovery services), and child care.21

Criminal justice interventions

More than 60 percent of arrestees have tested positive for at least one drug, regardless of the type of offense, and 

over one quarter of adult male arrestees have met the criteria for either abuse or dependence at the time of their 

arrest.22 Given the prevalence of substance use disorders among people in the criminal justice system, it is important

to have an array of responses available, from diversion programs to supervised treatment for felony offenders and 

programs for parolees. 

Prosecutorial diversion programs give defendants an opportunity to elect “drug school” as part of their plea, and 

they avoid further prosecution if they attend the required drug school sessions.23 TASC (Treatment Alternatives for 

Safe Communities) programs provide a framework for linking the justice system to community-based treatment, 

moving offenders through a range of sentencing options, from deferred prosecution or pretrial release through 

probation or incarceration and parole. For more information, please visit www.tasc.org.

Drug courts and other alternative sentencing options ensure consistency in judicial decision-making and enhance 

the coordination of agencies and resources, ultimately providing a comprehensive array of services that has been 

shown to improve treatment outcomes.24 Coordinated treatment incorporates elements from different services 

and departments, such as family, child care, vocational, financial, housing, medical, and legal services. The best 

programs provide a combination of therapies and other services to meet each person’s needs.25

Drug courts have proven to be successful in narrowing the gap between the court and the treatment system. 

More than 300,000 adults and 12,500 juveniles have been enrolled in drug courts through 2003, and 73 percent of 

graduates retained or obtained employment.26 Drug courts also impel greater cooperation among various agencies 

and personnel within the justice system, as well as between the justice system and the entire community.27

Unified family courts also collaborate with other social agencies to help families dealing with dependence and abuse. 

A unified family court combines all the essential elements of traditional family and juvenile courts into one entity 

that contains other resources, such as social services, which are critical to the resolution of a family’s problems. This 

coordination of services includes substance use disorder counseling, dispute resolution, restitution and probation, 

volunteer services, community outreach programs, and enforcement of family financial support. In addition, the

office of the family court administrator can serve as a liaison to agencies that provide other services, such as 

individual and group counseling, mediation, and forensic psychiatric and crisis intervention services.28

Community outreach programs should be an integral part of unified family courts. They have numerous benefits, 

including educating the public about the workings of the court, facilitating prevention programs (parenting classes, 

and prevention and treatment of sexual abuse and substance use disorders), strengthening the relationship between 

families in court and their communities, and assisting in the delivery of other court services.29
targeted outreach

6

Policy and legislation

Policymakers and judges should be engaged in their communities’ efforts to confront substance use 

disorders, simply to guarantee that everyone benefits from the healing power of long-term recovery. 

Governors, legislative leaders, and chief judges need to provide personal, continuous leadership to prevent 

and address alcohol and drug problems. States should review and update policies that control their alcohol 

and drug policies, including authorizing prevention and treatment agencies. Laws and regulations that prevent 

recovering individuals from getting jobs, education, and other services needed for successful reintegration also 

should be reviewed and updated.30

Communities have the authority to hold policymakers accountable for their approach to help people receive 

treatment and recovery support services. Organizations and independent social agencies can band together 

with government agencies to form advisory councils that hold elected officials responsible for providing needed 

leadership and guidance for policies relating to substance use disorders.31 For additional recommendations and 

insight into how elected officials can improve their local or statewide policies, please review Join Together’s 

recent recommendations titled Blueprint for the States: Policies to Improve the Ways States Organize and 

Deliver Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Treatment. To view or order a free copy of this report, please visit 

www.jointogether.org/aboutus/policy-panels/blueprint/order-form.html.

Engaging the community...

“We need to make sure that anyone suffering the ravages of chemical addiction has the access to treatment, 

and the opportunity to experience the recovery I have been enjoying for the past 26 years.”

Any person can make a difference in the community by raising awareness of treatment and recovery from 

substance use disorders. This September, Recovery Month will be recognized by hundreds of communities and 

thousands of people all across the country. Whether you are a civil service worker or just a concerned member 

of the community interested in making a difference, you can help celebrate Recovery Month this September and 

beyond in the following ways.

1. Share your story. Congressman Ramstad makes it his mission to spread his tale of dependence on alcohol and 

his long-term recovery from it. Let people who may be suffering know that they are not alone and share how 

you or a family member was able to rise above personal obstacles and embark on a path of recovery.

2. Pool resources, services, and knowledge. Evaluate the status of local agencies that come in contact with 

people who have substance use disorders or their families, and pay particular attention to how these groups 

communicate with each other. Make it a point to consistently look for new ways to integrate all of the resources 

in your community and make them known to the public.
7

3. Help people in the criminal justice system. People who are incarcerated or on probation may need more 

guidance and assistance in reclaiming their place in the community than others. Make sure there are systems 

in place to help people in the justice system get their lives on track.

4. Sponsor nonprofit organizations. Local nonprofit groups that address substance use disorders, treatment, 

and related issues can offer a wealth of insight and knowledge to those in the civil service arena. Offering 

grants to these groups can help fund necessary research and programs that will ultimately help the 

community as a whole.

For more resources that can help policymakers, civil service workers, and justice system representatives, please 

consult the “State and Local Resources” and “Justice System” sections in the “Recovery Month Resources” brochure in this planning toolkit, or visit the Recovery Month Web site at www.recoverymonth.gov. For additional 

Recovery Month materials, visit www.recoverymonth.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP.
targeted outreach

8

SOURCES

1 Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 07-4293. Rockville, MD: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 

2007, p. 69.

2 Ibid, pp. 2, 3, 37.

3 Ibid, p. 6.

4 Blueprint for the States: Policies to Improve the Ways States Organize and Deliver Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Treatment. Boston, MA: 

Join Together slide deck, 2006, slide #3.

5 Karberg, J.C. and James, D.J. Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates. NCJ209588. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department 

of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2002, p. 8.

6 Blueprint for the States: Policies to Improve the Ways States Organize and Deliver Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Treatment, p. 9.

7 Pathways of Addiction: Opportunities in Drug Abuse Research. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, 1996, p. 9.

8 Kleber, H.D., O’Brien, C.P., Lewis, D.C., McLellan, A.T. “Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: Implications for treatment, insurance, and 

outcomes evaluation.” Journal of the American Medical Association, p. 1689.

9 Ibid.

10 Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem. The Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University and the Robert 

Wood Johnson Foundation, February 2001, pp. 6, 50, 54.

11 Karberg, J.C. and James, D.J. Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment of Jail Inmates, p. 1.

12 Murnola, C.J. Incarcerated Parents and Their Children. NCJ 182335. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 

Bureau of Justice Statistics, August 2002, p. 1.

13 Young, N. K., Gardner, S. L., Dennis, K. Responding to alcohol and other drug problems in child welfare: Weaving together practice and policy. 

Washington, D.C.: Child Welfare League of America, 1998, p. ix.

14 Blending perspectives and building common ground: A report to Congress on substance abuse and child protection. Washington, D.C.: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, 1999.

15 Werner, E.E. “Resilient Children.” Young Children, 1984, 40, 68-72.

16 Benefits of residential substance abuse treatment for pregnant and parenting women: Highlights from a study of 50 centers for substance 

abuse treatment demonstration programs. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, September 2001.

17 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. NIH Publication No. 99-4180. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, October 1999, p. 13.

18 Ibid, p. 3.

19 “Clinical Guidelines for Alcohol Use Disorders in Older Adults.” The American Geriatrics Society Web site, November 2003: 

www.americangeriatrics.org/products/positionpapers/alcoholPF.shtml, section entitled “Features of preferred treatment options for 

abuse/dependence among older adults.” Accessed September 17, 2007.

20 McBride, D., Vander Waal, C., VanBuren, H., and Terry, Y. Breaking the Cycle of Drug Use Among Juvenile Offenders. Manuscript prepared 

for the National Institute of Justice, 1997, p. 58.

21 Cutting Crime: Drug Courts in Action, Washington, D.C.: Drug Strategies, 1997, p. 12.

22 Annual Report: Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring, 2000. NCJ 193013. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice 

Programs, National Institute of Justice, April 2003, pp. 7, 23.

23 “Prosecutorial Diversion and TASC: Saving Criminal Justice Costs While Accessing Criminal Resources.” TASC Web site: www.tasc.org/

preview/prosecutorialdiversion.pdf. Accessed January 2, 2008.

24 “Facts on Drug Courts.” National Association of Drug Court Professionals Web site: www.nadcp.org/whatis/facts.html. Accessed August 13, 2007.

25 Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide, p. 14.

26 “What is a Drug Court?” National Association of Drug Court Professionals Web site: www.nadcp.org/whatis/. Accessed August 13, 2007.

27 Ibid.

28 “What is a Unified Drug Court?” American Bar Association Web site: www.abanet.org/unifiedfamcrt/about.html. Accessed August 13, 2007.

29 Ibid.

30 Blueprint for the States: Policies to Improve the Ways States Organize and Deliver Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Treatment. Boston, MA: 

Join Together, 2006, p. 5.

31 Ibid.
RESOURCES

1

Building Community Coalitions

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) is a success due to the collaboration of 

countless organizations in local communities. Working with other groups in your area can provide you with insight and 

resources about substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery to help make your Recovery Month campaign in 

September even stronger. Developing a coalition or a task force that emphasizes the importance of real people and 

real stories of recovery will help your community be an even bigger part of this national effort. 

Coalitions: partnerships for success 

A coalition is a formal arrangement between multiple organizations 

that work together to achieve a common goal. For Recovery Month, 

the goal is showcasing real stories of people in recovery to spread 

the word that those with a dependence on alcohol and/or drugs can 

reclaim their lives. There are two ways to participate in a coalition: 

build one from the ground up (which takes time, but provides a 

wider range of resources and control) or join an existing coalition 

(where you can bring your ideas to the table immediately). 

One type of coalition can include “everyday” members of the 

community who have no particular ties to any organization. 

These alliances, called citizen-advocate partnerships, are a type 

of coalition that engages citizens and representatives from key groups, such as treatment providers or faith-based 

organizations, to work together toward the same goal.

Depending on your needs and goals, it might be more practical to form a task force to focus on a single objective instead 

of a coalition. A task force is a temporary collaboration between individuals or organizations, usually formed around the 

same specific issue, with a set objective in mind. Once the task force achieves its goal, it typically presents its findings 

and/or successes and then disbands.

Three tips for developing a coalition

If there is no existing coalition in your community, you can develop one that emphasizes the goals of Recovery Month. 

To do so, you can use the following steps: 

1. Determine what resources already exist in your community. Research the public and private sectors to determine 

who might make relevant and positive contributions to your Recovery Month coalition. Think about who has been 

active in the recovery community or other related health issues, such as mental health, in the past. Organizations 

that could build a sustainable coalition include: 

n Recovery support groups or individuals in recovery

n Treatment centers and clinics

building community 

coalitions

1

Coalition Fact: All the organizations involved 

in your coalition should come together with common goals—to highlight the success that people 

have in treatment and recovery, to show that 

substance use disorders are medical conditions 

that should be treated as such, and to emphasize 

that access to treatment is essential to improve 

the health and well-being of our communities.
2

RESOURCES

n Criminal justice system programs

n Disability groups

n Government officials and agencies

n Law enforcement agencies

n Mental health organizations

n Child welfare organizations

n Neighborhood groups

n Private companies/businesses

n Faith-based organizations

n Schools and universities

n Youth groups

n Civic groups

n Health-related organizations

n Foundations 

2. Get background information on your potential partners by using the resources listed in the next section of 

this document. Reach out to your potential coalition allies, taking advantage of any existing connections and 

relationships you may have with members of their organizations.

3. Confirm the individuals and groups in your partnership and determine whether you included a diverse 

selection of organizations that work with different groups in the community. Set priorities and goals, 

communicate and meet regularly, have a main contact person to coordinate all members, and choose 

a leadership team that oversees the coalition and ensures that the plan’s execution is on time and in 

adherence with the established goals. 

Tools for a successful coalition

n Figure out what already exists in your community by contacting the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions 

of America (CADCA) at 1-800-54-CADCA or www.cadca.org. CADCA is the only national organization 

representing community anti-drug coalitions. The network encompasses more than 5,000 organizations 

and can provide you with materials and technical assistance if no established coalition exists 

in your area. 
3

n Use the “Recovery Month Resources” brochure in this planning toolkit to locate organizations with similar 

interests. Look at the different types of organizations involved as national Recovery Month planning partners, 

listed in the “Planning Partners” document in this toolkit, and identify similar groups in your community. 

n Gauge the success of your community coalition by using the tools in Join Together’s publication, How Do 

We Know We Are Making a Difference? A Community Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Indicators Handbook. 

Join Together is a national resource for communities working to reduce substance use disorders. This 

handbook is available on the Web at www.indicatorshandbook.org/Indicators_Handbook-v1.pdf. 

Example to follow

San Antonio Fighting Back, a coalition comprised of both government agencies and nonprofits, is a successful local 

coalition that actively participates in Recovery Month. Fed up with the rise of crime and violence in their community, a 

group of San Antonio citizens came together to reduce substance use disorders. For their Recovery Month celebration 

in 2007, San Antonio Fighting Back planned the first-ever 3K Recovery Walk and Family Fun Day. The event brought 

together 25 community agencies and groups, had 375 people in attendance, and raised $11,000. The coalition 

anticipates the event to take place for years to come.

Coalition resources

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)

CADCA builds and strengthens the capacity of community coalitions to create safe, healthy, and drug-free 

communities. The organization supports its members with technical assistance and training, public policy, 

media strategies, conferences, and special events.

625 Slaters Lane, Suite 300

Alexandria, VA 22314

800-54-CADCA (22322) (Toll-Free)

www.cadca.org

Faces & Voices of Recovery

This national recovery advocacy organization mobilizes people in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other 

drugs, families, friends, and allies in campaigns to end discrimination and make recovery a reality for even 

more Americans. 

1010 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 708

Washington, D.C. 20005

202-737-0690

www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org
4

RESOURCES

National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA)

This national family recovery organization has members and affiliate organizations throughout the country who initiate 

or support Recovery Month activities in their local communities. NACoA provides its members with information, tools, 

and strategies to support recovery for children and families impacted by addiction.

11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 301

Rockville, MD 20852

888-55-4COAS (2627) (Toll-Free)

301-468-0985

www.nacoa.org 

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)

Founded in 1944, NCADD is dedicated to increasing public awareness and understanding of the disease of alcoholism 

and drug dependence. NCADD and its national network of state and local affiliates provide education, prevention, 

information/referral, intervention, treatment services, and advocacy, and have helped hundreds of thousands of 

individuals and families into recovery. 

244 East 58th Street, Fourth Floor

New York, NY 10022

800-NCA-CALL (Hope Line) (Toll-Free)

212-269-7797

www.ncadd.org
RESOURCES

1

Planning Partners

The following organizations are partners involved in planning National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 

(Recovery Month) activities in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. You are encouraged to involve national 

organizations and local affiliates or chapters in your State and ask them to collaborate with your organization on Recovery 

Month planning. You can find local affiliates or chapters by contacting the national organizations directly. Full listings with 

addresses are included in the “Recovery Month Resources” brochure enclosed in this planning toolkit.

Addiction Technology Transfer Center 

National Office (ATTC)

The SAMHSA/CSAT-funded Addiction Technology 

Transfer Center network is comprised of 15 regional 

centers and a national office that serves the 50 

States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. 

Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Territories. The ATTC 

provides training, education, resource materials, 

and technical assistance to the addiction treatment 

workforce to advance the adoption of evidencebased practices.

816-235-6888

www.ATTCnetwork.org

Adult Children of Alcoholics WSO 

Adult Children of Alcoholics is a 12-step, 12-tradition 

program of women and men who grew up in alcoholic 

or otherwise dysfunctional homes. Members meet with 

each other in a mutually respectful, safe environment 

and acknowledge common experiences. 

310-534-1815 

www.adultchildren.org

Advocates for Recovery Through 

Medicine (ARM)

ARM’s goals are to end stigma and discrimination 

against people who use medications to treat 

addictions and to move addiction treatment, 

especially opiate addiction treatment, into 

mainstream medicine.

810-250-9064

www.armmat.org

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers 

of New York State 

This nonprofit membership association consists of 

coalitions, programs, and agencies throughout New 

York State that provide substance use disorder 

prevention, treatment, and research.

518-426-3122 

www.asapnys.org 

Aliviane NO-AD, Inc.

This nonprofit, community-based organization 

is dedicated to the provision of HIV and substance 

use disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, 

education, and follow-up care to the residents of 

West Texas.

915-881-8220

www.aliviane.org 

Alliance for Children and Families – D.C. Office 

The Alliance for Children and Families provides 

services to nonprofit child and family sectors and 

economic empowerment organizations.

202-429-0400 

www.alliance1.org 

American Association for Marriage and 

Family Therapy 

This association represents the professional 

interests of more than 24,000 marriage and family 

therapists throughout the United States, Canada, 

and abroad. 

703-838-9808 

www.aamft.org 

Planning partners

1
2

RESOURCES

American Association of Pastoral Counselors

The American Association of Pastoral Counselors 

represents and sets professional standards for 

over 3,000 Pastoral Counselors and 100 pastoral 

counseling centers in North America and around the 

world. It is non-sectarian and respects the spiritual 

commitments and religious traditions of those who 

seek assistance without imposing counselor beliefs 

onto the client.

703-385-6967

www.aapc.org

American Association for the Treatment 

of Opioid Dependence (AATOD)

The American Association for the Treatment of 

Opioid Dependence (AATOD) was founded in 1984 

to enhance the quality of patient care in treatment 

programs by promoting the growth and development 

of comprehensive methadone treatment services 

throughout the United States. 

212-566-5555 

www.aatod.org

American Bar Association (ABA)

Standing Committee on Substance Abuse

The Standing Committee on Substance Abuse is 

committed to promoting justice system reform that 

addresses problems associated with the illegal use 

of drugs and alcohol in this country. To carry out this 

mission, the Standing Committee collaborates with 

other ABA entities, Federal, State, and local public/

private organizations, and State, local, and territorial 

bar associations.

202-662-1784 

www.abanet.org/subabuse

American Council for Drug 

Education (ACDE)

The American Council for Drug Education is a 

prevention and education agency that develops 

programs and materials based on the most current 

scientific research on drug use and its impact 

on society.

646-505-2061 

www.acde.org 

American Dental Association (ADA)

The American Dental Association (ADA) is the world’s 

oldest and largest national dental society, representing 

more than 70 percent of dentists throughout the 

United States. Its mission is to maintain the integrity 

of the dental profession, enhance the quality of dental 

practice, and advance the oral health of the American 

public. The ADA is committed to helping its members 

better identify, understand, and accommodate the 

special health care needs of patients with substance 

use disorders, and to facilitate the journey of 

recovery for its member dentists and their 

respective office staffs.

202-898-2400

www.ada.org 

American Mental Health Counselors 

Association (AMHCA)

The AMHCA works exclusively for licensed mental 

health counselors by advocating for legislation that 

expands, enhances, and protects the right to practice, 

promotes mental health awareness, and builds the 

profession of mental health counseling nationally. 

Most mental health counselors are trained in 

substance abuse and are qualified to treat 

substance abuse and dually diagnosed clientele. 

703-548-6002

www.amhca.org

American Psychological Association 

The American Psychological Association is the 

largest scientific and professional organization 

representing psychology in the United States. Its 

membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, 

educators, clinicians, consultants, and students.

800-374-2721 

202-336-5500 (TDD/TTY) 

202-336-5500

www.apa.org 
3

American Society of Addiction 

Medicine (ASAM)

The ASAM is an association of 3,000 physicians from 

across America dedicated to improving the treatment 

of alcoholism and other addictions, educating 

physicians and medical students, promoting research 

and prevention, and enlightening and informing the 

medical community and the public about these issues.

301-656-3920

www.asam.org 

Arab Community Center for Economic 

and Social Services (ACCESS)

ACCESS is the largest nonprofit Arab-American 

organization in North America and the most 

comprehensive in the nature and variety of services 

available. It provides services in many areas, such 

as social services, immigration, employment, public 

and mental health (including substance abuse 

prevention and treatment), environment, national 

outreach, and research. 

313-842-7010

www.accesscommunity.org

Association of Persons Affected by 

Addiction (APAA)

This nonprofit recovery community organization 

is designed to engage the faces and voices of 

the recovery community in reducing stigma and 

enhancing recovery support services. The APAA 

specializes in providing recovery community 

support services for people seeking or in recovery 

and their family members.

214-634-APAA (2722)

www.apaarecovery.org 

Association of Recovery Schools 

This association brings together students and 

secondary and post-secondary schools, and helps 

professionals to support students in recovery from 

substance use disorders.

615-248-8206 

www.recoveryschools.org 

Behavioral Health Services 

This nonprofit organization has provided a continuum 

of substance abuse, mental health, and senior services 

since 1973. Each of its 11 facilities (located throughout 

Los Angeles County) is based on its mission of transforming lives by offering hope and opportunities for 

recovery, wellness, and independence.

310-679-9126

www.bhs-inc.org 

California Association of Addiction 

Recovery Resources (CAARR) 

The CAARR educates and provides statewide recovery 

resources for people with substance use disorders 

living in California.

916-338-9460 

www.caarr.org 

Californians for Drug-Free Youth/

Community Alliances for Drug-Free 

Youth, Inc. (CADFY) 

CADFY, via community mobilization, co-develops 

and provides effective and comprehensive youth, 

adult, and family prevention/intervention/treatment 

and recovery community support services that are 

deployed through CADFY’s national outreach bureau: 

Community Alliances for Drug-Free Youth. 

916-284-1036

www.cadfy.org 

Caron Treatment Centers

The Caron Treatment Centers offer detoxification, 

gender-separate rehabilitation, relapse treatment, 

and extended care for adults and adolescents; 

educational programs for family members; and 

student assistance services.

800-678-2332

www.caron.org

Catholic Charities USA 

This membership association provides vital social 

services to people in need, regardless of their religious, 

social, or economic backgrounds.

703-549-1390 

www.catholiccharitiesusa.org 
4

RESOURCES

Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery is a worldwide Christ-centered 

recovery ministry. By working the 12 steps, their 

Biblical principles, and the corresponding Eight 

Recovery Principles found in the Beatitudes, 

individuals find freedom from past hurts and 

harmful addictive and dysfunctional behaviors.

949-581-0548

www.celebraterecovery.com

Center for Alcohol and Drug Research 

and Education

This international nonprofit organization provides 

public information and technical assistance, 

guidance, information, and expert service to 

individuals, organizations, governmental agencies, 

and a variety of nonprofit organizations in the private 

sector to improve the quality of their response to 

substance use disorders.

410-377-8992

Center for Families, Children and 

the Courts

This center is dedicated to improving the quality 

of justice and services to meet the diverse needs 

of children, youth, families, and self-represented 

litigants in the California courts.

415-865-7739 

www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc 

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. 

This nonprofit community development corporation 

offers social service programs and services

throughout Arizona.

602-257-0700

www.cplc.org 

Civic Entertainment Group

This marketing and promotions firm is located in 

New York City.

212-564-0833

www.cegny.com

 

COAF (Children of Alcoholics Foundation), 

Phoenix House’s Center on Addiction and 

the Family

COAF focuses on information, support, and resources 

for families that have been affected by parental 

substance abuse, as well as practice improvement 

for the professionals who work with them. 

646-505-2060 

www.coaf.org 

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 

America (CADCA)

CADCA builds and strengthens the capacity of 

community coalitions to create safe, healthy, and 

drug-free communities. The organization supports

its members with technical assistance and training, 

public policy, media strategies, conferences, and 

special events.

800-54-CADCA

www.cadca.org

CRC Health Group

CRC Health Group offers the most comprehensive 

network of specialized behavioral care services in 

the nation. The group has provided healing and hope 

in the lives of patients and students and offers the 

largest array of personalized treatment services for 

individuals, families, and professionals. Every day, 

more than 30,000 people receive treatment from 

CRC programs, making it the most trusted specialized 

behavioral health organization in the nation. 

866-762-3766

www.crchealth.com

D.C. Bar 

This organization provides services to the 

profession, the courts, and the community in 

Washington, D.C.

202-737-4700 

www.dcbar.org 
5

The El Paso Alliance

The Alliance was organized in 1998 to fight stigma 

and discrimination for people in recovery from 

substance use disorders, and is now dedicated 

to providing peer-to-peer recovery support services. 

915-594-7000

www.recoveryalliance.net

Employee Health Programs 

This group, a subsidiary of First Advantage Corporation, 

designs and manages drug-free workplace programs, 

employee assistance programs, and other services 

that benefit employers and employees. 

800-275-7051 

www.ehp.com

The Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol 

Problems Initiative 

George Washington University 

This program works to increase access to 

treatment for individuals with alcohol problems 

by collaborating with policymakers, employers, 

and concerned citizens.

202-296-6922 

www.ensuringsolutions.org 

Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) 

EIC, a nonprofit organization, has offices in Los 

Angeles and the Washington, D.C., area. The organization works within the film, television, and 

music industries to promote the accurate depiction 

of health and social issues in entertainment productions. EIC’s annual awards show, the PRISM Awards 

TV special, airs nationally and is distributed to over 

11,000 treatment and recovery centers nationwide as 

a tool to encourage open discussion among treatment 

center staff and recovering clients. 

703-481-1414 (East) and 818-333-5001 (West)

www.eiconline.org 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE 

PRESIDENT (EOP)

White House Office of National Drug Control 

Policy (ONDCP) Information Clearinghouse

This Federal office establishes policies, priorities, and 

objectives for the Nation’s drug control program.

800-666-3332

www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov

EOP, White House Office of Faith-Based 

and Community Initiatives

The White House Office and the Centers for the 

Faith-Based and Community Initiative—located 

in seven Federal agencies—are working to support 

the essential work of these important organizations. 

Their goal is to make sure that grassroots leaders 

can compete on an equal footing for federal dollars, 

receive greater private support, and face fewer 

bureaucratic barriers.

202-456-6708 

www.whitehouse.gov

Faces & Voices of Recovery 

This national recovery advocacy organization mobilizes 

people in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other 

drugs, families, friends, and allies in campaigns to end 

discrimination and make recovery a reality for even 

more Americans. 

202-737-0690 

www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org 

Foundations Associates 

Foundations Associates is a treatment and advocacy 

organization dedicated solely to the treatment and 

recovery of people with co-occurring mental illness 

and substance use disorders. The agency has a full 

continuum of care, with locations in Memphis and 

Nashville, TN. Another division of the agency, the 

Dual Diagnosis Recovery Network, is a membershipbased advocacy group, providing educational activities, 

legislative and policy action, and awareness projects 

related to meeting the needs of individuals with 

co-occurring disorders.

888-869-9230 

www.dualdiagnosis.org
6

RESOURCES

Gaudenzia, Inc.

Gaudenzia helps people affected by chemical 

dependency, mental illness, and related conditions

to achieve a better quality of life, allowing them to 

live as productive and accountable individuals. 

The group also conducts research and educates 

the community on the causes, treatment, and 

prevention of addictions, mental illness, and 

related conditions.

717-238-4200

www.gaudenzia.org

The Green Dot 

This professional services and management consulting 

firm provides a full range of administrative, clinical, 

and fiscal services to public and private sector clients 

worldwide focused on health promotion and disease 

prevention. The Green Dot also provides some pro 

bono services, including promoting the acquisition 

and broadcast of public service announcements 

on treatment and prevention, and providing free 

consultations to community organizations.

703-931-2356 

Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Inc.

The mission of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, 

Inc. is to increase access to health care for all and 

improve the health and well-being of its clients. 

More than 34,000 individuals and their loved ones 

depend on the clinics every year to provide free, 

high-quality, demystified and comprehensive health 

care that is culturally sensitive, nonjudgmental, 

and accessible to all in need.

415-746-1967

www.hafci.org

Hazelden Foundation 

Hazelden Foundation, a national nonprofit organization 

founded in 1949, helps people reclaim their lives from 

the disease of addiction. Hazelden’s comprehensive 

approach to addiction addresses the full range of

patient, family, and professional needs, including 

treatment and continuing care, research, higher 

learning, public education and advocacy, 

and publishing.

800-257-7810 

www.hazelden.org 

Health Matrix, Inc. 

This organization develops communications programs 

that inform the debate on key issues in science, policy, 

and health care.

703-918-4930 

www.healthmatrixinc.com 

Johnson Institute 

This national organization works to identify and 

eliminate the barriers to recovery, while promoting 

the power and possibility of recovery by enhancing 

awareness, prevention, intervention, and treatment 

practices for substance use disorders.

202-662-7104 

www.johnsoninstitute.com 

Join Together 

This national resource for communities working 

to reduce substance use disorders offers a 

comprehensive Web site, daily news updates, 

publications, and technical assistance.

617-437-1500 

www.jointogether.org 
7

Lawyers Assistance Program – D.C. Bar

Established in 1985, the D.C. Bar Lawyer Assistance 

Program is a free and confidential program assisting 

lawyers, judges, and law students who experience 

problems that interfere with their personal lives or 

their ability to serve as counsel or officers of the court.

202-737-4700

www.dcbar.org/for_lawyers/bar_services/counseling/

index.cfm

The Legal Action Center 

This nonprofit law and policy organization fights 

discrimination against people with histories of 

substance use disorders, HIV/AIDS, or criminal 

records, and advocates for sound public policies 

in these areas.

212-243-1313

www.lac.org/programs/alcdrugs.html 

Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery 

The Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery is a

 grassroots alliance of individuals who support 

recovery. Its purpose is to initiate change in legislation 

and resource allocation, raise awareness through 

public acknowledgment, and promote support by 

sharing the experiences of recovering people, their 

families, and friends.

207-651-8118

www.masap.org/site/recovery.asp 

Massachusetts Organization for Addiction 

Recovery (MOAR)

This organization is a collective voice of people in 

recovery, families, and friends who are helping each 

other educate the public about the value of living in 

recovery, and the resources to support recovery.

617-423-6627 

www.neaar.org/moar 

Mental Health America (MHA)

Mental Health America is the country’s oldest and 

largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects 

of mental health and mental illness. With more than 

320 affiliates nationwide, MHA works to improve the 

mental health of all Americans through advocacy, 

education, research, and service. 

800-969-6MHA (6642) 

www.mentalhealthamerica.net

MusiCares

MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance 

for people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and 

resources cover a wide range of financial, medical, and 

personal. MusiCares also focuses the resources and 

attention of the music industry on human service 

issues that directly impact the health and welfare 

of the music community.

800-687-4227

www.musicares.com

Narconon 

This is a nonprofit drug rehab program dedicated to 

eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction through 

drug prevention, education, and rehabilitation. 

323-962-2404 

www.narconon.org

National Alliance of Methadone 

Advocates (NAMA) 

NAMA is a membership organization representing 

persons whose recovery from opiate dependence 

is assisted with medication. NAMA’s membership 

includes methadone patients, family members, and 

health care professionals whose common goal is 

to fight the ignorance and prejudice surrounding 

medication-assisted recovery. 

212-595-NAMA

www.methadone.org 
8

RESOURCES

National Asian Pacific American Families 

Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA) 

This private, nonprofit membership organization 

involves service providers, families, and youth to 

promote health and social justice and address the 

alcohol, tobacco, and other drug issues of Asian and 

Pacific Islander populations.

213-625-5795 

www.napafasa.org 

National Association for Children of 

Alcoholics (NACoA) 

This national nonprofit membership and affiliate 

organization works on behalf of children of alcoholand drug-dependent parents and all family members 

affected by substance use disorders.

888-554-2627 

301-468-0985 

www.nacoa.org 

National Association of Lesbian and Gay 

Addiction Professionals 

This membership organization, founded in 1979, 

is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of 

alcoholism, substance abuse, and other addictions in 

lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. 

703-465-0539 

www.nalgap.org

National Association for Native American 

Children of Alcoholics (NANACOA) 

This association provides a Native American 

framework for healing children of alcoholics.

866-480-6751 

719-548-1000 

www.whitebison.org/nanacoa

National Association of Addiction 

Treatment Providers (NAATP)

This association represents private substance 

use disorder treatment programs throughout the 

United States.

717-392-8480 

www.naatp.org 

NAADAC, The Association for 

Addiction Professionals 

This membership organization serves addiction 

services professionals who specialize in addiction 

prevention, intervention, treatment, and 

after-care services.

800-548-0497 

www.naadac.org 

National Association of County Behavioral 

Health and Developmental Disability 

Directors (NACBHD)

This nonprofit membership organization is comprised 

of county/local behavioral health authorities who plan 

and deliver mental health, developmental disability, 

and substance use disorder services, as well as the 

State associations that represent their interests.

202-661-8816

www.nacbhd.org 

National Association of Drug Court 

Professionals (NADCP) 

This association seeks to reduce substance abuse, 

crime, and recidivism by promoting and advocating 

for the establishment and funding of drug courts 

and providing for the collection and dissemination 

of information, technical assistance, and mutual 

support to association members.

703-575-9400

www.nadcp.org 
9

National Association of Public Child 

Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA) 

This association is devoted solely to representing 

administrators of state and local public child welfare 

agencies, bringing an informed view of the problems 

facing families today to the formulation of child 

welfare policy. 

202-682-0100 

www.aphsa.org/napcwa

National Association of Social 

Workers (NASW) 

As the largest membership organization of professional 

social workers in the world, this organization works to 

enhance the professional growth and development of 

its members, to create and maintain professional 

standards, and to advance sound social policies. 

202-408-8600

www.naswdcsocialworkers.org 

National Association of State Alcohol and 

Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) 

This association supports the development of effective 

prevention and treatment programs throughout 

every State. 

203-293-0090

www.nasadad.org 

National Association on Alcohol, Drugs 

and Disability, Inc. (NAADD) 

This association promotes awareness and education 

about substance use disorders among people 

with physical, sensory, cognitive, and 

developmental disabilities.

650-578-8047

www.naadd.org 

National Civic League (NCL) 

The NCL is a nonprofit, non-partisan membership 

organization dedicated to strengthening citizen 

democracy by transforming democratic institutions. 

The NCL fosters innovative community building and 

political reform, assists local governments, and

recognizes collaborative community achievement.

202-783-2961

www.nclweb.org

National Conference of State 

Legislatures (NCSL) 

The NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves 

the legislators and staffs of the nation’s 50 states, its 

commonwealths, and territories. The NCSL provides 

research, technical assistance, and opportunities for 

policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing 

State issues. It has a significant focus on substance 

abuse treatment and prevention.

202-624-3581

www.ncsl.org

National Council for Community 

Behavioral Healthcare 

The National Council for Community Behavioral 

Healthcare is the national association of community 

providers who together care for 6 million adults and 

children across America who suffer from mental illnesses, 

developmental disabilities, and substance abuse 

disorders. Its members employ more than 250,000 

staff and provide mental health and substance abuse 

treatment, rehabilitation, housing, and community 

support services.

301-984-6200 

www.nccbh.org 
10

RESOURCES

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug 

Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)

Founded in 1944, NCADD is dedicated to increasing 

public awareness and understanding of the disease 

of alcoholism and drug dependence. NCADD and its 

national network of State and local affiliates provide 

education, prevention, information/referral, 

intervention, treatment services, and advocacy, and 

have helped hundreds of thousands of individuals 

and families into recovery. 

212-269-7797

www.ncadd.org 

National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) 

This institute promotes education, research, and 

scholarship for drug court and other court-based 

intervention programs.

703-575-9400

www.ndci.org

National Governors Association (NGA)

(Center for Best Practices) 

This bipartisan, nonprofit association represents the 

collective voice of the nation’s Governors. Its mission 

is to help shape and implement national policy and 

help Governors and their policy staff develop and 

implement innovative solutions to the challenges 

facing their States. 

202-624-5300 

www.nga.org/center 

National Home Infusion Association

NHIA is a trade association that represents and 

advances the interests of organizations that provide 

infusion, specialized pharmacy services, and products 

to the entire spectrum of home-based patients. 

703-549-3740

www.nhianet.org

National Inhalant Prevention 

Coalition (NIPC)

Synergies, a nonprofit coalition based in Chattanooga, 

TN, founded the NIPC as a public-private effort to 

promote awareness and recognition of the underpublicized problem of inhalant use. The NIPC serves 

as an inhalant referral and information clearinghouse, 

stimulates media coverage about inhalant issues, develops 

informational materials and a newsletter, provides 

training and technical assistance, and leads a week-long 

national grassroots education and awareness campaign.

800-269-4237

www.inhalants.org

National Latino Council on Alcohol and 

Tobacco Prevention 

This Council prevents tobacco use and reduces alcohol 

use disorders in the Latino community through the 

dissemination of science-based research findings, 

community education, technical assistance, policy 

analysis, and advocacy. 

202-265-8054 

www.nlcatp.org 

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol 

Syndrome (NOFAS)

This organization provides education and awareness 

about the prevention of birth defects caused by alcohol 

consumption during pregnancy. 

202-785-4585

www.nofas.org

National Safety Council

The National Safety Council is a nonprofit public 

service organization dedicated to educating and 

influencing people to prevent accidental injuries 

and deaths.

630-285-1121

www.nsc.org
11

National TASC (Treatment Accountability 

for Safer Communities) 

This membership organization represents individuals 

and programs dedicated to the professional delivery 

of treatment and case management services to 

populations with substance use disorders.

703-836-8272 

www.nationaltasc.org

Network for the Improvement of 

Addiction Treatment (NIATx)

NIATx is a partnership between the Robert Wood 

Johnson Foundation’s Paths to Recovery program, 

the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s 

Strengthening Treatment Access and Retention 

(STAR) program, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 

and a number of independent addiction treatment 

organizations. NIATx works with addiction treatment 

providers to make more efficient use of their capacity 

and shares strategies for improving treatment access 

and retention.

608-265-0063

www.niatx.net

Northern Ohio Recovery Association (NORA)

This project provides faith-based recovery support 

services in a three-county area in Northern Ohio. 

216-391-6672

www.norainc.org

Oxford House, Inc.

This is the umbrella organization for a network 

of more than 1,200 democratically run, selfsupporting, and drug-free group homes 

throughout the country.

301-587-2916 

www.oxfordhouse.org 

Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) 

For more than 20 years, PDFA has united 

communications professionals, scientists, and 

parents to reduce illicit drug use among teens. 

The group has recently introduced user-friendly

resources for parents and caregivers including 

TimeToTalk.org, an online parent-to-parent 

community and resource center.

212-922-1560 

www.drugfree.org and www.timetotalk.org 

The Partnership for Recovery (PFR) 

This coalition includes the Betty Ford Center, 

Bradford Health Systems, Cumberland Heights, 

Father Martin’s Ashley, Gateway Rehabilitation 

Center, Hazelden Foundation, Valley Hope Association, 

and the National Association of Addiction Treatment 

Providers. The PFR works to eliminate barriers 

to addiction treatment through education 

and awareness.

202-737-8167

www.partnershipforrecovery.org 

Pennsylvania Department of Health, 

Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs 

develops and implements a comprehensive 

health, education, and rehabilitation program 

for the prevention, intervention, treatment, and 

case management of drug and alcohol abuse 

and dependence.

717-783-8200

www.health.state.pa.us/bdap
12

RESOURCES

Portland State University Graduate School 

of Social Work

The Graduate School of Social Work offers the only 

graduate social work education programs in Oregon 

accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. 

Consistent with the goals of Portland State University 

and the Oregon State System of Higher Education, 

the three major functions of the school are teaching, 

research, and community service. Some of its students 

work with faculty members in regional and national 

research projects, such as the “Reclaiming Futures: 

Building Community Solutions to Substance Abuse 

and Delinquency” project in 10 sites across the 

United States.

503-725-4712

www.ssw.pdx.edu/

The RASE Project

The RASE Project is a nonprofit organization 

comprised entirely of staff and volunteers from the 

recovery community in south central Pennsylvania. 

The organization provides peer support services, 

recovery events, training and education, and 

supportive housing. 

717-232-8535

www.raseproject.org

Recovery Connection 

Recovery Connection is a comprehensive addiction 

treatment resource and drug rehabilitation referral 

service. The organization has staff across the 

country available 24 hours a day to answer all 

concerns about substance abuse, addiction 

treatment, and rehabilitation.

800-993-3869

www.recoveryconnection.org

Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, 

Inc. (RCA)

RCA, Inc., is a nonprofit, faith-based organization 

founded by concerned, committed, and spiritually 

centered members of metro-Atlanta’s recovery 

community. RCA collaborates with faith (primarily 

churches) and community-based organizations and 

develops peer-to-peer support services and programs 

and works to build a network of recovering individuals. 

404-370-0123

www.recoveryconsultants.org 

Recovery Network Foundation (RNF)

The Recovery Network Foundation develops recoverydedicated projects in print, radio, TV, film, and video 

formats. “Under the Influence: The Film Series” is 

a national touring festival that showcases films in 

which addiction and recovery play leading roles.

914-941-2863

www.recoverynetworkfoundation.org

The Second Road

The Second Road is Web-based nonprofit group to help 

those in recovery (and the families of those affected by 

addiction) learn to live with the challenges presented 

by everyday life and continue on a fulfilling road of 

recovery. The Second Road offers a community of trust 

and understanding, 24-hour access, inspiring stories 

from people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, the 

knowledge of many experts in the addiction treatment 

field, and the tools to resist relapse in a secure, 

non-threatening environment.

434-295-9595

www.thesecondroad.org

The Substance Abuse and Addiction 

Recovery Alliance (SAARA)

SAARA is a community-based grassroots membership 

organization of individuals in recovery from alcohol 

and other drug addiction, their families, friends, and 

committed community supporters.

804-762-4445 

www.saara.org
13

State Associations of Addiction 

Services (SAAS)

SAAS is the national organization of State provider 

associations representing treatment and prevention 

programs for substance use disorders.

202-546-4600 

www.saasnet.org

TASC, Inc., of Illinois

TASC, Inc., of Illinois is a not-for-profit organization 

that conducts research, advances public policy, and 

provides services to ensure that individuals with 

substance use and mental health disorders receive 

treatment and access to recovery. 

312-787-0208 

www.tasc.org 

Teen Challenge International 

This network of 191 centers throughout the United 

States provides youth, adults, and families with 

effective and comprehensive faith-based solutions 

to life-controlling alcohol and drug problems.

417-862-6969

www.teenchallenge.com

Therapeutic Communities of 

America (TCA)

This national nonprofit membership association 

represents more than 650 substance abuse and mental 

health treatment programs that provide a variety of 

services to substance use and co-occurring disorder 

clients with a diversity of special needs.

202-296-3503 

www.therapeuticcommunitiesofamerica.org 

United for Recovery

This nonprofit organization is an advocacy group 

for persons in treatment and in recovery. United for 

Recovery works to broaden public awareness and 

understanding of addiction and recovery and increase 

opportunities for people to get the help they need.

310-704-1336

www.unitedforrecovery.org 

United Methodist Church – General Board 

of Church and Society of the United 

Methodist Church

This organization offers faith-based substance abuse 

advocacy training for local churches and faith-based 

programs for people with substance use disorders.

202-488-5600

www.umc-gbcs.org

University of Baltimore Center for 

Families, Children and the Courts

This group’s mission is to create, foster, and support a 

national movement to integrate communities, families, 

and the justice system to improve the lives of families 

and the health of the community.

410-837-5613

http://law.ubalt.edu/cfcc 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) 

The Department of Defense provides a wide array 

of services to prevent and treat substance use 

disorders, including worksite education, drug 

testing, early intervention, outpatient counseling, 

and inpatient treatment.

703-681-0064

www.defenselink.mil 
14

RESOURCES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)

This government agency provides information and 

resources on substance use disorders and health 

insurance/Medicaid issues.

877-696-6775 

www.hhs.gov 

HHS, Health Resources and Services 

Administration (HRSA), Poison 

Control Program

The HRSA Poison Control Program’s mission is to 

ensure that the residents of the United States and 

the territories it serves have access to high-quality 

poison control services. The HRSA Poison Control 

Program administers a program that provides funding 

to stabilize and improve poison control centers (PCCs) 

across the United States, provides technical assistance 

to PCCs, and facilitates collaboration among PCCs and 

other health care partners.

301-443-0652 

www.hrsa.gov

HHS 

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The National Institutes of Health is the steward of 

medical and behavioral research for the Nation. It is 

an agency under the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services.

301-496-4000

www.nih.gov 

HHS, NIH 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and 

Alcoholism (NIAAA)

This institute provides leadership in the national 

effort to reduce alcohol-related problems by 

conducting and supporting research in a wide 

range of scientific areas.

301-443-3885

www.niaaa.nih.gov 

HHS, NIH

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the 

health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. It carries 

out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid 

dissemination of research information and its

implementation in policy and practice.

301-443-1124 

www.drugabuse.gov 

HHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration (SAMHSA)

This Federal agency improves the quality and 

availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative 

services to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost 

to society resulting from substance use disorders 

and mental illnesses.

240-276-2130

www.samhsa.gov 

HHS, SAMHSA

Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) 

This national center delivers mental health services to 

provide the treatment and support needed by adults 

with mental disorders and children with serious 

emotional problems.

240-276-2550 

www.samhsa.gov/centers/cmhs/cmhs.html

HHS, SAMHSA

Center for Substance Abuse 

Prevention (CSAP) 

This government organization improves the 

accessibility and quality of substance use disorder 

prevention programs and provides national leadership 

in the development of policies, programs, and services 

to prevent the onset of illegal drug use and underage 

alcohol and tobacco use.

240-276-2420

www.prevention.samhsa.gov
15

HHS, SAMHSA

Center for Substance Abuse 

Treatment (CSAT)

This government organization provides information 

on treatment programs, publications, funding 

opportunities, and resources and sponsors 

Recovery Month.

240-276-2750

www.csat.samhsa.gov

HHS, SAMHSA 

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Education Development Center, Inc. 

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center supports 

suicide prevention with the best of science, skills, and 

practice to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. A federally funded activity managed 

through SAMHSA, this program provides prevention 

support, training, and resource materials to strengthen 

suicide prevention networks. 

877-438-7772 

617-964-5448 (TTY) 

www.sprc.org

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ)

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

This government agency enforces the nation’s controlled 

substances laws and regulations, works to reduce the 

availability of illegal drugs,and has a prevention arm 

devoted to reducing the demand for these drugs. The 

agency contributes its “street-smart” perspective and 

skills to the field and helps to link law 

enforcement with other providers. 

202-307-7936

www.dea.gov

DOJ, Community Capacity 

Development Office 

This multi-agency’s strategy is to “weed out” violent 

crime, gang activity, and drug trafficking, and “seed” 

human services to the areas where these activities 

occur, encompassing prevention, intervention, 

treatment, and neighborhood revitalization.

202-616-1152

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

Working Partners for an Alcohol- and 

Drug-Free Workplace

Working Partners helps to build a drug-free workforce 

by equipping businesses and communities with tools 

and information to effectively address alcohol and 

drug problems.

202-693-5919 

www.dol.gov/workingpartners 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

TRANSPORTATION (DOT) 

National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration Impaired Driving Division

The mission of the Impaired Driving Division is to 

develop partnerships to cooperatively save lives, 

prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related health 

care and economic costs resulting from impaired 

driving from using alcohol and other drugs.

202-493-2236

www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol
16

RESOURCES

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS 

ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Grantees of the Paul D. Coverdell Drug Free 

Workplace Program assist small businesses with 

the implementation of a drug-free workplace program 

by providing financial, technical, and management 

assistance, including information about grants/loans 

and employee assistance programs.

800-U-ASK-SBA 

www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/

sbdc_drug_free.html

Volunteers of America

Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, 

faith-based organization dedicated to helping 

those in need rebuild their lives and reach 

their full potential. Through thousands of 

human service programs, including housing 

and health care, Volunteers of America helps 

nearly 2 million people in over 400 communities. 

Since 1896, its ministry of service has supported 

and empowered America’s most vulnerable 

groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, 

men and women returning from prison, homeless 

individuals and families, people with disabilities, 

and those recovering from addictions. Its work 

touches the mind, body, heart, and ultimately the

spirit of those it serves, integrating deep compassion 

with highly effective programs and services.

703-341-5000 

www.volunteersofamerica.org

The Watershed

The Watershed is a group of recovery facilities 

that provide services including detoxification, 

residential rehabilitation, intensive outpatient 

treatment, prevention, and education.

800-861-1768

www.thewatershed.com

We Care America

This national network of individuals, churches, 

and ministries work together to meet the needs 

of the poor and hurting by building capacity among 

faith-based organizations.

703-554-8600

www.wecareamerica.org 

White Bison, Inc.

This American Indian nonprofit organization 

offers learning resources to the Native American 

community nationwide on topics such as sobriety, 

recovery, prevention, and wellness/Wellbriety (the 

inspiration to go on beyond sobriety and recovery, 

committing to a life of wellness and healing every day).

719-548-1000 

www.whitebison.org
recovery

join the voices for

september 2008

real people, 

real recovery
2

RECOVERY MONTH RESOURCES

The following is a list of substance use disorder resources 

that can help you during National Alcohol and Drug 

Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) and 

throughout the year. The organizations are listed by 

category to help you quickly identify the resource(s) 

most closely aligned with your needs. Resources cover a 

variety of subject areas, including culture, policy, education, 

recovery, mental health, mutual support groups, prevention, 

and more. The organizations that are referenced represent 

a broad sampling of what is available nationwide. 

Please note: This list is not exhaustive of all available 

resources. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement 

by the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration, or its Center for Substance 

Abuse Treatment. 

Federal Agencies 3

General Information 3

Culture-Specific Resources 5

Justice System 5

Mental Health 7

Military/Veterans 8

Policy/Education 10

Prevention 11

Recovery/Treatment 12

Schools/Youth 14

Workplace 15

Other Resources 17

Culture-Specific Resources 17

African American 17

Asian/Pacific Islander 18

Hispanic/Latino 19

Native American 20

Faith-Based Organizations 21

Family and Social Services 26

Health Care 28

Justice/Legal System 29

Mental Health 31

Military/Veterans 32

Mutual Support Groups 33

Policy/Education 40

Prevention 44

Provider and Professional Organizations 46

Recovery Support Programs 51

Recovery/Treatment 58

Research 66

State and Local Resources 69

Workplace, Labor, and Insurance Resources 74

Youth Programs 78
3

FEDERAL AGENCIES

General Information

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (EOP)

White House Office of Faith-Based and 

Community Initiatives

The White House Office and the Centers for the FaithBased and Community Initiative–located in seven Federal 

agencies–are working to support the essential work of these 

important organizations. Their goal is to make 

sure that grassroots leaders can compete on an equal 

footing for Federal dollars, receive greater private 

support, and face fewer bureaucratic barriers.

708 Jackson Place 

Washington, D.C. 20502 

202-456-6708 

www.whitehouse.gov

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy 

(ONDCP) Information Clearinghouse 

This Federal office establishes policies, priorities, 

and objectives for the Nation’s drug control program. 

P.O. Box 6000

Rockville, MD 20849-6000

800-666-3332 

www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 

SERVICES (HHS) 

This government agency provides information and 

resources on substance use disorders and health 

insurance/Medicaid issues.

200 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, D.C. 20201 

877-696-6775 

www.hhs.gov 

HHS, Center for Medicare and Medicaid 

Services (CMS)

This Federal agency provides health insurance for 

over 74 million Americans through Medicare, 

Medicaid, and enforces the Health Insurance Portability 

and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and several other 

health-related programs. 

7500 Security Boulevard

Baltimore, MD 21244 

877-267-2323 

410-786-3000

www.cms.hhs.gov

HHS, Health Resources and Services 

Administration (HRSA)

HRSA’s mission is to improve and expand access to quality 

health care for all. 

Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

301-443-3376 

www.hrsa.gov
4

HHS, HRSA

Poison Control Program

HRSA’s Poison Control Program’s mission is to ensure 

that the residents of the United States and the territories it 

serves have access to high-quality poison control services. 

The HRSA Poison Control Program administers a program 

that provides funding to stabilize and improve poison 

control centers (PCCs) across the United States, provides 

technical assistance to PCCs, and facilitates collaboration 

among PCCs and other health care partners.

Parklawn Building

5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13-103

Rockville, MD 20857

301-443-0652 

www.hrsa.gov

HHS, National Institutes of Health (NIH) 

NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for 

the Nation. It is an agency under the U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services. 

9000 Rockville Pike 

Bethesda, MD 20892 

301-496-4000 

www.nih.gov

HHS, NIH 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) 

This institute provides leadership in the national effort to 

reduce alcohol-related problems by conducting and 

supporting research in a wide range of scientific areas. 

5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9304 

301-443-3885 

www.niaaa.nih.gov

HHS, NIH 

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 

NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the 

health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. It carries 

out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid 

dissemination of research information and its

implementation in policy and practice. 

6001 Executive Boulevard 

Room 5213, MSC 9561 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9561 

301-443-1124 

www.drugabuse.gov

HHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA) 

This Federal agency improves the quality and availability of 

prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services to reduce 

illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting 

from substance use disorders and mental illnesses.

1 Choke Cherry Road, Eighth Floor 

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-276-2130 

www.samhsa.gov

HHS, SAMHSA’s Health Information Network

This clearinghouse provides comprehensive resources 

for mental health, alcohol, and drug information.

P.O. Box 2345 

Rockville, MD 20847-2345 

877-SAMHSA-7 (English and Spanish) 

800-487-4889 (TDD) 

www.SAMHSA.gov/SHIN
5

Culture-Specific Resources

HHS, Indian Health Service 

This agency offers health services for Alaska Natives and 

American Indians.

The Reyes Building 

801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 400 

Rockville, MD 20852-1627 

301-443-2038 

www.ihs.gov

HHS, Office of Minority Health Resource Center 

This national center develops health policies and 

programs to eliminate health disparities in racial 

and ethnic minority populations. 

P.O. Box 37337 

Washington, D.C. 20013-7337 

800-444-6472 

301-230-7199 (TDD) 

www.omhrc.gov

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (DOI) 

This government agency offers resources on the 

prevention of substance use disorders for American 

Indians, Alaska Natives, and Island communities. 

1849 C Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20240 

202-208-3100 

www.doi.gov

DOI, Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

This office of the DOI provides reservation-based substance 

use disorder programs for American Indians. 

1849 C Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20240-4000 

202-208-3710 

www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html

Justice System

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) 

This government agency enforces the law and defends the 

interests of the United States according to the law, including 

drug enforcement. 

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Washington, D.C. 20530-0001 

202-353-1555 

www.usdoj.gov

DOJ, ADA Home Page and Information Line 

Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans 

with Disabilities Act 

This agency provides information about the Americans 

with Disabilities Act (ADA) through a toll-free ADA 

Information Line and through a Web site. This service

permits businesses, State, and local governments, 

or others to call and ask questions about general 

or specific ADA issues. 

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Civil Rights Division/Disability Rights Section - NYAV

Washington, D.C. 20530 

800-514-0301 

800-514-0383 (TTY) 

www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
6

DOJ, Bureau of Justice Assistance Clearinghouse

This bureau offers community training and technical 

assistance to prevent crime, substance use disorders, 

and violence (reference and referral services for criminal 

justice professionals). 

800-851-3420 

www.ncjrs.gov

DOJ, Bureau of Justice Statistics Clearinghouse 

This bureau provides information on crime, criminal 

offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice 

systems at all levels of government. 

800-851-3420 

DOJ, Community Capacity Development Office 

This multi-agency’s strategy is to “weed out” violent crime, 

gang activity, and drug trafficking, and “seed” human 

services to the areas where these activities occur, 

encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, 

and neighborhood revitalization. 

810 Seventh Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20531 

202-616-1152 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo/

DOJ, Drug Court Planning Initiative 

This initiative provides research, scholarship, and

information for drug courts and other court-based 

intervention programs. 

DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance 

810 Seventh Street NW, Fourth Floor 

Washington, D.C. 20531 

202-616-6500 

http://dcpi.ncjrs.gov/dcpi/dcpi.html

DOJ, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 

This government agency enforces the nation’s controlled 

substances laws and regulations, works to reduce the 

availability of illegal drugs, and has a prevention arm 

devoted to reducing the demand for these drugs. The 

agency contributes its “street-smart” perspective and 

skills to the field and helps to link law enforcement 

with other providers.

Office of Demand Reduction 

2401 Jefferson Davis Highway 

Alexandria, VA 22301 

202-307-7936 

www.dea.gov

DOJ, National Criminal Justice Reference Service 

To support research, policy, and program development 

worldwide, this Federal organization provides criminal 

justice and substance use disorder information.

P.O. Box 6000 

Rockville, MD 20849-6000 

800-851-3420 

301-519-5500 

www.ncjrs.gov

DOJ, National Institute of Justice 

This national research, development, and evaluation 

agency of the U.S. Department of Justice is dedicated 

to researching crime control and justice issues.

810 Seventh Street NW, Seventh Floor 

Washington, D.C. 20531 

202-307-2942 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/
7

DOJ, Office of Juvenile Justice and 

Delinquency Prevention 

This government agency offers resources for communitybased youth rehabilitation programs and information 

about the juvenile justice system. 

810 Seventh Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20531 

202-307-5911 

www.usdoj.gov/02organizations/02_1.html

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

Impaired Driving Division 

The mission of the Impaired Driving Division is to 

develop partnerships to cooperatively save lives, 

prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related health 

care and economic costs resulting from impaired 

driving from using alcohol and other drugs. 

400 Seventh Avenue SW 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

202-493-2236

www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol

Mental Health

HHS, NIH 

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 

This institute conducts research to reduce mental illness 

and behavioral disorders in America. 

6001 Executive Boulevard 

Room 8184, MSC 9663 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9663 

866-615-NIMH (6464) 

301-443-4513 

www.nimh.nih.gov

HHS, SAMHSA 

Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) 

CMHS seeks to improve the availability and accessibility 

of high-quality community-based services for people 

with or at risk for mental illnesses and their families. 

The Center collects, analyzes, and disseminates

national data on mental health services designed 

to help inform future services policy and program 

decision-making. 

1 Choke Cherry Road, Sixth Floor 

Rockville, MD 20857 

877-SAMHSA-7 

240-276-2550 

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs

HHS, SAMHSA 

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Education Development Center, Inc. 

This resource center supports suicide prevention 

with the best of science, skills, and practice to 

advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. 

A Federally funded activity managed through SAMHSA, 

this program provides prevention support, training, 

and resource materials to strengthen suicide 

prevention networks. 

55 Chapel Street 

Newton, MA 02458 

877-438-7772 

617-964-5448 (TTY) 

www.sprc.org
8

HHS, SAMHSA, CMHS 

15+ Make Time to Listen...Take Time to Talk

This program provides practical guidance to parents and 

caregivers about how to create time to listen and take time 

to talk with their children. 

P.O. Box 2345

Rockville, MD 20847-2345

877-SAMHSA-7 

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/15plus/

HHS, SAMHSA, CMHS 

Refugee Mental Health Program (RMHP) 

RMHP provides mental health assessment, treatment, 

and consultation to Cuban and Haitian migrants and 

their providers. 

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room G-1099

Rockville, MD 20857

240-276-1845 

www.refugeewellbeing.samhsa.gov

HHS, SAMHSA, CMHS

Systems of Care

This Web site is devoted to providing information about 

the mental health of children, youth, and families. Systems 

of care is an approach to services that recognizes the 

importance offamily, school, and community, and seeks 

to promote the full potential of every child and youth 

by addressing their physical, emotional, intellectual, 

cultural, and social needs.

1 Choke Cherry Road, Sixth Floor 

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-276-1980

http://systemsofcare.samhsa.gov/

Military/Veterans

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) 

DOD provides a wide array of services to prevent 

substance use disorders, including worksite education, 

drug testing, early intervention, outpatient counseling, 

and inpatient treatment. 

5111 Leesburg Pike 

Skyline 5, Suite 810 

Falls Church, VA 22041 

703-681-0064 

www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/asdpa.html

DOD, Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense 

for Public Affairs 

The public affairs office develops policies, plans, and 

programs in support of DOD objectives and operations. 

1400 Defense, Pentagon, Room 3A-750 

Washington, D.C. 20301-1400 

703-428-0711 

www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/asdpa.html

DOD, United States Air Force 

Bolling Air Force Base, Drug Demand Reduction 

Program (DDRP) 

The drug demand reduction program aims at preventing the 

use and abuse of illicit and illegal drugs within the Air Force 

community. This is done through educational briefings 

and presentations, fairs and community-wide programs, 

materials on illicit drug use, and other prevention efforts. 

Drug Demand Reduction Program Manager 

Bolling Air Force Base 

Building 53 

Washington, D.C. 20032-0101 

202-404-6818

www.capddr.org 
9

DOD, United States Army 

Army Center for Substance Abuse Programs (ACSAP)

This group supports combat readiness by providing program 

oversight, supervision, inspection, integration, technical 

assistance, and training development for the operation 

and management of all elements of the Army Substance 

Abuse Program. 

4501 Ford Avenue, Suite 320 

Alexandria, VA 22302 

703-681-5583 

www.acsap.army.mil/

DOD, United States Army 

Army Medical Surveillance Activity (AMSA) 

Part of the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and 

Preventive Medicine, AMSA is the only organization in the 

Army that performs comprehensive medical surveillance 

and routinely publishes background rates of diseases and 

injuries for the Army population.

Army Medical Surveillance Activity

2900 Linden Lane, Suite 200 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

301-319-3240 

http://amsa.army.mil/AMSA/amsa_ns_home.htm

DOD, United States Army 

Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) 

This group provides information on the health risks posed 

by substance use disorders. It was established by Executive 

Order in 1971 for the purpose of identifying and treating 

substance use disorders. Its primary objective is to restore 

individuals to full productive performance. 

122 Forest Circle, Building 230 

Fort Myer, VA 22211-1199 

703-696-3900

DOD, United States Marine Corps 

Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) 

This group seeks to provide Marine Corps plans, policies, 

and resources to improve and sustain the capabilities of 

commanders. Its goal is to prevent problems that detract 

from unit performance and readiness. 

United States Marine Corps 

Personal and Family Readiness Division (MR) 

3280 Russell Road 

Quantico, VA 22134 

703-784-9454 

www.usmc-mccs.org/

DOD, United States Navy 

National Naval Medical Center’s Substance Abuse and 

Rehabilitation Program (SARP) 

SARP’s mission is to 1) Improve operational readiness, 

2) Promote healthy lifestyles, and 3) Treat problems from 

alcohol and substance abuse. Substance-related problems 

are identified and treated by a team of specialists. The 

program is designed to meet the individual needs of 

active-duty personnel, family members, and retirees. 

Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Program (SARP) 

National Naval Medical Center

8901 Wisconsin Avenue 

Building Seven, Fourth Floor

Bethesda, MD 20889 

301-295-4611 

www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/patient/health_care/

behavioral_health_care/substance_abuse_and_

rehabilitation_program_(sarp).aspx
10

DOD, United States Navy 

Navy Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Program (NADAP) 

This group’s mission is to support the Navy’s readiness by 

fighting alcohol abuse and drug use. It offers information 

and assistance to support individual and command alcohol 

abuse and drug use prevention efforts. It also administers 

the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Prevention Program, 

the Navy Alcohol Abuse Prevention & Deglamorization 

Campaign, Navy Alcohol & Drug Safety Action Program, 

and monthly summits across the world. 

Department of the Navy

Navy Environmental Health Center 

620 John Paul Jones Circle, Suite 1100 

Portsmouth, VA 23708-2103 

757-953-0700 

www-nehc.med.navy.mil/hp/alcohol/index.htm

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) 

This government agency provides benefits and services 

to people who are veterans, family members, or survivors 

of veterans. 

810 Vermont Avenue NW 

Washington, D.C. 20420 

VA Benefits: 800-827-1000 

www.va.gov

VA, Suicide Prevention Hotline

This hotline provides veterans in emotional crisis with 

round-the-clock access to trained professionals.

800-273-TALK 

Policy/Education

HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

The CDC, through its National Prevention Information 

Network, provides materials and information on the 

prevention of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, 

and tuberculosis. It also provides smoking cessation help 

through the National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines, 

which can be reached by calling the toll-free number 

1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669, TTY 1-800-332-8615). 

Callers are automatically routed to their state-run quitlines, 

which offer a variety of services such as counseling 

and referral to local cessation resources.

1600 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30333

800-311-3435 

800-243-7012 (TTY) 

www.cdc.gov

HHS, NIH 

National Library of Medicine (NLM) 

This library contains extensive substance use 

disorder research.

8600 Rockville Pike 

Bethesda, MD 20894 

888-346-3656 

www.nlm.nih.gov

HHS, NIH, NIDA 

Office of Science Policy and Communications

This government office conducts science-based research 

on substance use disorders. 

6001 Executive Boulevard 

Room 5213, MSC 9561 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9561 

301-443-1124 

www.nida.nih.gov/about/organization/OSPC/OSPC.html
11

Prevention

HHS, SAMHSA 

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) 

The mission of CSAP is to bring effective substance abuse 

prevention to every community nationwide. Its discretionary 

grant programs—whether focusing on preschool-age 

children and high-risk youth or on community-dwelling 

older Americans—target States and communities, 

organizations and families to promote resiliency, 

promote protective factors, and reduce risk factors 

for substance abuse. 

1 Choke Cherry Road 

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-276-2420 

www.prevention.samhsa.gov

DOJ, DEA, “Get it Straight! The Facts About Drugs” 

The DEA produced this drug prevention book to help youth 

realize the truth about drugs. 

Office of Diversion Control 

2401 Jefferson Davis Highway 

Alexandria, VA 22301 

800-882-9539 

202-307-7977 

www.dea.gov/pubs/straight/cover.htm

DOJ, DEA

Just Think Twice

This Web site, sponsored by the DEA, focuses on demand 

reduction and street smart prevention for teenagers. 

Offering facts about drugs and ramifications of drug 

abuse, Just Think Twice aims to educate teens on the 

realities of drug abuse.

www.justthinktwice.com 

HHS, NIH, NIAAA 

National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and 

Alcohol Prevention Task Force on College Drinking 

This council offers research and information on 

college drinking. 

Willco Building 

5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9304 

301-443-3860 

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov

HHS, NIH, NIDA 

Prevention Research 

NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health 

aspects of drug abuse and addiction. It carries out a large 

variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination 

of research information and its implementation in policy

and practice. 

6001 Executive Boulevard 

Room 5213, MSC 9561 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9561 

301-443-1124 

www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prevention.html

HHS, SAMHSA, CSAP Family Web site

This Web site serves as a family guide to keep youth 

mentally healthy and drug free. 

www.family.samhsa.gov
12

HHS, SAMHSA, CSAP 

Building Blocks for a Healthy Future 

This initiative is an early childhood substance abuse 

prevention program that educates parents and caregivers 

about the basics of prevention in order to promote a 

healthy lifestyle. 

1 Choke Cherry Road, Fifth Floor 

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-276-2750 

http://bblocks.samhsa.gov/

HHS, SAMHSA, CSAP 

Too Smart To Start 

This is an underage alcohol use prevention initiative 

for parents, caregivers, and their 9-to-13-yearold children.

1 Choke Cherry Road 

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-247-4754 

www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov/

ONDCP, Above the Influence 

This is a campaign designed to help teens become more 

aware of the influences around them and to stay above the 

influence of peer pressure.

www.abovetheinfluence.com

ONDCP, National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign 

A comprehensive advertising and public relations program, 

the Media Campaign offers critical drug information for 

teens and tips for parents on keeping their kids healthy 

and drug-free. 

www.freevibe.com

Recovery/Treatment

HHS, NIH, NIDA 

Treatment Research 

NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health 

aspects of drug abuse and addiction. It carries out a large 

variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of 

research information and its implementation in policy 

and practice. 

6001 Executive Boulevard 

Room 5213, MSC 9561 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9561 

301-443-1124 

www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/treatment.html

HHS, SAMHSA 

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) 

As the sponsor of Recovery Month, CSAT promotes the 

availability and quality of community-based substance 

abuse treatment services for individuals and families who 

need them. It supports policies and programs to broaden 

the range of evidence-based effective treatment services 

for people who abuse alcohol and drugs and that also 

address other addiction-related health and human 

services problems. 

1 Choke Cherry Road, Fifth Floor 

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-276-2750 

www.csat.samhsa.gov
13

HHS, SAMHSA, CSAT

Division of Pharmacologic Therapies (DPT)

DPT manages the day-to-day regulatory oversight activities 

necessary to implement the use of opioid agonist 

medications, such as methadone and buprenorphrine, 

approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) for addiction treatment. The DPT also supports the 

training of medical and substance abuse professionals 

on a variety of treatment issues, including the use of 

new medications that are anticipated to be approved 

by the FDA for use by physicians. 

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 2-1075

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-276-2700 

www.dpt.samhsa.gov

HHS, SAMHSA, CSAT, DPT

Patient Support and Community Education 

Project (PSCEP)

This project addresses the need for patient support and 

family education regarding the disease of opioid addiction 

and the highly effective medication-assisted treatments 

methadone and buprenorphine.

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 2-1075

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-276-2700 

www.dpt.samhsa.gov/patients/pscep/

HHS, SAMHSA, CSAT 

Knowledge Application Program (KAP) 

KAP provides substance abuse treatment professionals 

with publications, online education, and other resources 

that contain information on best treatment practices.

1 Choke Cherry Road

Rockville, MD 20857

301-495-1080 ext. 4156 

http://kap.samhsa.gov/

HHS, SAMHSA, CSAT, Partners for Recovery Web site 

This Web site is dedicated to the advancement of 

prevention, treatment, and recovery from substance 

use and mental health disorders. 

240-276-1691 

www.pfr.samhsa.gov

HHS, SAMHSA, CSAT

The Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP)

This grant program awards funding to peer-to-peer recovery 

support services that help people initiate and/or sustain 

recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders. Some RCSP 

grant projects also offer support to family members of 

people needing, seeking, or in recovery.

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 5-1124

Rockville, MD 20857

240-276-1566

www.rcsp.samhsa.gov

HHS, SAMHSA 

Office of Applied Studies

OAS serves as SAMHSA’s focal point for data collection, 

analysis, and dissemination activities. 

1 Choke Cherry Road, Seventh Floor 

Rockville, MD 20857 

240-276-1212 

www.oas.samhsa.gov/
14

HHS, SAMHSA 

National Helpline 

This national hotline offers information on substance 

use disorder issues and referral to treatment. 

800-662-HELP (800-662-4357) 

(English and Spanish) 

800-487-4889 (TDD) 

www.samhsa.gov

HHS, SAMHSA 

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator

This is a searchable directory of alcohol and drug 

treatment programs. 

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

Schools/Youth

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) 

4–H

Healthy lifestyle education and activities for youth 

are presented through a program managed nationally 

by the Families, 4–H, and Education and Extension 

Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 2225 

Washington, D.C. 20250-2225 

202-720-2908 

www.national4-hheadquarters.gov

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED) 

This Federal agency provides information for students, 

parents, teachers, and administrators, including grants 

for anti-alcohol and drug programs. 

400 Maryland Avenue SW 

Washington, D.C. 20202-6123 

800-872-5327 

www.ed.gov

ED, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools 

This office provides information on drug-free school 

programs and activities. 

400 Maryland Avenue SW 

Washington, D.C. 20202-6123 

202-260-3954 

HHS, NIH, NIDA 

Heads Up Web site

NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the 

health aspects of drug abuse and addiction.It carries 

out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid 

dissemination of research information and its 

implementation in policy and practice. Through 

a continuing partnership, NIDA and Scholastic,

Inc., the global children’s publishing and media 

company, distribute information on the health 

effects of drugs to students and teachers in 

grades 5 through 10 nationwide through a 

program called “Heads Up: Real News About 

Drugs and Your Body.” 

6001 Executive Boulevard 

Room 5213, MSC 9561 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9561 

301-443-1124 

www.scholastic.com/headsup
15

HHS, NIH, NIDA 

NIDA Goes Back to School Web site 

This Web site is a source of free information about the 

latest science-based drug abuse publications and 

teaching materials. The site is targeted toward

teachers and parents. 

6001 Executive Boulevard 

Room 5213, MSC 9561 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9561 

301-443-1124 

www.backtoschool.drugabuse.gov

HHS, NIH, NIDA 

NIDA for Teens 

NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the 

health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. It carries 

out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid 

dissemination of research information and its 

implementation in policy and practice. NIDA 

created this Web site to educate adolescents ages 

11 through 15 (as well as their parents and teachers) 

on the science behind drug abuse. 

6001 Executive Boulevard 

Room 5213, MSC 9561 

Bethesda, MD 20892-9561 

301-443-1124 

www.teens.drugabuse.gov

Workplace

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL)

This Federal agency provides information for 

U.S.job seekers, wage earners, and retirees, 

offering information about workplace rules 

and regulations. 

200 Constitution Avenue NW 

Washington, D.C. 20210 

866-4-USA-DOL 

www.dol.gov

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

COMMISSION (EEOC)

Information for small business employers about 

EEOC-enforced laws and processes is available 

through the EEOC. 

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

1801 L Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20507 

202-663-4900 

www.eeoc.gov

U.S. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (NLRB) 

The NLRB is a Federal agency that administers the 

National Labor Relations Act by conducting elections 

to determine whether or not employees want union 

representation, as well as investigatingand remedying 

unfair labor practices by employers and unions. 

1099 14th Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20570-0001 

866-667-NLRB (866-667-6572) 

866-315-NLRB (866-315-6572) (TTY) 

www.nlrb.gov
16

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) 

Grantees of the Paul D. Coverdell Drug Free Workplace 

Program assist small businesses with the implementation 

of a drug-free workplace program by providing financial, 

technical, and management assistance, including 

information about grants/loans and employee 

assistance programs.

SBA Answer Desk 

6302 Fairview Road, Suite 300 

Charlotte, NC 28210 

800-U-ASK-SBA 

www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/

sbdc_drug_free.html

DisabilityInfo.gov 

This comprehensive Federal Web site provides disabilityrelated government resources. 

www.disabilityinfo.gov

DOL, Drug-Free Workplace Advisor 

The Advisor provides information to businesses about 

how to establish and maintain an alcohol- and drug-free 

workplace. The Advisor also provides information about 

the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, based on the Office 

of Management and Budget’s (OMB) government-wide 

non-regulatory guidance. 

U.S. Department of Labor 

Frances Perkins Building 

200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S-2312 

Washington, D.C. 20210 

202-693-5919 

www.dol.gov/elaws/drugfree.htm

DOL, Substance Abuse Information Database 

This interactive database of the U.S. Department of Labor’s 

Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace 

provides a one-stop source of information with summaries 

and full text of materials relating to workplace substance 

abuse issues. Employerscan draw on articles from experts 

as well as success stories from a variety of industries to 

assist them in establishing and maintaining a workplace 

substance abuse program. 

U.S. Department of Labor 

200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S-2312 

Washington, D.C. 20210 

202-693-5919 

www.dol.gov/asp/gils/records/000152.htm

DOL, Working Partners for an Alcohol- and 

Drug-Free Workplace 

Working Partners helps to build a drug-free workforce 

by equipping businesses and communities with tools

and information to effectively address alcohol and 

drug problems. 

U.S. Department of Labor 

200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S-2312 

Washington, D.C. 20210 

202-693-5919 

www.dol.gov/workingpartners

HHS, SAMHSA 

CSAP Workplace Resource Center Helpline 

This helpline supplies centralized access to information 

about drug-free workplaces and related topics. 

1 Choke Cherry Road 

Rockville, MD 20857 

800-WORKPLACE (800-967-5752) 

240-276-2600 

www.drugfreeworkplace.gov
17

SBA U.S. Business Advisor 

The Business Advisor gives access to Federal government 

information, services, and transactions. 

www.business.gov

OTHER RESOURCES

Culture-Specific Resources

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social 

Services (ACCESS) 

ACCESS is the largest nonprofit Arab-American 

organization in North America and the most comprehensive 

in the nature and variety of services available. It provides 

services in many areas, such as social services, immigration, 

employment, public and mental health (including substance 

abuse prevention and treatment), environment, national 

outreach, and research. 

2651 Saulino Court 

Dearborn, MI 48120 

313-842-7010 

www.accesscommunity.org

National Association of Lesbian and 

Gay Addiction Professionals 

This membership organization, founded in 1979, is 

dedicated to the prevention and treatment of alcoholism, 

substance abuse, and other addictions in lesbian, gay, 

bisexual, and transgender communities. 

901 North Washington Street, Suite 600 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

703-465-0539 

www.nalgap.org

National Minority AIDS Council 

The Council supplies resources for minorities with AIDS. 

1931 13th Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20009-4432 

202-483-6622 

www.nmac.org

African American

Association of Black Psychologists 

This association addresses issues facing black psychologists 

and the black community. 

P.O. Box 55999 

Washington, D.C. 20040-5999 

202-722-0808 

www.abpsi.org

Black Administrators in Child Welfare, Inc. 

This association provides help for African-American 

children and their families in the child welfare system. 

1319 F Street NW, Suite 401 

Washington, D.C. 20004 

202-783-3714 

www.blackadministrators.org

National Association of African Americans for 

Positive Imagery

This campaign includes alcohol and tobacco control to 

promote positive community and self images and foster 

environments free of health disparities. 

1231 North Broad Street, First Floor 

Philadelphia, PA 19122 

215-235-6491 

www.naaapi.org
18

National Association of Black Social Workers 

The membership of this association includes African 

Americans working in social services. 

2305 Martin Luther King Avenue SE 

Washington, D.C. 20020 

202-678-4570 

www.nabsw.org

National Association for Equal Opportunity in 

Higher Education 

This association offers programs and services for 

African-American college students and college campuses. 

209 Third Street SE 

Washington, D.C. 20003 

202-552-3300 

www.nafeo.org

National Black Alcoholism and Addiction Council 

This group provides programs, education, and training for 

the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders 

in the African-American community. 

5104 North Orange Blossom Trail, Suite 111 

Orlando, FL 32810 

888-NBACORG 

407-532-2774 

www.nbacinc.org

National Council of Negro Women, Inc. 

This organization offers information about issues affecting 

African-American women and their families. 

633 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Washington, D.C. 20004 

202-737-0120 

www.ncnw.org

National Medical Association 

This association serves as the collective voice of 

African-American physicians and a force for parity 

and justice in medicine and the elimination of 

disparities in health. 

1012 10th Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-347-1895 

www.nmanet.org

Asian/Pacific Islander

Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum 

This forum includes Asian and Pacific Islander 

communities in all health, political, social, and 

economic arenas. 

1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 530 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-466-7772 

www.apiahf.org

Japanese American Citizens League 

A community organization, the League provides

assistance through programs that enhance 

the cultural preservation of the Japanese-American 

community and challenge social injustice wherever 

it may occur. 

1765 Sutter Street 

San Francisco, CA 94115 

415-921-5225 

www.jacl.org
19

Korean American Coalition 

This group holds one strong voice for the Korean-American 

community by bringing people together to build a better 

community for all through education, service, and advocacy. 

1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 730 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-296-9560 

www.kacdc.org

National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental 

Health Association 

This association aids the mental well-being of Asian 

Americans and Pacific Islanders when dealing with 

problems including substance use. 

1215 19th Street, Suite A 

Denver, CO 80202 

303-298-7910 

www.naapimha.org

National Asian Pacific American Families Against 

Substance Abuse, Inc. 

This private, nonprofit membership organization 

involves service providers, families, and youth to 

promote health and social justice and address the 

alcohol, tobacco, and other drug issues of Asian 

and Pacific Islander populations. 

340 East Second Street, Suite 409 

Los Angeles, CA 90012 

213-625-5795 

www.napafasa.org

Organization of Chinese Americans 

This organization serves as a resource for ChineseAmerican and Asian-American citizens and permanent 

residents to help them secure their rights through 

legislative and policy initiatives. 

1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 601 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-223-5500 

www.ocanatl.org

Hispanic/Latino

ASPIRA Association, Inc. 

This association offers programs and activities dedicated 

to leadership development and education of Puerto 

Rican and other Latino youth. 

1444 Eye Street NW, Suite 800 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

202-835-3600 

www.aspira.org

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. 

This nonprofit community development corporation offers 

social service programs and services throughout Arizona. 

1112 East Buckeye Road 

Phoenix, AZ 85034-4043 

602-257-0700 

www.cplc.org

Latin American Youth Center

This center provides outpatient counseling services for 

Hispanic individuals, families, and groups.

1419 Columbia Road NW 

Washington, D.C. 20009 

202-319-2225 

www.layc-dc.org
20

National Alliance for Hispanic Health 

This alliance offers information on health issues that affect 

the Hispanic community. 

1501 16th Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-387-5000 

www.hispanichealth.org

National Hispanic Medical Association 

This association conducts health and policy research and 

offers programs to improve the health of Hispanics and 

other underserved populations. 

1411 K Street NW, Suite 1100 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

202-628-5895 

www.nhmamd.org

National Latino Children’s Institute 

This national institute conducts research and presents 

educational materials, programs, and services focused 

on Latino children. 

1115 South St. Mary’s Street 

San Antonio, TX 78210 

210-228-9997 

www.nlci.org

National Latino Council on Alcohol and 

Tobacco Prevention 

The Council prevents tobacco use and reduces alcohol 

use disorders in the Latino community through the 

dissemination of science-based research findings, 

community education, technical assistance, policy 

analysis, and advocacy. 

1616 P Street NW, Suite 430 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-265-8054 

www.nlcatp.org

Puerto Rican Organization for Community Education and 

Economic Development, Inc. 

This organization addresses the social, health, and 

economic needs of Latino and non-Latino communities. 

1126 Dickinson Street 

Elizabeth, NJ 07201 

908-351-7727 

www.proceedinc.com

Native American

American Indian Community House 

This organization provides health and social services for 

American Indians in New York City. 

11 Broadway, Second Floor 

New York, NY 10004-1303 

212-598-0100 

www.aich.org

National Association of Native American Children of 

Alcoholics (NANACoA) 

This association provides a Native American framework for 

healing children of alcoholics. 

6145 Lehman Drive, Suite 200 

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 

866-891-1495 

719-548-1000 

www.whitebison.org/nanacoa
21

National Congress of American Indians 

This organization offers assistance for tribes, tribal leaders, 

and youth in the prevention of, treatment of, and recovery 

from substance use disorders among American Indian and 

Alaskan Native families and communities. 

1301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-466-7767 

www.ncai.org

National Indian Child Welfare Association 

This association is dedicated to the well-being of American 

Indian children and families. 

5100 SW Macadam Avenue, Suite 300 

Portland, OR 97239 

503-222-4044 

www.nicwa.org

National Indian Health Board 

This organization provides health care research and 

services for tribes, area health boards, tribal organizations, 

Federal agencies, and private foundations. 

101 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite 8-B02 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-742-4262 

www.nihb.org

Pima Prevention Partnership 

This nonprofit, multi-cultural coalition for substance use 

disorders and delinquency prevention in Tucson provides 

policy leadership, program development, youth prevention 

services, grant writing, planning, and evaluation services to 

promote community development for Native Americans. 

2525 East Broadway, Suite 100 

Tuscon, AZ 85716 

520-701-2711 

www.thepartnership.us

United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. 

This organization develops initiatives to foster the spiritual, 

mental, physical, and social development of Native 

American youth. 

500 North Broadway Avenue, Suite 10 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102 

405-236-2800 

www.unityinc.org

White Bison, Inc. 

This American Indian nonprofit organization offers learning 

resources to the Native American community nationwide 

on topics such as sobriety, recovery, prevention, and 

wellness/Wellbriety (the inspiration to go on beyond 

sobriety and recovery, committing to a life of wellness 

and healing every day). 

6145 Lehman Drive, Suite 200 

Colorado Springs, CO 80918-3440 

817-871-1495 

719-548-1000 

www.whitebison.org

Faith-Based Organizations

Alcoholics Victorious 

This is a Christian-oriented 12-step support group for those 

recovering from alcohol or chemical dependency. It offers 

information and referrals, literature, phone support, 

conferences, support group meetings, and a newsletter. 

1045 Swift Street 

Kansas City, MO 64116-4127 

816-471-8020 

www.alcoholicsvictorious.org
22

Calix Society 

This is a 12-step fellowship of Catholic alcoholics who 

help one another maintain sobriety through Alcoholics 

Anonymous. The group is concerned with total abstinence, 

spiritual development, and sanctification of the whole 

personality of each member. 

2555 Hazelwood Avenue 

St. Paul, MN 55109-2030 

651-773-3117 

www.calixsociety.org

Catholic Charities, USA 

This membership association provides vital social services 

to people in need, regardless of their religious, social, or 

economic backgrounds. 

1731 King Street 

Alexandria, VA 22314-2756 

703-549-1390 

www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

Celebrate Recovery 

This organization is a worldwide Christ-centered recovery 

ministry. By working the 12 steps, their Biblical principles, 

and the corresponding Eight Recovery Principles found in 

the Beatitudes, individuals find freedom from past hurts 

and harmful addictive and dysfunctional behaviors. 

1 Saddleback Parkway 

Lake Forest, CA 92630 

949-609-8334 

www.celebraterecovery.com

Clergy Recovery Network 

The Network mentors ministry professionals through 

personal crises and early recovery. It seeks to help clergy 

guide their ministries toward spiritual and organizational 

health before, during, and after a leadership crisis.

P.O. Box 313 

Joplin, MT 59531 

406-292-3322 

www.clergyrecovery.com

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 

This Mormon organization promotes strong 

family relationships. 

2520 L Street NW, Second Floor 

Washington, D.C. 20037 

202-448-3333 

www.lds.org

Faith WORKS 

This organization facilitates the involvement of faith-based 

communities in the implementation of welfare reform. 

3300 Veda Street, First Floor 

Redding, CA 96001 

530-242-1492 

www.faith-works.cc/

United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and 

Society of the United Methodist Church

This organization offers faith-based substance abuse 

advocacy training for local churches and faith-based 

programs for people with substance use disorders.

100 Maryland Avenue NE 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

202-488-5600 

www.umc-gbcs.org
23

Institute for Public Health Faith Collaborations 

Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

This institute promotes vital learning at the intersecting 

boundaries where faith and health overlap, merge, and 

emerge transformed. 

1256 Briarcliff Road NE 

Building A, Suite 107 

Atlanta, GA 30306 

404-727-5246 

www.ihpnet.org

Intercongregational Alcoholism Program (ICAP) 

ICAP is a network of recovering alcoholic women 

in religious orders. The group aims to help Roman 

Catholic women who are, or have been, members 

of religious orders who are in need due to alcoholism 

or chemical dependencies. 

7777 Lake Street, Suite 115 

River Forest, IL 60305-1734 

708-488-9770 

Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons 

and Significant Others 

This group assists Jewish alcoholics, chemically 

dependent persons and their families, friends, 

and associates to explore recovery in a nurturing 

Jewish environment. 

120 West 57th Street 

New York, NY 10019 

212-397-4197 

www.jacsweb.org

Jewish Big Brother and Big Sister League 

The League is an outpatient treatment program for 

adolescents, adults, and families suffering from alcohol, 

drug, or other addictions. 

5750 Park Heights Avenue, Suite 286 

Baltimore, MD 21208 

410-484-1991 

www.jbbl.org

Lutheran Services in America 

This organization advocates for sound and compassionate 

public policies on behalf of Lutheran social ministry 

organizations and the people they serve. 

700 Light Street 

Baltimore, MD 21230-3850 

800-664-3848 

www.lutheranservices.org

National Council of Churches 

The Council helps parents communicate with their children 

about alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. 

110 Maryland Avenue NE 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

202-544-2350 

www.ncccusa.org

Overcomers In Christ (OIC) 

OIC is a recovery program that deals with every aspect 

of addiction and dysfunction (spiritual, physical, mental, 

emotional, and social). Members overcome obstacles using 

Christ-centered motivations. 

P.O. Box 34460 

Omaha, NE 68134 

402-573-0966 

www.overcomersinchrist.org
24

Overcomers Outreach, Inc. 

This group provides Christ-centered 12-step support for 

persons with any compulsive behavior, their families, and 

friends. It uses the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and 

applies them to the Scriptures. It also supplements 

involvement in other 12-step groups. 

P.O. Box 922950 

Sylmar, CA 91392-2950 

800-310-3001 

818-833-1803 

www.overcomersoutreach.org

Presbyterians for Addiction Action (PAA) 

Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association 

PAA assists Presbyterians as they minister in an increasingly 

addictive society to restore people of the Presbyterian faith. 

100 Witherspoon Street, Room 3041 

Louisville, KY 40202-1396 

888-728-7228 ext. 5800 

502-369-5000 

www.pcusa.org/phewa/paa.htm

Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, Inc. (RCA) 

RCA, Inc., is a nonprofit, faith-based organization 

founded by concerned, committed, and spiritually centered 

members of metro-Atlanta’s recovery community. RCA 

collaborates with faith (primarily churches) and communitybased organizations and develops peer-to-peer support 

services and programs and works to build a network of 

recovering individuals. 

1904 Glenwood Avenue SE 

Atlanta, GA 30316 

404-370-0123 

www.recoveryconsultants.org

Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church 

This is a national membership organization that raises 

awareness throughout the church community about 

addictions and the hope of recovery from these illnesses. 

38439 Fifth Avenue, #2705 

Zephyrhills, FL 33542 

866-306-1542 

813-788-0286 

www.episcopalrecovery.org

Reviving the Human Spirit: A Faith Community Initiative 

Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati

This independent foundation is dedicated to improving 

community health in Cincinnati and 20 surrounding counties. 

Rookwood Tower 

3805 Edwards Road, Suite 500 

Cincinnati, OH 45209-1948 

513-458-6640 

www.asapcenter.org/rths/sam.html

The Rush Center of the Johnson Institute 

This Center engages and assists people of faith in the 

development of caring communities that promote the 

prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse. 

The group aims to create a place where recovery from 

addiction is valued and supported.

2525 Wallingwood Drive

Building 8, #804

Austin, TX 78746 

888-451-9527 

www.rushcenter.org
25

Salvation Army 

This organization provides a broad array of social services 

that include providing food for the hungry, relief for 

disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach 

to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, 

and opportunities for underprivileged children. 

615 Slaters Lane

P.O. Box 269

Alexandria, VA 22313 

703-684-5500 

www.salvationarmyusa.org

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency 

and other programs, the Adventist Church operates youth 

camps, community service projects, family life counseling, 

and Health & Temperance Programs, which include 

substance use disorder prevention/treatment and 

recovery options as a continuum. 

12501 Old Columbia Pike 

Silver Spring, MD 20904 

301-680-6000 

www.adventist.org

SOS Clearinghouse (Save Our Selves) 

This organization is dedicated to providing a path to 

sobriety, an alternative to those paths depending upon 

supernatural or religious beliefs. 

4773 Hollywood Boulevard 

Hollywood, CA 90027 

323-666-4295 

www.secularsobriety.org

The Springs Rescue Mission 

The Mission reaches the poor and needy of Colorado 

Springs by providing for their physical needs while 

ministering restoration to their spirit, soul, and body. 

5 West Las Vegas Street 

Colorado Springs, CO 80903 

719-632-1822 

www.springsrescuemission.org

St. Paul‘s Episcopal Church 

St. Paul‘s has hosted 12-step programs and other affiliate 

programs for more than 15 years. 

221 34th Street 

Newport News, VA 23607 

757-247-5086 

www.stpaulsnn.org

Volunteers of America 

This organization is a national, nonprofit, faith-based 

organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild 

their lives and reach their full potential. Through thousands 

of human service programs, including housing and health 

care, Volunteers of America helps nearly 2 million people 

in over 400 communities. Since 1896, its ministry of service 

has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable 

groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and 

women returning from prison, homeless individuals and 

families, people with disabilities, and those recovering 

from addictions. 

1660 Duke Street 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

800-899-0089 

703-341-5000 

www.volunteersofamerica.org
26

We Care America 

This national network of individuals, churches, 

and ministries work together to meet the needs 

of the poor and hurting by building capacity among 

faith-based organizations. 

44180 Riverside Parkway, Suite 201 

Lansdowne, VA 20176 

703-554-8600 

Family and Social Services

Alliance for Children and Families 

The Alliance provides services to nonprofit child and family 

sectors and economic empowerment organizations. 

11700 West Lake Park Drive 

Milwaukee, WI 53244-3099 

414-359-1040 

www.alliance1.org

Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) 

This membership organization has more than 1,100 public 

and private nonprofit agencies promoting the well-being 

of children, youth, and their families, and protecting every 

child from harm. 

440 First Street NW, Third Floor 

Washington, D.C. 20001-2085 

202-638-2952 

www.cwla.org

COAF (Children of Alcoholics Foundation)

Phoenix House’s Center on Addiction and the Family

COAF focuses on information, support, and resources for 

families that have been affected by parental substance 

abuse, as well as practice improvement for the professionals 

who work with them. 

164 West 74th Street 

New York, NY 10023 

646-505-2060 

www.coaf.org

Children’s Defense Fund 

This group provides child welfare and health programs. 

25 E Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-628-8787 

www.childrensdefense.org

Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health 

This national parent-run organization focuses on the needs 

of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, or mental 

disorders, and their families. 

9605 Medical Center Drive, Suite 280 

Rockville, MD 20850 

240-403-1901 

www.ffcmh.org

Intervention 911

This organization works with families nationwide 

to bring loved ones suffering from addiction to treatment 

and also provides family and friends with the tools 

they need to heal themselves and help during the 

recovery process. 

170 North Vista Street 

Los Angeles, CA 90036 

866-888-4911 

www.intervention911.com
27

Kennedy Krieger Family Center

This Center provides mental health and support services 

for children, adolescents, and families who experience 

trauma through the effects of abuse, neglect, and 

environmental factors. 

2901 East Biddle Street 

Baltimore, MD 21213 

443-923-5800 

www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_cp.jsp?pid=1400

National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) 

For a full description, refer to Mutual Support Groups.

National Association of Public Child Welfare 

Administrators (NAPCWA) 

This association is solely devoted to representing 

administrators of state and local public child welfare 

agencies, bringing an informed view of the problems facing 

families today to the formulation of child welfare policy. 

810 First Street NE, Suite 500 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

202-682-0100 

www.aphsa.org/napcwa

North American Family Renewal Institute, Inc. (NAFRI) 

This institute researches, treats, and educates on all forms 

of addictive behaviors, and provides therapist training, 

public policy awareness, and specialized networking 

weekends for individuals in the recovery community. 

8503 Schultz Road 

Clinton, MD 20735 

703-739-2546

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. 

This sorority offers social services for communities 

around the nation. 

1000 South Hill Drive 

Cary, NC 27513 

888-747-1922 

www.sgrho1922.org

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 4-H 

For a full description, refer to Schools/Youth under 

Federal Agencies.

University of Baltimore Center for Families, Children 

and the Courts 

This group’s mission is to create, foster, and support a 

national movement to integrate communities, families, 

and the justice system to improve the lives of families 

and the health of the community.

1420 North Charles Street 

Baltimore, MD 21201 

410-837-5750 

http://law.ubalt.edu/cfcc

Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew 

Association/92nd Street Y 

This organization is committed to sharing its programs 

with all New Yorkers regardless of economic circumstance. 

It provides financial assistance and an outreach program 

that bringsthe arts into the lives of economically disadvantaged local schoolchildren and keeps them off the streets. 

1395 Lexington Avenue 

New York, NY 10128 

212-415-5500 

www.92y.org
28

Young Men’s Christian Association of the U.S.A. (YMCA) 

The YMCA provides health and social services for men, 

women, and children. 

1701 K Street NW, Suite 903 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

202-835-9043 

www.ymca.net

Young Women’s Christian Association 

of the U.S.A. (YWCA) 

The YWCA offers health and social services for women 

and their families. 

1015 18th Street NW, Suite 1100 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

800-YWCA-US1 

202-467-0801 

www.ywca.org

Health Care

The Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems Initiative 

George Washington University

This program works to increase access to treatment for 

individuals with alcohol problems by collaborating with 

policymakers, employers, and concerned citizens. 

2021 K Street NW, Suite 800 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

202-296-6922 

www.ensuringsolutions.org

Families USA 

This organization provides resources on access to 

high-quality, affordable health care as well as senior 

citizen issues. 

1201 New York Avenue, Suite 1100 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

202-628-3030 

www.familiesusa.org

Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Inc.

Haight Ashbury works to increase access to health 

care for all and improve the health and well-being of 

its clients. More than 34,000 individuals and their loved 

ones depend on the clinics every year to provide free, 

high-quality, demystified, and comprehensive health 

care that is culturally sensitive, nonjudgmental, and 

accessible to all in need.

P.O. Box 29917

San Francisco, CA 94129

415-746-1967

www.hafci.org

National Association of Community Health Centers 

This association collaborates with community, migrant, 

and homeless health centers that provide health care to the 

poor and medically underserved. 

7200 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 210 

Bethesda, MD 20814 

301-347-0400 

www.nachc.com

National Association of County Behavioral Health and 

Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHD)

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources. 
29

National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 

The NCQA provides information about the quality of the 

nation’s managed care plans. 

2000 L Street NW, Suite 500 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-955-3500 

www.ncqa.org

National Council on Patient Information and

Education (NCPIE)

NCPIE is a multi-disciplinary coalition of over 100 

organizations working to stimulate and improve 

communication of information on appropriate medicine 

use to consumers and health care professionals. 

4915 Saint Elmo Avenue, Suite 505

Bethesda, MD 20814-6082 

301-656-8565

www.talkaboutrx.org

National Health Law Program 

This national program provides resources on health care 

for uninsured or underinsured low-income people. 

Health Consumer Alliance 

2639 South La Cienega Boulevard 

Los Angeles, CA 90034 

310-204-2675 

www.healthlaw.org

National Poison Control Hotline

The Hotline was established to respond to emergency calls 

from concerned citizens about poison prevention. Housed 

in The National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C., 

this hotline is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by 

registered nurses or pharmacists with backgrounds in 

critical care. 

3201 New Mexico Avenue, Suite 310 

Washington, D.C. 20016 

800-222-1222 

www.poison.org

Justice/Legal System

American Bar Association (ABA) 

Standing Committee on Substance Abuse 

The Standing Committee is committed to promoting justice 

system reform that addresses problems associated with 

illegal use of drugs and alcohol in this country. To carry 

out this mission, the Standing Committee collaborates 

with other ABA entities, federal, state, and local public/

private organizations, and state, local, and territorial 

bar associations. 

740 15th Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20005-1019 

202-662-1000 

www.abanet.org/subabuse

American Correctional Association 

This organization provides resources for practitioners in the 

correctional profession and those interested in improving 

the justice system. 

206 North Washington Street, Suite 200 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

800-ACA-JOIN 

703-224-0000 

www.aca.org
30

Center for Families, Children and the Courts 

This center is dedicated to improving the quality of justice 

and services to meet the diverse needs of children, youth, 

families, and self-represented litigants in the California courts. 

455 Golden Gate Avenue, Sixth Floor 

San Francisco, CA 94102-3660 

415-865-7739 

www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc

Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 

This center focuses on reducing reliance on incarceration 

as a solution to social problems. 

54 Dore Street 

San Francisco, CA 94103 

415-621-5661 

www.cjcj.org

D.C. Bar 

This organization provides services to the profession, 

the courts, and the community in Washington, D.C. 

1250 H Street NW, Sixth Floor 

Washington, D.C. 20005-5937 

202-737-4700 

www.dcbar.org

Drug Court Clearinghouse 

The Clearinghouse provides technical assistance for 

drug court programs. 

Justice Programs Office 

School of Public Affairs 

American University 

4000 Brandywine, Suite 100 

Washington, D.C. 20016-8159 

202-885-2875 

www.spa.american.edu/justice

International Community Corrections Association 

To enhance the quality of services and supervision for 

offenders in community corrections programs, this 

association offers information, training, and other services. 

1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 403 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

202-828-5605

www.iccaweb.org

The Legal Action Center 

This nonprofit law and policy organization fights 

discrimination against people with histories of substance 

use disorders, HIV/AIDS, or criminal records, and 

advocates for sound public policies in these areas. 

225 Varick Street 

New York, NY 10014 

800-223-4044 

212-243-1313 

www.lac.org

National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) 

This association seeks to reduce substance abuse, crime, 

and recidivism by promoting and advocating for the 

establishment and funding of drug courts and providing for 

the collection and dissemination of information, technical 

assistance, and mutual support to association members. 

4900 Seminary Road, Suite 320 

Alexandria, VA 22311 

703-575-9400 

www.nadcp.org
31

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges 

The Council supplies publications and information about 

juvenile and family courts. 

P.O. Box 8970 

Reno, NV 89507 

775-784-6012 

www.ncjfcj.org

National Drug Court Institute 

This institute promotes education, research, and scholarship 

for drug court and other court-based intervention programs. 

4900 Seminary Road, Suite 320 

Alexandria, VA 22311 

703-575-9400 

www.ndci.org

National Sheriffs’ Association 

This Association offers crime prevention programs 

that help sheriffs better serve the people of their cities, 

counties, or jurisdictions. 

1450 Duke Street 

Alexandria, VA 22314-3490 

800-424-7827 

www.sheriffs.org

National TASC (Treatment Accountability for 

Safer Communities) 

This membership organization represents individuals 

and programs dedicated to the professional delivery of 

treatment and case management services to populations 

with substance use disorders. 

2204 Mount Vernon Avenue, Suite 200 

Alexandria, VA 22301 

703-836-8272 

www.nationaltasc.org

The Sentencing Project 

The Sentencing Project conducts research on sentencing 

and incarceration. 

514 10th Street NW, Suite 1000 

Washington, D.C. 20004 

202-628-0871 

www.sentencingproject.org

Mental Health

Connecticut Department of Mental Health Addiction 

Services (DMHAS) 

This organization promotes and administers comprehensive, 

recovery-oriented services in the areas of mental health 

treatment and substance use disorder prevention and 

treatment throughout Connecticut. 

410 Capitol Avenue 

P.O. Box 341431 

Hartford, CT 06134 

800-446-7348 

860-418-7000 

www.dmhas.state.ct.us

Mental Health America (MHA)

This nonprofit organization is the country’s oldest and 

largest, addressing all aspects of mental health and mental 

illness. With more than 320 affiliates nationwide, MHA 

works to improve the mental health of all Americans 

through advocacy, education, research, and service. 

2000 North Beauregard Street, Sixth Floor 

Alexandria, VA 22311 

800-969-6MHA (6642) 

800-433-5959 (TTY) 

www.mentalhealthamerica.net
32

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 

NAMI is a nonprofit support and advocacy organization 

of consumers, families, and friends of people with 

severe mental illnesses. NAMI works to achieve 

equitable services and treatment for more than 15

million Americans living with severe mental illnesses 

and their families. 

Colonial Place Three 

2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300 

Arlington, VA 22201-3042 

800-950-NAMI (6264) 

www.nami.org

National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) 

For a full description, refer to Mutual Support Groups.

National Association of School Psychologists 

For a full description, refer to Provider and Professional 

Organizations.

National GAINS Center for People with Co-Occurring 

Disorders in the Justice System 

This center provides access to community-based services 

for adult and juvenile criminal offenders with co-occurring 

mental illness and substance use disorders. 

345 Delaware Avenue 

Delmar, NY 12054 

800-311-4246 

http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov

Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic 

The institute provides behavioral health services for 

children, families, schools, and communities. 

3811 O’Hara Street 

Pittsburgh, PA 15213 

412-624-2100 

http://wpic.upmc.com/Default.htm

Military/Veterans

AMVETS

A leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured 

by America’s Armed Forces, AMVETS provides support for 

veterans and the active military in procuring their earned 

entitlements. It also offers community services that 

enhance the quality of life for this nation’s citizens. 

4647 Forbes Boulevard 

Lanham, MD 20706-4380 

877-726-8387 

301-459-9600 

www.amvets.org

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) 

The million-member DAV is the official voice of 

America’s service-connected disabled veterans–a 

strong, insistent voice that represents all of America’s 

2.1 million disabled veterans, their families, and 

survivors. Its nationwide network of services, which

is free of charge to all veterans and members of their 

families, is completely supported by membership 

dues and contributions from the American public. 

The DAV’s national organization receives no 

government funds. 

3725 Alexandria Pike 

Cold Spring, KY 41076 

877-426-2838 

www.dav.org
33

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) 

This nonprofit organization serves as the resource and 

technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state, and federal 

agencies. These groups provide emergency and supportive 

housing, food, health services, job training and placement 

assistance, and legal aid and case management support for 

hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year. 

333 1⁄2 Pennsylvania Avenue SE 

Washington, D.C. 20003-1148 

800-VET-HELP 

www.nchv.org

National Veterans Foundation 

This group’s mission is to serve the crisis management, 

information and referral needs of all U.S. veterans and their 

families. It operates the nation’s only toll-free helpline for 

all veterans and their families. It also offers public awareness 

programs that shed light on the needs of America’s veterans, 

and outreach services that provide veterans and families in 

need with food, clothing, transportation, and employment.

9841 Airport Boulevard, Suite 512 

Los Angeles, CA 90045 

877-777-4443 

www.nvf.org

New Directions 

New Directions, Inc., is a long-term drug and alcohol 

treatment program that provides food, shelter, and 

rehabilitation to homeless veterans at four Los Angelesarea locations. An estimated 27,000 homeless veterans live 

in Los Angeles, which is home to the country’s largest 

Veteran’s Affairs hospital. 

11303 Wilshire Boulevard, VA Building 116 

Los Angeles, CA 90073-1003 

310-914-4045 

www.newdirectionsinc.org

Swords to Plowshares 

This group’s mission is to heal the wounds and restore 

dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and 

to significantly reduce homelessness and poverty among 

veterans. It promotes and protects the rights of veterans 

through advocacy, public education, and partnerships.

1060 Howard Street 

San Francisco, CA 94103 

415-252-4788 

www.swords-to-plowshares.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 

VFW members mentor youth groups, help in community 

food kitchens, volunteer in blood drives, and visit hospitalized 

veterans. Other members help veterans file compensation 

claims or “voice their vote” with elected officials. 

406 West 34th Street 

Kansas City, MO 64111 

816-756-3390 

www.vfw.org

Mutual Support Groups

16 Steps of Discovery & Empowerment 

16 Steps offers support for a wide variety of quality of 

life issues, such as addiction, codependency, abuse and 

empowerment. The 16 Steps focus on a positive approach 

to help members celebrate personal strengths, stand up for 

themselves, heal physically, and see themselves as part of 

the entire community, not just the recovery community. 

Box 1302 

Lolo, MT 59847 

406-273-6080 
34

Adult Children of Alcoholics WSO 

Adult Children of Alcoholics is a 12-step, 12-tradition 

program of women and men who grew up in alcoholic 

or otherwise dysfunctional homes. Members meet with 

each other in a mutually respectful, safe environment and 

acknowledge common experiences. 

P.O. Box 3216 

Torrance, CA 90510 

310-534-1815 

www.adultchildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen 

This 12-step mutual support program provides groups 

for adults and teenagers who are the families and friends 

of alcoholics.

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 

1600 Corporate Landing Parkway 

Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617

888-4AL-ANON (888-425-2666) 

757-563-1600

www.al-anon.alateen.org

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 

AA offers a support group that provides sponsorship 

and a 12-step program for life without alcohol. 

P.O. Box 459 

New York, NY 10163 

212-870-3400 

www.aa.org

Alcoholics Victorious 

For a full description, refer to Faith-Based Organizations.

American Self-Help Sourcebook 

This is a searchable database of more than 1,100 national, 

international, model, and online self-help support groups 

for addictions, bereavement, health, mental health, 

disabilities, abuse, parenting, caregiver concerns, 

and other stressful life situations. 

Saint Clare’s Health Services 

100 East Hanover Avenue, Suite 202 

Cedarknolls, NJ 07927-2020 

973-326-6789 

www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp

Anesthetists in Recovery (AIR) 

AIR is a network of recovering nurse anesthetists. Members 

support one another through phone support, information, 

and referrals to groups and treatment. 

8233 Brookside Road 

Elkins Park, PA 19027 

215-635-0183 

www.aana.com

Benzodiazepine Anonymous (BA) 

BA is a mutual support group for persons in recovery from 

addiction to benzodiazepines (Xanax®, Halcion®, Valium®, 

Ativan®, Dalmane®, Librium®, etc.) or any other addicting 

prescription drug. BA uses its own lists of 12 steps and 

12 goals. 

11507 Cumpston Street 

North Hollywood, CA 91601 

818-667-1070 

Calix Society 

For a full description, refer to Faith-Based Organizations.
35

Chapter Nine Group of Hollywood, MD 

This is a 12-step program of recovering couples (substance 

abuse) in which partners work together. The group name 

comes from chapter nine of the Alcoholics Anonymous 

Big Book “The Family Afterwards,” which is based on 

the belief that members of the family or couples 

should meet on the common ground of tolerance, 

understanding, and love. 

1168 White Sands Drive 

Lusby, MD 20657 

410-586-1425 

Chemically Dependent Anonymous (CDA) 

CDA’s purpose is to carry the message of recovery to the 

chemically dependent person for those with a desire to 

abstain from drugs/alcohol. 

P.O. Box 423 

Severna Park, MD 21146-0423 

888-CDA-HOPE 

www.cdaweb.org

Co-Anon Family Groups 

This organization is a fellowship of men and women who 

are husbands, wives, parents, relatives, or close friends 

of someone who is chemically dependent. The program is 

primarily a 12-step program that combines self and mutual 

support systems. 

P.O. Box 12722 

Tucson, AZ 85732-2722 

800-898-9985 

www.co-anon.org

Cocaine Anonymous World Services 

This is a fellowship of men and women who share their 

experience, strength, and hope with each other that they 

may solve their common problem and help others to 

recover from their addiction. 

3740 Overland Avenue, Suite C 

Los Angeles, CA 90034 

800-347-8998 

310-559-5833 

www.ca.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous 

This organization is a 12-step fellowship for those in 

recovery from addiction to crystal meth. The only 

requirement for membership is the desire to stop 

using crystal meth. 

8205 Santa Monica Boulevard, PMB 1-114 

West Hollywood, CA 90046-5977 

213-488-4455 

www.crystalmeth.org

Double Trouble Recovery, Inc. 

This is a fellowship of men and women who share their 

experience, strength, and hope with each other so that 

they may solve their common problems and help others 

to recover from their particular addiction(s) and mental 

disorders. It is for people who are dually diagnosed with 

an addiction as well as a mental disorder. 

P.O. Box 245055 

Brooklyn, NY 11224 

718-373-2684 

www.doubletroubleinrecovery.org
36

Dual Disorders Anonymous (DDA) 

DDA is a 12-step fellowship of men and women who come 

together to help those members who still suffer from both 

a mental disorder and alcoholism and/or drug addiction. 

P.O. Box 681264 

Schaumburg, IL 60168-1264 

847-490-9379 

http://ourworld.cs.com/pat63659/myhomepage/

business.html

Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) 

DRA is a self-help program for individuals who experience 

a dual disorder of chemical dependency and a psychiatric 

or emotional illness. The group is based on the principles 

of the 12 steps and the personal experiences of individuals 

in dual recovery. 

P.O. Box 8107 

Prairie Village, KS 66208 

877-883-2332 

www.draonline.org

Families Anonymous (FA) 

FA is a 12-step, self-help, recovery, and fellowship of 

support groups for relatives and friends of those who 

have alcohol, drug, or behavioral problems. The group is a 

nonprofit mutual help organization and is not affiliated with 

any religion or institution. 

P.O. Box 3475 

Culver City, CA 90231-3475 

800-736-9805 

www.familiesanonymous.org

Family Empowerment Network (FEN) 

FEN offers support, education, and training for families of 

children with fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects, 

as well as interested professionals. The group creates a 

network of families that support one another and hosts 

annual family retreats. 

777 South Mills Street 

Madison, WI 53715 

800-462-5254 

608-262-6590 

www.fammed.wisc.edu/fen

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Family Resource 

Institute (FASFRI) 

FASFRI is a grassroots coalition of families and professionals 

concerned with fetal alcohol syndrome effects. The group

offers educational programs, brochures, information 

packets, group meetings, phone support, conferences, 

and referrals. 

P.O. Box 2525 

Lynnwood, WA 98036 

253-531-2878 

www.fetalalcoholsyndrome.org

Free-N-One 

This support group teaches people to be free mentally 

and spiritually, as well as free from drugs and alcohol. 

It offers information and referrals, phone support, 

literature, and conferences. 

538 South Overhill Drive 

Los Angeles, CA 90043 

323-359-0009 

www.freenone.net
37

Hypoics Not Anonymous (HNA) 

HNA is for anyone with any type of addiction. 

The group uses the philosophy that addictions 

are caused by neurological mechanisms rather than 

personal weaknesses. 

8779 Misty Creek Drive 

Sarasota, FL 34241 

941-929-0893 

www.nvo.com/hypoism/hypoicsnotanonymous/

Inter-Congregational Alcoholism Program (ICAP) 

For a full description, refer to Faith-Based Organizations.

International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous (IDAA) 

IDAA is a group of approximately 4,500 recovering 

health care professionals of doctorate level who 

help one another achieve and maintain sobriety 

from addictions. 

3311 Brookhill Circle 

Lexington, KY 40502 

859-277-9379 

www.idaa.org

International Lawyers in Alcoholics Anonymous (ILAA) 

ILAA serves as a clearinghouse for support groups for 

lawyers who are recovering alcoholics or have other 

chemical dependencies. 

455 Cayuna Road, Suite 600 

Buffalo, NY 14225 

www.ilaa.org

International Pharmacists Anonymous (IPA) 

IPA is a 12-step fellowship of pharmacists and pharmacy 

students recovering from any addiction. 

11 Dewey Lane 

Glen Gardner, NJ 08826-3102 

908-537-4295 

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ipa/ipapage.htm

Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons and 

Significant Others 

For a full description, refer to Faith-Based Organizations.

Lawyers Assistance Program – D.C. Bar

Established in 1985, the D.C. Bar Lawyer Assistance Program 

is a free and confidential program assisting lawyers, judges, 

and law students who experience problems that interfere 

with their personal lives or their ability to serve as counsel 

or officers of the court.

1250 H Street NW, Sixth Floor

Washington, D.C. 20005-5937

202-737-4700

www.dcbar.org/for_lawyers/bar_services/counseling/

index.cfm

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) 

The MADD mission is to stop drunk driving, support 

victims, and prevent underage drinking. 

511 East John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700 

Irving, TX 75062 

800-GET-MADD (438-6233) 

www.madd.org
38

MADD DADS Inc. (Men Against Destruction Defending 

Against Drugs and Social Disorder) 

This is a grassroots organization of fathers aimed at fighting 

gang and gang-related violence. MADD DADS provides family 

activities, community education, speaking engagements, and 

“surrogate fathers” who listen to and care about street teens. 

555 Stockton Street 

Jacksonville, FL 32204 

904-388-8171 

www.maddads.com

Marijuana Anonymous World Services 

This organization is a fellowship of men and women 

who share a desire to stop using marijuana. They 

accomplish their goals by using the basic 12 steps 

of recovery founded by Alcoholics Anonymous. 

P.O. Box 2912 

Van Nuys, CA 91404 

800-766-6779 

www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Men for Sobriety 

This organization’s purpose is to help all men recover from 

problem drinking through the discovery of self, gained by 

sharing experiences, hopes, and encouragement with 

other men in similar circumstances. 

P.O. Box 618 

Quakertown, PA 18951-0618 

215-536-8026 

MusiCares

This organization provides a safety net of critical assistance 

for people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical, and personal. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention 

of the music industry on human service issues that directly 

impact the health and welfare of the music community.

3402 Pico Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90405

800-687-4227

www.musicares.com

Nar-Anon/Narateen 

This organization provides support for families and friends 

of drug users. 

Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 

22527 Crenshaw Boulevard, Suite 200 B 

Torrance, CA 90505 

800-477-6291 

www.nar-anon.org

Narconon

This is a nonprofit drug rehab program dedicated to 

eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction through drug 

prevention, education, and rehabilitation. 

7060 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 220 

Hollywood, CA 90028 

323-962-2404 

www.narconon.org

Narcotics Anonymous World Services 

This is a nonprofit fellowship society of men and women 

for whom drugs had become a major problem. Membership 

is open to all drug addicts, regardless of the particular drug 

or combination of drugs used. 

P.O. Box 9999 

Van Nuys, CA 91409 

818-773-9999 

www.na.org
39

National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) 

This national nonprofit membership and affiliate 

organization works on behalf of children of alcoholand drug-dependent parents and all family members 

affected by substance use disorders. 

11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 301

Rockville, MD 20852

888-55-4COAS (2627) 

301-468-0985

www.nacoa.org 

National Association for Native American Children of 

Alcoholics (NANACoA) 

For a full description, refer to Culture-Specific Resources.

National Family Partnership (NFP) 

NFP is a coalition of families working for substance 

abuse prevention. The group hosts a number of prevention 

activities including the Red Ribbon Campaign and the 

Plant the Promise Campaign. It also is in the process 

of developing a resource center. 

2490 Coral Way, Suite 501 

Miami, FL 33145 

800-705-8997 

www.nfp.org

Overcomers In Christ (OIC) 

For a full description, refer to Faith-Based Organizations.

Overcomers Outreach, Inc. 

For a full description, refer to Faith-Based Organizations. 

Pills Anonymous (PA) 

PA is a self-help, self-supporting, anonymous 12-step 

program based on Alcoholics Anonymous. It is designed 

for those who want to help themselves and others recover 

from chemical addiction. 

5201 White Lane 

New York, NY 10001 

212-874-0700 

Psychologists Helping Psychologists (PHP) 

PHP is a mutual support group for doctoral-level psychologists or students who have had a personal experience with 

alcohol or drugs. Members aim to support each other in 

recovery and help others to recover and educate the 

psychology community. 

3484 South Utah Street 

Arlington, VA 22206 

703-243-4470 

Rational Recovery Systems (RRS) 

RRS is a program of self-recovery from addiction to alcohol 

and other drugs through planned, permanent abstinence 

using Addictive Voice Recognition Technique (AVRT). 

Box 800 

Lotus, CA 95651 

530-621-2667 

www.rational.org

RID (Remove Intoxicated Drivers) 

RID’s mission is to deter impaired driving and teen binge 

drinking that often leads to intense trauma. Its members 

advocate for victims, enablers of tough laws, and watchdogs for law enforcement and adjudication in the courts. 

P.O. Box 520 

Schenectady, NY 12301 

888-283-0034 

www.rid-usa.org
40

SMART Recovery® (Self Management And 

Recovery Training)

This not-for-profit, abstinence-based network of free 

mutual self-help support groups (face-to-face and via the 

Web) helps individuals gain independence from harmful 

addictive behaviors. It uses cognitive-behavioral concepts, 

and offers specific tools and techniques. 

7537 Mentor Avenue, Suite 306 

Mentor, OH 44060 

866-951-5357 

440-951-5357 

www.smartrecovery.org

Social Workers Helping Social Workers (SWHSW)

SWHSW supports people’s recovery from alcohol or other 

chemical dependence, either their own or that of a significant 

other, among social workers, BSW/MSW, or MSW 

matriculating students. Social workers with other 

addictions are welcome to attend meetings. 

1300 East 47th Street 

Chicago, IL 60653 

773-493-6940 

SOS Clearinghouse (Save Our Selves) 

This organization is dedicated to providing a path to 

sobriety, an alternative to those paths depending upon 

supernatural or religious beliefs. 

4773 Hollywood Boulevard 

Hollywood, CA 90027 

323-666-4295 

www.secularsobriety.org

Veterinarians in Recovery (VIR) 

VIR is a support network for veterinarians in recovery 

from alcoholism and other addictions. The group provides 

information and referrals, phone support, and newsletters. 

104 Maple Trace 

Birmingham, AL 35244 

651-261-4029 

www.veterinariansinrecovery.info

Policy/Education

Addiction Technology Transfer Center National Office (ATTC)

For a full description, refer to Research.

Alliance for Recovery Advocates 

This organization empowers people to become advocates 

for recovery. 

6601 Grand Teton Plaza, Suite A 

Madison, WI 53719 

800-787-9979 

www.waaoda.org/advocacy.html

American Council on Alcoholism (ACA)

ACA is dedicated to educating the public about the effects 

of alcohol, alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and the need for 

prompt, effective, readily available, and affordable 

alcoholism treatment. 

1000 East Indian School Road

Phoenix, AZ 85014 

800-527-5344 

www.aca-usa.org
41

American Medical Association (AMA) 

Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse 

This collaboration of the AMA and The Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation works to reduce underage alcohol use. 

515 North State Street 

Chicago, IL 60610 

800-621-8335 

312-464-5000 

www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3337.html

American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) 

The APHSA develops, promotes, and implements public 

human service policies and practices that improve the 

health and well-being of families, children, and adults. 

810 First Street NE, Suite 500

Washington, D.C. 20002

202-682-0100

www.aphsa.org/Home/Contact.asp

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources.

Boston University School of Medicine (BUMC) 

Boston University School of Medicine (BUMC) provides 

summaries of the latest clinically relevant research on alcohol 

and health, particularly in the area of health disparities. The 

newsletter Alcohol and Health: Current Evidence

is published by BUMC and can be located at 

www.bu.edu/act/alcoholandhealth/index.html.

Boston University School of Public Health 

715 Albany Street 

Boston, MA 02118 

617-638-8000 

www.bumc.bu.edu

Capitol Decisions, Inc. 

This consulting group has diverse interests, including 

substance use disorder support, as well as 

ambulatory care. 

101 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite 675 East 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-638-0326 

www.capitoldecisions.com

Center for Alcohol and Drug Research and Education 

This international nonprofit organization provides public 

information and technical assistance, guidance, and expert 

service to individuals, governmental agencies, and a variety 

of nonprofit organizations in the private sector to improve 

the quality of their response to substance use disorders. 

6200 North Charles Street 

Baltimore, MD 21212-1112 

410-377-8992 

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) 

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources. 

Drug Strategies 

This group develops publications and programs focused 

on effective approaches to the nation’s drug problems. 

This organization publishes a guide to treating youth 

with substance use disorders titled Treating Youth:

A Guide to Adolescent Drug Programs. 

1616 P Street NW, Suite 220 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-289-9070 

www.drugstrategies.org
42

Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) 

This nonprofit organization works within the film, 

television, and music industries to promote the accurate 

depiction of health and social issues in entertainment 

productions. EIC’s annual awards show, the PRISM 

Awards TV special, airs nationally and is distributed to 

over 11,000 treatment and recovery centers nationwide 

as a tool to encourage open discussion among treatment 

center staff and recovering clients. 

EIC East 

1760 Reston Parkway, Suite 415 

Reston, VA 20190-3303 

703-481-1414 

www.eiconline.org

EIC West 

2600 West Olive Street, Suite 574

Burbank, CA 91505

818-333-5001 

www.eiconline.org

Faces & Voices of Recovery 

This national recovery advocacy organization mobilizes 

people in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other 

drugs, families, friends, and allies in campaigns to end 

discrimination and make recovery a reality for even 

more Americans. 

1010 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 708 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

202-737-0690 

www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org

Health Matrix, Inc.

This organization develops communications programs that 

inform the debate on key issues in science, policy, 

and health care. 

7918 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 600 

McLean, VA 22102 

703-918-4930 

www.healthmatrixinc.com

Health Policy Institute: Center on an Aging Society at 

Georgetown University 

The center is a non-partisan public policy institute that 

fosters critical thinking about the implications of an aging 

society and studies the impact of demographic changes on 

public and private institutions and families of all ages. 

2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 525 

Washington, D.C. 20007 

202-687-9840 

http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/agingsociety

Join Together 

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources.

Kaiser Family Foundation 

This organization is a nonprofit, private operating foundation 

focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation. 

The Foundation is an independent voice and source of facts 

and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care 

community, and the general public. 

2400 Sand Hill Road 

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

650-854-9400 

www.kff.org
43

Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery 

The Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery is a grassroots 

alliance of individuals who support recovery. Its purpose 

is to initiate change in legislation and resource allocation, 

raise awareness through public acknowledgment, and 

promote support by sharing the experiences of recovering 

people, their families, and friends. 

8 Mulliken Court 

Augusta, ME 04330 

877-406-2727 

www.masap.org/site/recovery.asp

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) 

For a full description, refer to Mutual Support Groups.

National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) 

NAAG offers information about statewide tobacco 

settlements. 

2030 M Street NW, Eighth Floor 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-326-6000 

www.naag.org

National Association of State Medicaid 

Directors (NASMD) 

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources.

National Governors Association 

Center for Best Practices 

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources.

National Civic League (NCL) 

The NCL is a nonprofit, non-partisan membership 

organization dedicated to strengthening citizen 

democracy by transforming democratic institutions. 

The NCL fosters innovative community building and 

political reform, assists local governments, and 

recognizes collaborative community achievement.

1445 Market Street, Suite 300 

Denver, CO 80202 

303-371-4343 

www.ncl.org

National Commission Against Drunk Driving (NCADD) 

By uniting a broad-based coalition of public and 

private sector organizations and others, the 

Commission works to reduce impaired driving 

and its tragic consequences. 

8403 Colesville Road, Suite 370 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

240-247-6004 

Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PAL) 

PAL provides support, education, and advocacy around 

issues related to children’s mental health.

59 Temple Place

Suite 664

Boston, MA 02111 

617-542-7860 

www.ppal.net
44

Physicians and Lawyers for National Drug Policy 

This organization conducts research and provides 

information to the public on drug use disorders, and 

works to put a new emphasis on the national drug 

policy by substantially refocusing the investment in 

the prevention and treatment of harmful drug use. 

PLNDP National Project Office 

Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies 

Brown University 

Box G-BH 

Providence, RI 02912 

401-444-1817 

www.plndp.org

Recovery Network Foundation (RNF) 

This foundation develops recovery-dedicated projects in 

print, radio, TV, film, and video formats. “Under the Influence: 

The Film Series,” is a national touring festival that showcases 

films in which addiction and recovery play leading roles. 

P.O. Box 8969

Briarcliff Manor

New York, NY 10510-8969

914-941-2863 

www.recoverynetworkfoundation.org

U.S. Conference of Mayors

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources.

Prevention

American Council for Drug Education (ACDE) 

This prevention and education agency develops programs 

and materials based on the most current scientific research 

on drug use and its impact on society. 

164 West 74th Street 

New York, NY 10023 

800-488-DRUG 

www.acde.org

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids 

This non-governmental campaign works to protect children 

from tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. 

1400 Eye Street NW, Suite 1200 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

202-296-5469 

www.tobaccofreekids.org

Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit 

This research unit is dedicated to the prevention, 

intervention, and treatment of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 

and Fetal Alcohol Effects. 

180 Nickerson Street, Suite 309 

Seattle, WA 98109 

206-543-7155 

http://depts.washington.edu/fadu/

Hands Across Cultures 

This organization works to improve the health, education, 

and well-being of the people of Northern New Mexico 

through family-centered approaches deeply rooted in 

the multicultural traditions of their communities. 

P.O. Box 2215 

Espanola, NM 87532 

505-747-1889 

www.hacc95.org

National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse 

Directors (NASADAD) 

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources.

National Capital Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking 

The Coalition offers educational materials to prevent 

underage drinking. 

1616 P Street NW, Suite 430 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-265-8922 

www.nccpud.com
45

National Center for Prevention and Research Solutions 

This center operates a drug prevention and education 

program called Race Against Drugs, and has a nationwide 

network of volunteers and DEA/FBI agents assisting the 

program by conducting community and school events 

throughout the country. 

3132 South Ridgewood Avenue 

South Daytona, FL 32119 

866-NCPRS-NOW 

386-760-2254 

www.ncprs.org

National Education Association Health 

Information Network 

This association offers resources on youth alcohol and 

drug use prevention. 

1201 16th Street NW, Suite 521 

Washington, D.C. 20036 

202-822-7570 

www.neahin.org/programs/substance/index.htm

National Families in Action 

This organization presents science-based policies to 

help families and communities prevent youth drug use. 

2957 Clairmont Road NE, Suite 150 

Atlanta, GA 30329 

404-248-9676 

www.nationalfamilies.org

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) 

This nonprofit coalition is a public-private effort to 

promote awareness and recognition of the underpublicized problem of inhalant use. The NIPC serves 

as an inhalant referral and information clearinghouse, 

stimulates media coverage about inhalant issues, 

develops informational materials and a newsletter, 

provides training and technical assistance, and 

leads a week-long national grassroots education 

and awareness campaign. 

322-A Thompson Street 

Chattanooga, TN 37405 

800-269-4237 

www.inhalants.org

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 

This organization provides education and awareness 

about the prevention of birth defects caused by alcohol 

consumption during pregnancy. 

900 17th Street NW, Suite 910 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

202-785-4585 

www.nofas.org

National PTA Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Project 

This project presents drug facts, parenting tips, and 

family activities on protecting children from drugs 

and alcohol. 

541 North Fairbanks Court, Suite 1300 

Chicago, IL 60611-3396 

312-670-6782 

www.pta.org

Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) 

For a full description, refer to Youth Programs.

Society for Adolescent Medicine 

The Society for Adolescent Medicine offers advice 

for teens and parents on how to avoid alcohol and 

drug dependency. 

1916 NW Copper Oaks Circle 

Blue Springs, MO 64015 

816-224-8010 

www.adolescenthealth.org
46

Provider and Professional Organizations

The ACTION Campaign (Adopting Changes To Improve 

Outcomes Now) 

This campaign seeks to increase access and keep clients 

engaged in treatment. The Campaign is a cross-sector 

partnership among nongovernmental organizations, 

foundations, and government agencies, including 

SAMHSA/CSAT, State Associations of Addiction Services, 

the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment, 

and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug 

Abuse Directors (NASADAD).

608-890-1445

www.actioncampaign.org

Alcohol and Drug Services Institute 

This organization educates physicians to prevent and treat 

substance use disorders. 

3900 Germantown Road, Suite 200 

Fairfax, VA 22030 

703-934-5477 

www.fairfaxcounty.gov

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of 

New York State 

This nonprofit membership association consists of coalitions, 

programs, and agencies throughout New York State that 

provide substance use disorder prevention, treatment, 

and research. 

1 Columbia Place, Suite 400 

Albany, NY 12207-1006 

518-426-3122 

www.asapnys.org

American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 

The Academy offers continuing education for substance 

use disorder treatment professionals. 

345 Blackstone Boulevard, Second Floor-RCN 

Providence, RI 02906 

401-524-3076 

www.aaap.org

American Academy of Child and Adolescent 

Psychiatry (AACAP) 

This academy provides information for AACAP members, 

parents, and families about the treatment of developmental, behavioral, and mental disorders. 

3615 Wisconsin Avenue NW 

Washington, D.C. 20016-3007 

202-966-7300 

www.aacap.org

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 

AAP serves as a forum for pediatricians to address 

children’s health needs. 

141 Northwest Point Boulevard 

Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098 

847-434-4000 

www.aap.org

American Association for Marriage and 

Family Therapy (AAMFT) 

This association represents the professional interests of 

more than 24,000 marriage and family therapists 

throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad. 

112 South Alfred Street 

Alexandria, VA 22314-3061 

703-838-9808 

www.aamft.org
47

American Association for the Treatment of 

Opioid Dependence (AATOD)

AATOD was founded in 1984 to enhance the quality of 

patient care in treatment programs by promoting the 

growth and development of comprehensive methadone 

treatment services throughout the United States. 

225 Varick Street, Fourth Floor 

New York, NY 10014 

212-566-5555 

www.aatod.org

American Association of Pastoral Counselors

The American Association of Pastoral Counselors represents and sets professional standards for over 3,000 

Pastoral Counselors and 100 pastoral counseling centers 

in North America and around the world. It is non-sectarian 

and respects the spiritual commitments and religious 

traditions of those who seek assistance without imposing 

counselor beliefs onto the client.

9504A Lee Highway

Fairfax, VA 22031-2303

703-385-6967

www.aapc.org

American Dental Association (ADA) 

ADA is the world’s oldest and largest national dental 

society, representing more than 70 percent of dentists 

throughout the United States. Its mission is to maintain the 

integrity of the dental profession, enhance the quality of 

dental practice, and advance the oral health of the American public. The ADA is committed to helping its members 

better identify, understand, and accommodate the special 

health care needs of patients with substance use disorders, 

and to facilitate the journey of recovery for its member 

dentists and their respective office staff(s). 

211 East Chicago Avenue 

Chicago, IL 60611-2678 

312-440-3500 

www.ada.org

American Medical Women’s Association 

This national association offers publications and 

information related to women’s health. 

100 North 20th Street, Fourth Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

215-320-3716

www.amwa-doc.org

American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) 

The AMHCA works exclusively for licensed mental health 

counselors by advocating for legislation that expands, 

enhances, and protects the right to practice, promotes 

mental health awareness, and builds the profession of 

mental health counseling nationally. Most mental health 

counselors are trained in substance abuse and are qualified 

to treat substance abuse and dually diagnosed clientele. 

801 North Fairfax Street, Suite 304 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

703-548-6002 

www.amhca.org

American Psychiatric Association 

This association offers mental health information for 

professionals, individuals, and families. 

1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825 

Arlington, VA 22209-3901 

888-357-7924 

703-907-7300 

www.psych.org
48

American Psychological Association (APA)

APA is the largest scientific and professional organization 

representing psychology in the United States. Its 

membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, 

educators, clinicians, consultants, and students. 

750 First Street NE 

Washington, D.C. 20002-4242 

800-374-2721 

202-336-6123 (TDD/TTY) 

202-336-5500 

www.apa.org

American Public Health Association 

This association influences policies and priorities to 

set public health practice standards and to improve 

health worldwide. 

800 Eye Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-777-2742 

www.apha.org

American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) 

The ASAM is an association of 3,000 physicians from across 

America dedicated to improving the treatment of alcoholism 

and other addictions, educating physicians and medical 

students, promoting research and prevention, and 

enlightening and informing the medical community 

and the public about these issues.

4601 North Park Avenue 

Upper Arcade, Suite 101 

Chevy Chase, MD 20815-4520 

301-656-3920 

www.asam.org

Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness

This organization provides individualized care management, 

specialty networks, continuum of care, quality management 

programs, consumer orientations, and innovations in 

behavioral health care delivery. 

1101 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Sixth Floor 

Washington, D.C. 20004 

202-756-7726 

www.abhw.org

Association for Medical Education and Research in 

Substance Abuse (AMERSA) 

This association offers training and materials for 

medical professionals and students and all primary 

health professional disciplines. 

125 Whipple Street, Suite 300 

Providence, RI 02908 

401-349-0000 

www.amersa.org

Children of Alcoholics Foundation (COAF) 

For a full description, refer to Family and Social Services.

Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) 

For a full description, refer to Family and Social Services.

Community Intervention 

Community Intervention offers educational materials, 

training, and consultation for professionals working 

with children ages 5 to 18. 

2412 University Avenue SE, Suite B 

Minneapolis, MN 55414

800-328-0417 

www.communityintervention.org
49

Health Communications, Inc. 

Founded in 1976, Health Communications, Inc., (HCI) 

publishes several new titles per year for professionals and 

consumers. The company provides information and education 

to addiction and mental health professionals through 

Counselor, The Magazine for Addiction Professionals.

3201 SW 15th Street

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

800-851-9100 

www.counselormagazine.com

Institute for the Advancement of Human Behavior 

The institute provides continuing medical education 

for mental health, chemical dependency, and substance 

use disorder treatment providers in the United States 

and Canada. 

4370 Alpine Road, Suite 209 

Portola Valley, CA 94028 

800-258-8411 

www.iahb.org

International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/

Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse 

This nonprofit voluntary membership organization is 

comprised of certifying agencies involved in credentialing 

alcohol and drug use counselors, clinical supervisors, and 

prevention specialists. 

298 South Progress Avenue 

Harrisburg, PA 17109 

717-540-4457 

www.icrcaoda.org

International Nurses Society on Addictions 

This society offers information and education for nurses 

concerning prevention, intervention, treatment, and 

management of substance use disorders. 

2170 South Parker Road, Suite 229 

Denver, CO 80231 

484-318-6739 

www.intnsa.org

Johnson Institute 

This national organization works to identify and eliminate 

barriers to recovery, while promoting the power and 

possibility of recovery by enhancing awareness, 

prevention, intervention, and treatment practices for 

substance use disorders. 

613 Second Street NE 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

202-662-7104 

www.johnsoninstitute.org

National Association of Addiction Treatment 

Providers (NAATP) 

This association represents private substance use disorder 

treatment programs throughout the United States. 

313 West Liberty Street, Suite 129 

Lancaster, PA 17603-2748 

717-392-8480 

www.naatp.org

NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals 

This membership organization serves addiction services 

professionals who specialize in addiction prevention, 

intervention, treatment, and after-care services. 

901 North Washington Street, Suite 600 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

800-548-0497 

www.naadac.org
50

National Association of Rural Health Clinics 

This association offers information on how to improve 

the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care in rural, 

underserved areas. 

426 C Street NE 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

202-543-0348 

www.narhc.org

National Association of School Psychologists 

The Association provides resources focused on enhancing the 

mental health and educational competence of all children. 

4340 East West Highway, Suite 402 

Bethesda, MD 20814 

301-657-0270 

www.nasponline.org

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) 

As the largest membership organization of professional 

social workers in the world, this organization works to 

enhance the professional growth and development of its 

members, to create and maintain professional standards, 

and to advance sound social policies. 

750 First Street NE, Suite 700 

Washington, D.C. 20002-4241 

800-638-8799 

202-408-8600 

www.socialworkers.org

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare 

This group is the national association of community providers 

who together care for 6 million adults and children across 

America who suffer from mental illnesses, developmental 

disabilities, and substance use disorders. Its members 

employ more than 250,000 staff and provide mental health 

and substance abuse treatment, rehabilitation, housing, 

and community support services. 

12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 320 

Rockville, MD 20852 

301-984-6200 

www.nccbh.org

Network for the Improvement of Addiction 

Treatment (NIATx)

NIATx is a partnership between the Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation’s Paths to Recovery program, the Center for 

Substance Abuse Treatment’s Strengthening Treatment

Access and Retention (STAR) program, the National 

Institute on Drug Abuse, and a number of independent 

addiction treatment organizations. NIATx works with 

addiction treatment providers to make more efficient use 

of their capacity and shares strategies for improving 

treatment access and retention.

610 Walnut Street, Room 1109

Madison, WI 53726

608-265-0063

www.niatx.net

Portland State University, Graduate School of Social Work 

The Graduate School of Social Work offers the only graduate 

social work education programs in Oregon accredited by the 

Council on Social Work Education. The three major functions 

of the school are teaching, research, and community service. 

Some of its students work with faculty members in regional 

and national research projects, such as the “Reclaiming 

Futures: Building Community Solutions to Substance Abuse 

and Delinquency” project in 10 sites across the country.

Graduate School of Social Work 

Portland State University 

P.O. Box 751 

Portland, OR 97207-0751 

503-725-4712 

www.ssw.pdx.edu/
51

Society for Adolescent Substance Abuse 

Treatment Effectiveness (SASATE)

SASATE is a voluntary and informal network of researchers, 

evaluators, providers, and policymakers interested in 

pooling their knowledge and resources 

301-587-1600 

www.chestnut.org/LI/APSS/SASATE/

Recovery Support Programs

National

Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Inc. 

This service provides a culturally competent, linguistically 

accessible community recovery center for Asian and 

Pacific Americans and other immigrants and refugees 

with a history of substance use disorders. 

720 Eighth Avenue South, Suite 200 

Seattle, WA 98104 

206-695-7600 

www.acrs.org

Association of Persons Affected by Addiction (APAA) 

This nonprofit recovery community organization is designed 

to engage the faces and voices of the recovery community 

in reducing stigma and enhancing recovery support 

services. The APAA specializes in providing recovery 

community support services for people seeking or 

in recovery and their family members.

2438 Butler Street, Suite 120 

Dallas, TX 75235 

214-634-APAA (2722) 

www.apaarecovery.org

Dual Diagnosis Anonymous World Services, Inc. 

Dual Diagnosis Anonymous Expansion Project 

This project addresses the needs of individuals diagnosed with 

co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness. 

201 West Mill Street 

San Bernardino, CA 92408 

909-888-9282 

www.ddaworldwide.org

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community 

Center SpeakOUT!: Voices for Recovery 

This center works to create safe and welcoming spaces

for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people 

in recovery. 

208 West 13th Street 

New York, NY 10011 

212-620-7310 

www.gaycenter.org

National Home Infusion Association

NHIA is a trade association that represents and advances 

the interests of organizations that provide infusion and specialized pharmacy services and products and to the entire 

spectrum of home-based patients. 

100 Daingerfield Road

Alexandria, VA 22314

703-549-3740

www.nhianet.org

SMART Recovery® 

For a full description, refer to Mutual Support Groups. 

TASC, Inc., of Illinois

This not-for-profit organization conducts research, 

advances public policy, and provides services to ensure 

that individuals with substance use and mental health 

disorders receive treatment and access to recovery. 

1500 North Halsted Street 

Chicago, IL 60622 

312-787-0208 

www.tasc.org
52

Women for Sobriety, Inc. 

This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping 

women overcome alcoholism and other addictions. 

P.O. Box 618 

Quakertown, PA 18951-0618 

215-536-8026 

www.womenforsobriety.org

Alaska

Southcentral Foundation: Alaska Women’s Recovery 

Project (AWRP) 

This project provides leadership training, mentoring, and 

support for recovering women. 

4130 San Ernesto Avenue 

Anchorage, AK 99508 

907-729-5090 

www.southcentralfoundation.com

Arizona

Community Bridges, Inc.

This organization offers treatment and recovery to 

homeless, indigent, and working poor adults. It also 

provides prevention, education, and training services 

to the public.

1811 South Alma School Road, Suite 160

Mesa, AZ 85210

480-831-7566

www.communitybridgesaz.org

Women in New Recovery: Our Common Welfare 

This recovery community organization is for women in 

Arizona and New Mexico. 

860 North Center Street 

Mesa, AZ 85201 

480-464-5764 

www.winr.org

Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona: Community Change 

Oriented Recovery Effort (C-CORE) 

This program provides quality, competent, and culturally 

compatible peer services to tribal and community members. 

9405 South Avenida del Yaqui 

Guadalupe, AZ 85283 

480-768-2025 

claremcory@aol.com

Pinal Hispanic Council: Proyecto Bienestar 

(Project WellBeing) 

This project seeks to empower members to assist others, 

motivating them to sustain recovery through education 

and training. 

712 North Main Street 

Eloy, AZ 85231 

520-466-7765 

www.pinalhispaniccouncil.org/grants/RCSPGrant.htm

Pima Prevention Partnership: A Recovery Movement 

For and About Young People 

The Pima Prevention Partnership aims to reduce relapse 

and supports wellness using a strength-based approach 

to recovery for Native Americans. 

2525 East Broadway, Suite 100 

Tuscon, AZ 85716 

520-624-5800 

www.thepartnership.us
53

Tohono O’odham Nation 

This tribal government is establishing a recovery 

community service project and peer-to-peer system. 

P.O. Box 837 

Sells, AZ 85634 

520-603-2477 

janelatare@hotmail.com

California

Community Recovery Network 

This network provides leadership in community responses 

to substance use disorders. 

P.O. Box 28 

Santa Barbara, CA 93102 

805-899-2933 

Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse 

The Council provides peer-led recovery support services 

in Santa Barbara, CA. 

232 East Canon Perdido Street, Suite H 

Santa Barbara, CA 93101 

805-963-1433 

www.cadasb.org

Walden House, Inc.: PROSPER (Peers Reaching Out 

Supporting Peers to Embrace Recovery)

This project provides strength-based peer-to-peer recovery 

services to people who face the challenges of recovery and 

re-entry into society from prison, and their families.

520 Townsend Street 

San Francisco, CA 94103 

213-741-3731 

www.waldenhouse.org

Welcome Home Ministries: Face to Face 

This faith-based program is for women who face the 

dual challenges of recovery and re-entry to society 

from incarceration.

104 South Barnes 

Oceanside, CA 92054 

760-439-1136 

www.welcomehomeministries.org

Colorado

White Bison, Inc.: Circles of Recovery III 

This organization conducts education, training, and development 

focused on Native American recovery communities on 

reservations and in urban areas. 

6145 Lehman Drive, Suite 200 

Colorado Springs, CO 80918-3440 

719-548-1000 

www.whitebison.org

Connecticut

Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) 

A community of persons in recovery, family members, 

friends, and allies, CCAR is organized to put a positive face 

and voice on recovery from substance use disorders. 

198 Wethersfield Avenue 

Hartford, CT 06114 

860-224-2227 

www.ccar.us

Georgia

Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, Inc. 

For a full description, refer to Faith-Based Organizations.
54

Hawaii

The Waianae Men in Recovery

The Waianae Men in Recovery offer what is known as a 

“clean and sober house,” which provides a clean and sober 

living environment for men in recovery from alcoholism 

and other addictions.

P.O. Box 458

Waianae, HI 96792

wmir@hawaii.rr.com

Illinois

Recovery Resource Center

This comprehensive recovery resource center links 

individuals in recovery to an array of holistic recovery supports, with special emphasis on meeting the needs 

of women in recovery. 

1140 Lake Street, Suite 500 

Oak Park, IL 60301 

708-445-0500 

RRCDontUse1@aol.com

Kentucky

Heartland Cares, Inc. 

This project promotes effective long-term recovery among 

HIV-positive persons in a rural area of Kentucky and Illinois. 

3025 Clay Street 

Paducah, KY 42001 

270-691-8183, ext. 103 

www.hcares.org

Massachusetts

Western Massachusetts Training Consortium: 

The RECOVER Project 

This peer-led recovery community in Massachusetts helps 

those in recovery assume meaningful roles in their towns 

and neighborhoods. 

187 High Street, Suite 204 

Holyoke, MA 01040 

413-536-2401 ext. 3006 

www.wmtcinfo.org

Michigan

Clark Associates: The Detroit Recovery Project 

This organization offers useful information, training, and 

city-wide support and resources for making communities 

safe and drug free. 

1151 Taylor Street, Room 317B 

Detroit, MI 48202 

313-876-0770 

www.drugfreedetroit.org

Nevada

Center for the Application of Substance Abuse 

Technologies, Frontier Recovery Network 

The staff and peer volunteers of the Frontier Recovery 

Network assist recovering individuals in Reno, NV, with 

education about or referral for treatment, housing, 

transportation, child care, and life skills. 

Mail Stop 279 

University of Nevada, Reno 

Reno, NV 89557-0258 

775-324-7560 

http://casat.unr.edu/
55

New Hampshire

New England Institute of Addiction Studies (NEIAS) 

and New England Alliance for Addiction Recovery 

(NEAAR): Expanding the New England Alliance for 

Addiction Recovery

This collaboration of statewide recovery community 

organizations is dedicated to the promotion and 

enhancement of recovery and to improving public 

awareness about substance use disorders. 

1492 Elm Street 

Manchester, NH 03101 

603-647-4629 

neias@mva.net

New Jersey

NCADD-New Jersey, Inc.: Friends of Addiction 

Recovery-New Jersey (FOAR-NJ) 

This organization promotes recovery and builds leadership 

skills and capacity in the recovery community in New Jersey. 

360 Corporate Boulevard 

Robbinsville, NJ 08691 

609-689-0599 

www.ncaddnj.org

New York

AIDS Service Center of Lower Manhattan, Inc. 

HIGH (How I Get Help on Recovery) 

This center facilitates the creation of Empowerment, a 

peer-delivered recovery community organization. 

41 East 11th Street, Fifth Floor 

New York, NY 10003 

212-645-0875, ext. 342 

www.ascnyc.org

Center for Community Alternatives: 

Recovery Network of New York 

This project organizes recovering individuals who have 

a history of involvement in the criminal justice system to 

improve the delivery of treatment to offenders and 

ex-offenders and to help reduce the dual stigmatization 

of ex-offenders in recovery. 

115 East Jefferson Street, Suite 300 

Syracuse, NY 13202 

315-422-5638, ext. 222 

www.communityalternatives.org

Exponents, Inc.

This minority-led organization is dedicated to improving 

the quality of life of individuals affected by drug addiction, 

incarceration, and HIV/AIDS. Exponents’ programs assist 

individuals and their families through difficult transitions—

from addiction to recovery, from incarceration to civilian 

life, and from welfare to work.

151 West 26th Street, Third Floor

New York, NY 10001

212-243-3434

www.exponents.org

The Fortune Society

This project provides peer-to-peer recovery support 

services to ex-prisoners and their families who are working 

toward recovery. 

53 West 23rd Street, Eighth Floor 

New York, NY 10010 

212-691-7554 

www.fortunesociety.org
56

GROUP Ministries, Inc. 

This project provides peer recovery support services 

focused primarily on African Americans and other 

people of color. 

1333 Jefferson Avenue 

Buffalo, NY 14208 

716-883-4367, ext. 21 

khsmith101@aol.com

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates, Inc.

For a full description, refer to Recovery/Treatment.

Rockland Council on Alcoholism & Other Drug 

Dependence, Inc.: Friends of Recovery-Rockland 

(FOR-Rockland) 

The Council challenges stereotypes about addiction recovery. 

20 Squadron Boulevard, Suite 650 

New City, NY 10956 

845-639-7373, ext. 28 

www.rcadd.org

North Carolina

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians: A-Ye-Ga: Awakening 

the Recovery Spirit 

This recovery community organization in Cherokee, NC, 

is of, by, and for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 

P.O. Box 455 

Cherokee, NC 28719 

828-497-7000 

www.nc-cherokee.com

VOICES for Addiction Recovery, NC, Inc.: Voices for 

Addiction Recovery 

This organization serves addicted, single, pregnant 

women, addicted teenagers, and adults who have 

become part of the criminal justice system, people 

with HIV/AIDS and their support organizations, and

the growing Hispanic population who are struggling 

with addiction issues. 

P.O. Box 2925 

Asheville, NC 28802 

828-252-9022 

voicesnc@aol.com

Ohio

Northern Ohio Recovery Association (NORA) 

This project provides faith-based recovery support services 

in a three-county area in Northern Ohio. 

3746 Prospect Avenue 

Cleveland, OH 44115 

216-319-6672 

www.norainc.org

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment

This group’s mission is to empower recovering 

people and their families through physical, emotional, 

and spiritual growth to make significant contributions 

to society. 

5131 Classen Boulevard, Suite 200 

Oklahoma City, OK 73118 

866-848-7555 

www.ocarta.org
57

Oregon

12 Step Space 

This online social networking site for people in recovery 

is also a resource for making new friends and finding 

useful information about different regions and 

opportunities for people in recovery. 

5397 Burbank Street North 

Keizer, OR 97303 

503-750-1199 

www.12stepspace.com

Central City Concern: Recovery Association Project (RAP) 

This peer-led recovery community organization focuses 

on building leadership and power among people in 

recovery. RAP’s strengths-based peer services available 

to other groups include trainings on organizing recovering 

people with a focus on leadership and active citizenship, 

and implementing a peer-led recovery mentor program. 

1100 Northeast 28th Avenue 

Portland, OR 97232 

503-493-9211 

www.centralcityconcern.org

www.rap-nw.org

Relief Nurseries, Inc.: Accessing Success 

This project targets parents of children in high-risk families 

and provides recovery support services. 

1720 West 25th Avenue 

Eugene, OR 97405 

541-485-0007, ext. 223 

www.reliefnursery.org

Pennsylvania

Bucks County Council on Alcoholism

The Council is an independent, nonprofit organization 

whose mission is to provide resources and opportunities 

to reduce the impact of addiction and to improve related 

health issues for the entire community. It provides 

services such as consultation, assessment, intervention, 

and treatment.

252 West Swamp Road

Doylestown, PA 18901

215-345-6644

www.bccadd.org

Easy Does It, Inc.: Full Circle 

This group organizes committees that focus on a holistic 

approach to the process of personal growth within the 

recovery process. 

1300 Hilltop Road 

Leesport, PA 19533 

610-373-2463 

www.easydoesitinc.org

Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance, Inc. (PROA) Statewide/Regional Community 

Mobilization Project 

This project supports recovery through peer-driven support 

services and education. 

900 South Arlington Avenue, Suite 119 

Harrisburg, PA 17109 

717-545-8929 

recovery@ezonline.com
58

Tennessee

Alcohol and Drug Council of Middle Tennessee

Nashville Area Recovery Alliance (NARA) 

This grassroots, membership-based organization is 

comprised of individuals in recovery, as well as their 

families, friends, and allies. 

2612 Westwood Drive 

Nashville, TN 37204 

615-269-0029, ext. 121 

www.adcmt.org

Texas

The El Paso Alliance 

The Alliance was organized in 1998 to fight stigma and 

discrimination for people in recovery from substance use 

disorders, and is now dedicated to providing peer-to-peer 

recovery support services. 

6000 Welch Street, #7 

El Paso, TX 79905 

915-594-7000 

www.recoveryalliance.net

Serving Children and Adolescents in Need

This youth outreach group is developing the Futuros 

Saludables Recovery Services Program, which will 

enhance substance abuse treatment by promoting 

recovery, reducing relapse, and intervening when relapse 

does occur. The program will provide peer-designed 

and peer-led services with an emphasis on leadership 

development, principles of self-care, and cultural diversity 

among participants.

2387 East Saunders Street

Laredo, TX 78041 

956-724-3177

www.scan-inc.org

Virginia

The Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery 

Alliance (SAARA)

For a full description, refer to Recovery/Treatment. 

Washington

Multifaith Works

This group unites communities of compassionate care 

and inclusive spirituality with people living in isolation and 

loneliness. It will be establishing a recovery support service 

information network that is driven and led by peers in recovery. The network will provide administrative, emotional, 

and supervisory support, as well as volunteer recruitment, 

training, and leadership skill development 

for peer volunteers. 

115 16th Avenue

Seattle, WA 98122

206-324-1520

www.multifaith.org

Recovery/Treatment

Addiction Treatment Watchdog

This group is a resource for educating medicationassisted-treatment patients and others about the 

disease and treatment of opiate addiction.

www.atwatchdog.org/
59

Advocates for the Integration of Recovery and 

Methadone (AFIRM)

This group supports methadone as an effective tool of 

recovery that can be enhanced through the integration of 

other treatment approaches. It promotes the development of 

Methadone Anonymous (MA) and other 12-step fellowships, 

as well as clinical treatment alternatives, such as incorporating 

spirituality modalities into traditional treatment settings. 

455 East Bay Drive 

Long Beach, NY 11561 

516-897-1330 (days) 

516-889-8142 (evenings)

www.methadonetoday.org/afirm.html

Advocates for Recovery Through Medicine (ARM) 

ARM’s goals are to end stigma and discrimination against 

people who use medications to treat addictions and to 

move addiction treatment, especially opiate addiction 

treatment, into mainstream medicine. 

P.O. Box 90337 

Burton, MI 48509 

810-250-9064 

www.armmat.org

The Alexandria Community Services Board (CSB)

The mission of the Alexandria CSB is to provide effective 

and cost-efficient mental health, mental retardation, and 

substance abuse prevention and treatment services that 

measurably improve the quality of life for Alexandria, 

VA’s neediest citizens.

720 North Saint Asaph Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

703-838-6400

www.alexandriava.gov/mhmrsa

Aliviane NO-AD, Inc. 

This nonprofit, community-based organization is 

dedicated to the provision of HIV and substance use 

disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, education, 

and follow-up care to the residents of West Texas. 

10690 Socorro Road 

El Paso, TX 79927

915-858-6208 

www.aliviane.org

The American Association of Poison Control 

Centers (AAPCC) 

The AAPCC is a nationwide organization of poison centers 

and interested individuals. Locate your local poison center 

at www.aapcc.org. To contact your local poison center for 

poison emergencies and information, call 800-222-1222.

3201 New Mexico Avenue, Suite 330 

Washington, D.C. 20016 

202-362-7217 

www.aapcc.org

Association of Recovery Schools 

This association brings together students and secondary 

and post-secondary schools, and helps professionals to 

support students in recovery from substance use disorders. 

145 Thompson Lane 

Nashville, TN 37211 

615-248-8206 

www.recoveryschools.org
60

Behavioral Health Services 

This nonprofit organization has provided a continuum of 

substance abuse, mental health, and senior services since 

1973. Each of its 11 facilities (located throughout Los 

Angeles County) is based on its mission of transforming 

lives by offering hope and opportunities for recovery, 

wellness, and independence.

15519 Crenshaw Boulevard 

Gardena, CA 90249 

310-679-9126 

www.bhs-inc.org

Betty Ford Center

The Betty Ford Center provides treatment for chemical 

dependency, as well as support and educational resources 

for family members and children of clients. 

39000 Bob Hope Drive 

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 

800-854-9211 

760-773-4100 

www.bettyfordcenter.org

California Association of Addiction Recovery 

Resources (CAARR) 

The CAARR educates and provides statewide recovery 

resources for alcoholics and people with addiction 

problems living in California. 

2921 Fulton Avenue 

P.O. Box 214127 

Sacramento, CA 95821 

916-338-9460 

www.caarr.org

Caron Treatment Centers 

The Caron Treatment Centers offer detoxification, genderseparate rehabilitation, relapse treatment, and extended 

care for adults and adolescents; educational programs for 

family members; and student assistance services. 

P.O. Box 150 

Wernersville, PA 19565-0150 

800-678-2332 

www.caron.org

CRC Health Group

CRC offers the most comprehensive network of 

specialized behavioral care services in the nation. 

The group has provided healing and hope in the lives 

of patients and students and offers the largest array of 

personalized treatment services for individuals, families, 

and professionals. Every day, more than 30,000 people 

receive treatment from CRC programs. 

20400 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 600 

Cupertino, CA 95014 

877-637-6237 

www.crchealth.com

Faces & Voices of Recovery 

For a full description, refer to Policy/Education.

Fairview Recovery Services 

Fairview offers individually tailored services for people 

suffering from chemical dependency. 

Five Merrick Street 

Binghamton, NY 139001 

607-722-8987 

www.frsinc.org
61

Father Martin’s Ashley 

This private, nonprofit facility for the treatment of substance 

use disorders has served persons aged 18 and over since 

1987. Ashley offers a comprehensive program of services for

individuals and families afflicted by the disease of addiction. 

800 Tydings Lane 

Havre de Grace, MD 21078 

800-799-4673 

www.fathermartinsashley.com

Foundations Associates 

This treatment and advocacy organization is dedicated 

solely to the treatment and recovery of people with 

co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders. 

The agency has a full continuum of care, with locations 

in Memphis and Nashville, TN. Another division of the 

agency, the Dual Diagnosis Recovery Network, is a 

membership-based advocacy group, providing educational 

activities, legislative and policy action, and awareness 

projects related to meeting the needs of individuals with 

co-occurring disorders. 

220 Venture Circle 

Nashville, TN 37228 

888-869-9230 

www.dualdiagnosis.org

Gateway Foundation 

Gateway is a private, not-for-profit organization providing 

substance abuse treatment; in 2004, over 32,000 clients 

were provided care in community-based and correctional 

settings in 7 states. 

55 East Jackson Avenue, #1500 

Chicago, IL 60604 

312-663-1130 

www.gatewayfoundation.org

Gaudenzia, Inc. 

Gaudenzia helps people affected by chemical dependency, 

mental illness, and related conditions to achieve a better 

quality of life—allowing them to live as productive and 

accountable individuals. The group also conducts research and 

educates the community on the causes, treatment, and prevention of addictions, mental illness,and related conditions. 

106 West Main Street 

Norristown, PA 19401 

610-239-9600 

www.gaudenzia.org

Hazelden Foundation 

A national nonprofit organization founded in 1949, Hazeldon 

helps people reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. 

Hazelden’s comprehensive approach to addiction addresses 

the full range of patient, family, and professional needs, 

including treatment and continuing care, research, higher 

learning, public education and advocacy, and publishing.

CO3, P.O. Box 11 

Center City, MN 55012 

800-257-7810 

www.hazelden.org

Hope Networks/We Recover Foundation 

This group supports community efforts regarding treatment, 

job skills, living skills, and retraining programs to reduce 

poverty, crime, and illiteracy found in untreated communities. 

8867 Highland Road, Suite 320 

Baton Rouge, LA 70808 

866-859-3513 
62

Mayo Clinic, Addiction Psychiatry 

The addiction psychiatry unit offers chemical dependency 

programs for people with substance use disorders. 

200 First Street SW 

Rochester, MN 55905 

507-284-2511 

www.mayoclinic.org

Medical Assisted Treatment of America

This Web site aims to raise awareness and understanding 

of substance abuse, the problems it creates, and the ways 

to deal with these problems. 

770-428-0871

www.medicalassistedtreatment.org

Methadone Support Organization (MSO)

This group is a support organization for medically assisted 

treatment that is available for people addicted or dependent 

on opiates for any reason. Its provider- and patient-friendly 

online support resources include information on methadone 

and pregnancy, Methadone Anonymous, support forums, 

on-site experts to answer questions, and more.

www.methadonesupport.org/board.html

Mount Saint John Home & School for Boys 

This residential treatment center is for boys with behavioral 

and learning problems. 

135 Kirtland Street 

Deep River, CT 06417 

860-526-5391 

www.mtstjohn.org

National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine 

Treatment (NAABT)

This nonprofit organization has the mission to educate 

the public about the disease of opioid addiction and the 

buprenorphine treatment option, to help reduce the stigma 

and discrimination associated with patients with addiction 

disorders, and to serve as a conduit connecting patients in 

need of treatment to qualified treatment providers. 

P.O. Box 333

Farmington, CT 06034

www.naabt.org

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA) 

NAMA is a membership organization representing persons 

whose recovery from opiate dependence is assisted with 

medication. NAMA’s membership includes methadone 

patients, family members, and health care professionals 

whose common goal is to fight the ignorance and prejudice 

surrounding medication-assisted recovery. 

435 Second Avenue 

New York, NY 10010 

212-595-NAMA 

www.methadone.org

National Association on Alcohol, Drugs and 

Disability, Inc. (NAADD) 

This association promotes awareness and education about 

substance use disorders among people with physical, 

sensory, cognitive, and developmental disabilities. 

2165 Bunker Hill Drive 

San Mateo, CA 94402-3801 

650-578-8047 

www.naadd.org
63

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug 

Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) 

Founded in 1944, NCADD is dedicated to increasing public 

awareness and understanding of the disease of alcoholism 

and drug dependence. NCADD and its national network 

of state and local affiliates provide education, prevention, 

information/referral, intervention, treatment services, and 

advocacy, and have helped hundreds of thousands of individuals and families into recovery.

244 East 58th Street, Fourth Floor

New York, NY 10022 

800-NCA-CALL (Hope Line) 

212-269-7797 

www.ncadd.org

Opiate Dependence Resource Center (ODRC) 

This national organization serves to safeguard patients through 

effective mediation, assuring access to care, improved quality 

of life, and preservation of the familial structure to improve 

their quality of life and help them achieve recovery. ODRC also 

serves as advocate-liaison between the individual receiving 

services and his or her medical care providers, corrections 

officials, insurers, and others to resolve domestic, insurance, 

medical, treatment retention, and legal matters through social 

services, case managers, doctors, and attorneys.

67 Main Street, Suite 304

Brattleboro, VT 05301 

802-251-0066

www.methadone.net/index2.htm

Oxford House, Inc. 

This is the umbrella organization for a network of more 

than 1,200 democratically run, self-supporting, and 

drug-free group homes throughout the country. 

1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 400 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

301-587-2916 

www.oxfordhouse.org

Partnership for Recovery (PFR) 

This coalition includes the Betty Ford Center, Bradford Health 

Systems, Cumberland Heights, Father Martin’s Ashley, 

Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Hazelden Foundation, Valley 

Hope Association, and the National Association of Addiction 

Treatment Providers. The PFR works to eliminate barriers 

to addiction treatment througheducation and awareness. 

101 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite 675 East 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-737-8167 

Phoenix House 

This is a nonprofit substance use disorder 

treatment organization. 

164 West 74th Street 

New York, NY 10023 

212-595-5810 

www.phoenixhouse.org

Recovery Connection 

A comprehensive addiction treatment resource and drug 

rehabilitation referral service, this organization has staff 

across the country available 24 hours a day to answer all 

concerns about substance abuse, addiction treatment, 

and rehabilitation. 

4825 North Dixie Highway 

Oakland Park, FL 33334 

800-993-3869 

www.recoveryconnection.org
64

Recovery Works 

This program offers resources for recovery from 

various forms of addiction. 

www.addictions.org/recoveryworks

Resolution Ranch 

This is a therapeutic camp in Texas for troubled 

teen boys ages 13 to 17. 

512-923-9636 

www.resolutionranch.com/

Ridgeview Institute 

This institute provides mental health and substance 

use disorder treatment services in Georgia. 

3995 South Cobb Drive 

Smyrna, GA 30080 

800-329-9775 

www.ridgeviewinstitute.com

Rimrock Foundation 

This foundation offers community-developed treatment 

services for substance use disorders. 

1231 North 29th Street 

Billings, MT 59101 

406-248-3175 

www.rimrock.org

The Second Road

This is a Web-based nonprofit group to help those 

in recovery (and the families of those affected by 

addiction) learn to live with the challenges presented 

by everyday life and continue on a fulfilling road of 

recovery. The Second Road offers a community of 

trust and understanding, 24-hour access, inspiring

stories from people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, 

the knowledge of many experts in the addiction treatment 

field, and the tools to resist relapse in a secure, 

non-threatening environment.

P.O. Box 1506

Charlottesville, VA 22902

434-295-9595

www.thesecondroad.org

The Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery 

Alliance (SAARA) 

SAARA is a community-based grassroots membership 

organization of individuals in recovery from alcohol and 

other drug addiction, their families, friends, and committed 

community supporters. 

4202 Park Place Court, Suite B

Glen Allen, VA 23060 

804-762-4445 

www.saara.org

State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) 

SAAS is the national organization of state provider associations representing treatment and prevention programs for 

substance use disorders. 

236 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Suite 505 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

202-546-4600 

www.saasnet.org
65

Therapeutic Communities of America 

This national nonprofit membership association 

represents more than 650 substance abuse and mental 

health treatment programs that provide a variety of 

services to substance use and co-occurring disorder 

clients with a range of special needs.

1601 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 803 

Washington, D.C. 20009 

202-296-3503 

www.therapeuticcommunitiesofamerica.org

United for Recovery 

This nonprofit organization is an advocacy group

 for persons in treatment and in recovery. United for 

Recovery works to broaden public awareness and 

understanding of addiction and recovery and increase 

opportunities for people to get the help they need. 

310-704-1336 

Valley Hope Association 

This nonprofit organization has provided quality substance 

use disorder treatment services since 1967. It operates 

treatment facilities in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, 

Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. 

P.O. Box 510 

Norton, KS 67654 

800-654-0486 

www.valleyhope.com

Vanguard Services Unlimited 

This nonprofit, community-based organization offers 

high-quality treatment and recovery to individuals and 

their families with substance use disorders. 

521 North Quincy Street 

Arlington, VA 22203 

703-841-0703 

www.vanguardservices.org

Vera Institute of Justice, La Bodega de la Familia

This institute offers family- and community-based recovery 

services for people on parole or probation. 

233 Broadway, 12th Floor 

New York, NY 10279 

212-334-1300 

www.vera.org

Veritas Villa, Inc. 

This orgainization provides inpatient rehabilitation and 

wellness services. 

5 Ridgeview Road 

P.O. Box 6105 

845-626-3555 

www.veritasvilla.com

The Village South 

This organization offers substance use disorder treatment 

programs and referrals for job training, shelter, and HIV 

testing for the diverse communities of Miami-Dade 

County, FL. 

3180 Biscayne Boulevard 

Miami, FL 33137 

800-443-3784 

305-573-3784 

www.villagesouth.com
66

The Watershed 

This is a group of recovery facilities that provides services 

including detoxification, residential rehabilitation, intensive 

outpatient treatment, prevention, and education. 

P.O. Box 7185 

Columbia, SC 29202 

800-861-1768 

www.thewatershed.com

Research

Addiction Technology Transfer Center 

National Office (ATTC)

The SAMHSA/CSAT-funded Addiction Technology Transfer Center network is comprised of 15 regional centers 

and a national office that serves the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 

Pacific Territories. The ATTC provides training, education, resource materials, and technical assistance to the 

addiction treatment workforce to advance the adoption of 

evidence-based practices. Following is a list of regional 

centers, the states they serve, and contact information.

National Office

University of Missouri – Kansas City 

5100 Rockhill Road 

Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 

816-235-6888

www.ATTCnetwork.org 

Caribbean Basin and Hispanic ATTC 

(serving Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)

Centro de Estudios en Adiccion Universidad Central 

del Caribe 

Call Box 60-327 

Bayamon, PR 00960-6032 

787-785-4211 

http://cbattc.uccaribe.edu

Central East ATTC (serving DE, D.C., MD, NJ)

8737 Colesville Road, Suite 300 

Silver Spring, MD 20910

240-645-1145

www.ceattc.org

Great Lakes ATTC (serving IL, OH, IN, MI)

Jane Addams College of Social Work 

University of Illinois at Chicago 

1640 West Roosevelt Road, Suite 511 

Chicago, IL 60608-1316 

312-996-1373 

www.glattc.org

Gulf Coast ATTC (serving TX, LA, NM)

University of Texas School of Social Work 

Center for Social Work Research

1717 West Sixth Street, Suite 335 

Austin, TX 78703 

512-232-0616 

www.utattc.net

Mid-America ATTC (serving AR, KS, MO, OK, NE)

University of Missouri-Kansas City

5100 Rockhill Road 

Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 

816-482-1100 

www.mattc.org 
67

Mid-Atlantic ATTC (serving VA, WV, KY, TN)

Virginia Commonwealth University 

P.O. Box 980469 

Richmond, VA 23298-0469 

804-828-9910 

www.mid-attc.org

Mountain West ATTC (serving NV, MT, WY, UT, CO, ID)

University of Nevada, Reno 

Mailstop 279 

Reno, NV 89557 

775-784-6265 

www.mwattc.org

New England ATTC (serving ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI)

Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies 

Brown University 

Box G-S121 

Providence, RI 02912

401-863-6486

www.attc-ne.org

Northeast ATTC (serving NY, PA)

Institute for Research, Education & Training in Addictions 

425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1710 

Pittsburgh, PA 15219 

866-246-5344 

www.neattc.org

Northwest Frontier ATTC 

(serving AK, WA, OR, HI, Pacific Islands)

810 D Street NE 

Salem, OR 97301 

503-373-1322 

www.nfattc.org

Pacific Southwest ATTC (serving CA, AZ)

1640 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 200 

Los Angeles, CA 90025 

310-267-5408 

www.psattc.org

Prairielands ATTC (IA, MN, ND, SD, WI)

University of Iowa 

1207 Westlawn 

Iowa City, IA 52242 

319-335-5368 

www.pattc.org

Southern Coast ATTC (serving FL, AL, MS) 

Florida Certification Board 

1715 South Gadsden Street 

Tallahassee, FL 32301 

805-222-6731 

www.scattc.org

Southeast ATTC (serving GA, NC, SC)

National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse 

School of Medicine 

720 Westview Drive SW 

Atlanta, GA 30310-1495 

404-752-1016 

www.sattc.org
68

Center for Science in the Public Interest: 

Alcohol Policies Project 

This center conducts policy development and technical research for the prevention of alcohol use disorders at local, 

state, and national levels. 

1875 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300 

Washington, D.C. 20009 

202-332-9110 

www.cspinet.org

Center for Substance Abuse Research 

This research center provides information on substance 

use disorders and their impact on individuals, families, 

and communities. 

4321 Hartwick Road, Suite 501 

College Park, MD 20740 

301-405-9770 

www.cesar.umd.edu

CompassPoint Addiction Foundation 

This foundation performs research about the causes and 

nature of substance use disorders. 

7711 East Greenway Street, Suite 211 

Scottsdale, AZ 85254 

480-368-2688 

www.addictionresearch.com

Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions 

This center provides education and training to health 

care workers who treat substance use disorders and to 

scientists who study them. 

101 Station Landing, Second Floor 

Medford, MA 02155 

781-306-8600 

www.divisiononaddictions.org

McGovern Family Foundation 

The McGovern Family Foundation conducts research on 

alcoholism and chemical dependence. 

Brighton Hospital 

12851 East Grand River Avenue 

Brighton, MI 48116 

800-523-8198 

810-225-2570 

www.stjohn.org/brighton

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at 

Columbia University (CASA) 

This center conducts research on the economic and social 

costs of substance use disorders. 

633 Third Avenue, 19th Floor 

New York, NY 10017 

212-841-5200 

www.casacolumbia.org

National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI)

Founded in 1967 and a National Institute on Drug Abuse 

grantee, NDRI is a nonprofit research and educational 

organization dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge 

in the areas of alcohol and drug abuse, treatment, and 

recovery; HIV, AIDS, and HCV; therapeutic communities; 

youth at risk; and related areas of public health, mental 

health, criminal justice, urban problems, prevention, 

and epidemiology. 

71 West 23rd Street, Eighth Floor

New York, NY 10010 

212-845-4400 

www.ndri.org/
69

Physicians and Lawyers for National Drug Policy 

For a full description, refer to Policy/Education.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation offers grants for 

training, education, and research. 

P.O. Box 2316 

College Road East and Route 1 

Princeton, NJ 08543-2316 

888-631-9989 

www.rwjf.org

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data 

Archive (SAMHDA) 

This data archive contains substance use disorder and 

mental health research data. 

ICPSR 

University of Michigan 

Institute for Social Research 

P.O. Box 1248 

Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248 

888-741-7242 

www.icpsr.umich.edu/SAMHDA/

The Urban Institute 

The Urban Institute conducts economic and social 

policy research on a range of issues, including substance 

use disorders, health insurance, and community-based 

health care. 

2100 M Street NW, Fifth Floor 

Washington, D.C. 20037 

202-833-7200 

www.urban.org

State and Local Resources

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of 

New York State 

This nonprofit membership association consists of 

coalitions, programs, and agencies throughout New 

York State that provide substance use disorder prevention, 

treatment, and research. 

1 Columbia Place 

Albany, NY 12207 

518-426-3122 

www.asapnys.org

American Council on Alcohol Problems 

This federation of 37 state affiliates seeks long-range 

solutions to alcohol-related problems using educational 

and legislative approaches. 

2376 Lakeside Drive 

Birmingham, AL 35244 

205-985-9062 

Associates in Counseling

This group provides counseling and psychiatric services in 

addition to substance use disorder groups.

2225 North University Drive

Pembroke Pines, FL 33024

954-962-6200

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 

This association develops programs and policies for State 

health departments to promote health and prevent disease. 

1275 K Street NW, Suite 800 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

202-371-9090 

www.astho.org
70

Californians for Drug-Free Youth (CADFY) 

Through community mobilization, CADFY co-develops and 

provides effective and comprehensive youth, adult, and 

family prevention/intervention/treatment and recovery 

community support services that are deployed through 

CADFY’s national outreach bureau: Community Alliances 

for Drug-Free Youth. 

1010 Second Avenue, Suite 1900

San Diego, CA 92101 

619-921-3118 

www.cadfy.org

Civic Entertainment Group

This marketing and promotions firm is located in New 

York City.

450 Park Avenue South, Floor 5

New York, NY 10016

212-564-0833

www.cegny.com

Coalition of Behavioral Health Services 

This collaboration of organizations and individuals in 

the Greater Houston metropolitan area is working to 

bridge the gap between substance use disorder

treatment resources, mental health resources, and 

residents in need of such services. 

303 Jackson Hill 

Houston, TX 77007 

713-942-4100, ext. 324 

www.cbhshouston.org

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) 

CADCA builds and strengthens the capacity of community 

coalitions to create safe, healthy, and drug-free communities. 

The organization supports its members with technical 

assistance and training, public policy, media strategies, 

conferences, and special events. 

625 Slaters Lane, Suite 300 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

800-54-CADCA (22322) 

www.cadca.org 

Connecticut Clearinghouse 

This organization serves as Connecticut’s resource 

center for information about alcohol, tobacco, drugs, 

and related issues. 

334 Farmington Avenue 

Plainville, CT 06062 

800-232-4424 

www.ctclearinghouse.org

Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) 

For a full description, refer to Recovery Support Programs 

under Connecticut. 

The El Paso Alliance 

For a full description, refer to Recovery Support Programs.

Grace Street/The Garage Recovery Center (GRC) 

This recovery, advocacy talk, and music radio show 

in Portland, ME, is committed to public advocacy. The 

Garage Recovery Center is a culturally relevant, youthcentered indoor skatepark, store, and coffee shop, as 

well as an art and prevention counseling center. 

47 Carriage House Lane 

Bath, ME 04530 

207-443-3504 

www.wmpg.org (GRC) 
71

Join Together 

This national resource for communities working to reduce 

substance use disorders offers a comprehensive Web site, 

daily news updates, publications, and technical assistance. 

1 Appleton Street, Fourth Floor 

Boston, MA 02116-5223 

617-437-1500 

www.jointogether.org

La Joya ISD 

This independent school district in La Joya, Texas, offers 

programs and counseling for substance abuse prevention, education, and intervention. La Joya ISD employs 

four counselors to conduct intervention and crisis 

counseling for students and to serve as a link to community resources for substance abuse counseling and/or 

inpatient treatment and gang counseling. 

201 East Expressway 83 

La Joya, TX 78560 

956-580-5000 

www.lajoyaisd.com

Massachusetts Organization for Addiction 

Recovery (MOAR)

This organization is a collective voice of people in 

recovery, families, and friends who are helping each

other educate the public about the value of living in recovery and the resources to support recovery. 

c/o Boston ASAP 

30 Winter Street, Third Floor 

Boston, MA 02108 

617-423-6627 

www.neaar.org/moar

Mental Help, Educate and Advocate

This Web site is a compilation of information gathered by 

members of the Massachusetts Department of Mental 

Health (DMH) Southwest Suburban Site Board. Its mission 

is to learn about, educate, and advocate for all people living 

with mental illness.

www.mentalhelpinfo.org/Home_Page.php

Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Community 

University of Miami/North South Center

This broadly based community organization is committed 

to reducing the problems of substance use disorders and 

directly related social issues by serving in the role as a 

community convener and facilitator. 

2140 South Dixie Highway, Suite 205 

Miami, FL 33133 

305-856-4077 

www.miamicoalition.org

Minnesota Supreme Court 

This court is the final guardian of the Minnesota state 

constitution that interprets and applies the U.S. Constitution. 

Office of the Commissioner 

25 Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard 

St. Paul, MN 55155 

651-296-6043 

www.courts.state.mn.us/?page=550

National Association of Counties 

The Association offers national legislative, research, 

technical, and public affairs assistance for U.S. counties. 

25 Massachusetts Avenue NW 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-393-6226 

www.naco.org
72

National Association of County Behavioral 

Health and Developmental Disability 

Directors (NACBHD) 

This nonprofit membership organization is comprised 

of county/local behavioral health authorities who plan 

and deliver mental health, developmental disability, and 

substance use disorder services, as well as the state 

associations that represent their interests. 

25 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-661-8816 

www.nacbhd.org

National Association of State Alcohol and Drug 

Abuse Directors (NASADAD) 

This association supports the development of 

effective prevention and treatment programs

throughout every state. 

808 17th Street NW, Suite 410 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

202-293-0090 

www.nasadad.org

National Association of State Medicaid 

Directors (NASMD) 

This is a bipartisan, professional, nonprofit organization 

of representatives of state Medicaid agencies, affiliated 

with the American Public Human Services Association 

(APHSA). The primary purposes of NASMD are to serve 

as a focal point of communication between the states 

and the federal government, and to provide an information 

network among the states on issues pertinent to the 

Medicaid program. 

810 First Street NE, Suite 500 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

202-682-0100 

www.nasmd.org

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 

The NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the 

legislators and staffs of the nation’s 50 states, its commonwealths, and territories. The NCSL provides research, 

technical assistance, and opportunities for policymakers 

to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. It 

has a significant focus on substance abuse treatment 

and prevention. 

444 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 515 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-624-3581 

www.ncsl.org

National Governors Association (NGA) 

Center for Best Practices

This bipartisan, nonprofit association represents the 

collective voice of the nation’s Governors. Its mission 

is to help shape and implement national policy and 

help Governors and their policy staff develop and 

implement innovative solutions to the challenges 

facing their states.

444 North Capitol Street, Suite 267 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-624-5300 

www.nga.org/center
73

OpenMindsOpenDoors

This initiative aims at ending discrimination against people 

with mental illness and is coordinated by the Mental Health 

Association in Pennsylvania. The campaign is centered 

on educating the public about mental illness and the legal 

rights of people living with a mental illness.

1414 North Cameron Street, Second Floor

Harrisburg, PA 17103 

866-578-3659 

www.openmindsopendoors.com

Partnership for a Drug-Free NC, Inc. 

The Partnership coordinates statewide resources and 

provides services to reduce the negative impact of 

substance abuse and mental illness on North Carolina’s 

individuals, families, and communities. 

665 West Fourth Street 

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

800-758-6077 

336-714-3399

www.drugfreenc.org

Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Drug 

and Alcohol Programs

The Bureau develops and implements a comprehensive 

health, education, and rehabilitation program for the 

prevention, intervention, treatment, and case management 

of drug and alcohol abuse and dependence.

Health and Welfare Building 

Seventh and Forster Streets 

Harrisburg, PA 17120 

717-783-8200 

www.health.state.pa.us/bdap

The RASE Project

The RASE Project is a nonprofit organization comprised 

entirely of staff and volunteers from the recovery 

community in south central Pennsylvania. The 

organization provides peer support services, recovery 

events, training and education, and supportive housing. 

1820 Linglestown Road, Suite 101

Harrisburg, PA 17110

717-232-8535

www.raseproject.org

Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, Inc. 

For a full description, refer to Faith-Based Organizations.

U.S. Conference of Mayors 

This forum provides mayors with the opportunity to share 

ideas and recommend policy positions.

1620 Eye Street NW, Suite 400 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

202-293-7330 

www.usmayors.org

Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources 

The Clearinghouse provides substance use prevention 

resources for youth, parents, schools, and communities. 

1552 University Avenue 

Madison, WI 53726-4085 

800-248-9244 

608-262-9157 

http://wch.uhs.wisc.edu
74

Workplace, Labor, and 

Insurance Resources

A Safe Haven Foundation 

The Foundation supports an individual as he 

or she enters into and sustains long-term

recovery from substance abuse. It works with 

each person to declare a personal “Continuum 

of Housing and Care.”

180 West Washington Street, Suite 1000

Chicago, IL 60602 

312-372-6707 

www.asafehaven.com

America in Recovery 

This organization offers a no-charge hiring Web site that 

will help employers and potential employees who are in 

recovery find each other. 

P.O. Box 38589

Houston, TX 77238-8589 

www.americainrecovery.org

American Association of Health Plans 

This is a health plan association representing more 

than 1,000 health plans throughout the country. It 

provides information on managed care organization 

educational programs, health care delivery, research, 

services, and products. 

601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

South Building, Suite 500 

Washington, D.C. 20004 

202-778-3200 

www.ahip.org

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) 

The AFGE is the largest federal employee union representing 

600,000 federal and Washington, D.C., government workers 

nationwide and overseas. Workers in virtually all functions 

of government at every federal agency depend upon AFGE 

for legal representation, legislative advocacy, technical 

expertise, and informational services. 

80 F Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20001 

202-737-8700 

www.afge.org

American Federation of State, County and Municipal 

Employees (AFSCME) 

AFSCME is the nation’s largest and fastest-growing public 

service employees’ union. It has 1.4 million members and 

is made up of people who serve the public every day in all 

areas of government, health, education, and other services, 

both public and private.

1625 L Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20036-5687

202-429-1145 

www.afscme.org

The Anti Drug@Work 

TheAntiDrug.com serves as a drug prevention information 

center and a supportive community for parents to interact 

and learn from each other. 

405 Lexington Avenue, 16th Floor 

New York, NY 10174 

800-729-6686 

www.theantidrug.com/atwork
75

Drug Free Business Houston/Drug Free Business Texas 

A division of The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston, 

this organization helps companies increase safety and 

productivity through the establishment of comprehensive 

drug-free workplace programs. 

303 Jackson Hill 

Houston, TX 77007 

713-942-4100, ext. 325 

www.council-houston.org/Workplace_Services/Drug_Free_

Business_Houston.aqf

Employee Assistance Professionals Association 

This membership organization offers resources to employee 

assistance professionals. 

4350 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 410 

Arlington, VA 22203 

703-387-1000 

www.eapassn.org

Employee Assistance Society of North America 

This society provides information for EAP professionals 

and organizations. 

2001 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1004 

Arlington, VA 22202-3617 

703-416-0060 

www.easna.org

Employee Health Programs 

This group, a subsidiary of First Advantage Corporation, 

designs and manages drug-free workplace programs, 

employee assistance programs, and other services that 

benefit employers and employees. 

P.O. Box 2430 

Rockville, MD 20827 

800-275-7051 

www.ehp.com

Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP) 

The FSPHP evolved from initiatives taken by the 

American Medical Association (AMA) and individual 

state physician health programs, focusing upon 

rehabilitation and monitoring of physicians with

psychoactive substance use disorders as well as 

mental and physical illness. One of its goals is to 

promote the early identification, treatment, 

documentation, and monitoring of the ongoing 

recovery of physicians prior to the illness impacting 

the care rendered to patients. 

515 North State Street 

Chicago, IL 60610 

312-464-4574 

www.fsphp.org

The Green Dot 

This professional services and management consulting 

firm provides a full range of administrative, clinical, 

and fiscal services to public and private sector clients 

worldwide focused on health promotion and disease 

prevention. The Green Dot also provides some pro 

bono services, including promoting the acquisition 

and broadcast of public service announcements on 

treatment and prevention, and providing free 

consultations to community organizations.

3314-B South Wakefield Street 

Arlington, VA 22206-1715 

703-931-2356 
76

Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace 

This institute emphasizes the need for drug-free workplace 

programs and educates employers and the public at large 

about the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees with regard to drug use disorders and the workplace. 

8614 Westwood Center Drive, Suite 950 

Vienna, VA 22182 

703-288-4300 

www.drugfreeworkplace.org

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

The IBEW represents approximately 750,000 members 

who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, 

construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, 

manufacturing, railroads, and government.

900 Seventh Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20001

202-833-7000 

www.ibew.org

Labor Assistance Professionals (LAP) 

LAP is composed of members of trade and industrial 

unions who are involved in the provision or administration 

of member assistance programs with special emphasis on 

issues of chemical abuse or dependency. LAP is dedicated 

to obtaining comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment 

and all other mental health services for its members at a 

reasonable and fair price. 

13 Bolton Gardens 

Bronxville, NY 10708 

914-961-5867 

www.wapeap.com/lap/

Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North 

America (LHSFNA) 

The LHSFNA exists to enhance jobsite safety and health, 

improve the competitiveness of signatory employers of the 

Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA), 

and strengthen LIUNA. 

905 16th Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

202-628-5465 

www.lhsfna.org

Lawyers Assistance Program – D.C. Bar

For a full description, refer to Mutual Support Groups.

Lawyers Helping Lawyers 

This organization provides confidential, non-disciplinary help 

for lawyers, judges, law students, and their family members 

with substance abuse or mental health problems. Assistance 

may take many forms, such as assessment, professional 

consultation, information about and referral to treatment resources, informal and formal interventions, and monitoring. 

700 East Main Street, Suite 1501 

Richmond, VA 23219 

877-545-4682 (Toll-Free in VA for confidential assistance) 

804-644-3212 

www.valhl.org

National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance 

The Alliance offers drug-free workplace program 

assistance and education. 

6868 South Plumer Avenue 

Tucson, AZ 85706 

877-817-6809 

www.ndfwa.org
77

National Safety Council

The National Safety Council is a nonprofit public 

service organization dedicated to educating and 

influencing people to prevent accidental injuries 

and deaths.

1121 Spring Lake Drive

Itasca, IL 60143-3201

630-285-1121

www.nsc.org

Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services 

National Association on Drug Abuse Problems, Inc. 

A private nonprofit organization founded by business 

and labor leaders, this office provides programs that 

assist at-risk and underserved individuals to become

independent, self-sufficient, and employed. 

355 Lexington Avenue, Second Floor 

New York, NY 10017 

212-986-1170 

www.nadap.org

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 

is the world’s largest association devoted to human 

resource management. 

1800 Duke Street 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

800-283-7476 

www.shrm.org

U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides resources 

for U.S. businesses, including information on EAPs and 

drug testing. 

1615 H Street NW 

Washington, D.C. 20062-2000 

202-659-6000 

www.uschamber.com

Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) 

The Council, AFL-CIO, represents and provides 

services for hundreds of local unions and trade 

councils throughout Washington State. The WSLC’s 

core programs are legislative advocacy, political action, 

communications and media relations, and assistance 

with organizing campaigns. 

314 First Avenue West

Seattle, WA 98119

800-542-0904 

www.wslc.org

Youth Programs

Augsburg College’s StepUP Program

This institution conducts research and helps advance the 

field of recovery. Its StepUP program provides ongoing 

support to students in recovery who are willing and able 

to progress toward an academic degree through separate 

chemical-free housing, weekly individual support meetings, 

and community activities. 

2211 Riverside Avenue 

Minneapolis, MN 55454 

612-330-1000 

www.augsburg.edu
78

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America 

This youth mentoring organization helps at-risk youth 

overcome the many challenges they face. 

230 North 13th Street 

Philadelphia, PA 19107 

215-567-7000 

www.bbbsa.org

Boy Scouts of America 

The Boy Scouts of America offers character development 

programs and leadership training for boys. 

National Office 

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane 

Irving, TX 75015 

972-580-2000 

www.scouting.org

Boys and Girls Clubs of America 

This organization provides opportunities for recreation 

and companionship for children at home with no adult 

care or supervision. 

1230 West Peachtree Street NW 

Atlanta, GA 30309 

404-487-5700 

www.bgca.org

Californians for Drug Free Youth, Inc. 

For a full description, refer to State and Local Resources. 

Camp Fire USA

This youth organization offers services in areas such 

as youth leadership, self-reliance, after-school groups, 

camping, and environmental education. 

1100 Walnut Street, Suite 1900 

Kansas City, MO 64112-1278 

816-285-2010 

www.campfireusa.org

D.A.R.E

D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons 

that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade 

how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and 

violence-free lives.

D.A.R.E. America 

9800 La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 401 

Inglewood, CA 90301

800-223-DARE

www.dare.org 

Girl Scouts of the USA 

The Girl Scouts are dedicated to helping all girls everywhere 

build character and gain skills for success in the real world. 

420 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor 

New York, NY 10018-2798 

800-GSUSA4U (800-478-7248) 

www.girlscouts.org

Junior Achievement 

This organization educates and inspires young 

people to value free enterprise, business, 

and economics. 

1 Education Way 

Colorado Springs, CO 80906 

719-540-8000 

www.ja.org
79

MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership 

This group is widely acknowledged as the nation’s 

premier advocate and resource for the expansion 

of mentoring initiatives nationwide. MENTOR leverages 

resources and provides the support and tools that 

mentoring organizations need to effectively serve 

young people in their communities. 

1600 Duke Street, Suite 300 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

703-224-2200 

www.mentoring.org

National Student Assistance Association (NSAA) 

The NSAA, the national membership organization 

of student assistance professionals, offers early 

intervention and training on alcohol- and drug-related 

problems in thousands of schools across the country. 

4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 106-118 

Washington, D.C. 20016 

800-257-6310 

www.nasap.org

Parents 4 A Change

This Web site works to raise awareness about the use of 

opiates and heroin among teenagers.

http://parents4achange.com 

Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) 

For more than 20 years, PDFA has united communications 

professionals, scientists, and parents to reduce illicit drug 

use among teens. The group has recently introduced 

user-friendly resources for parents and caregivers including TimeToTalk.org, an online parent-to-parent community 

and resource center.

212-922-1560 

www.drugfree.org and www.timetotalk.org 

Teen Challenge International 

This network of 191 centers throughout the United 

States provides youth, adults, and families with 

effective and comprehensive faith-based solutions 

to life-controlling alcohol and drug problems. The 

Teen Challenge Training Center is an eight-month 

comprehensive residential treatment program that 

deals with the most acute cases of addiction, offered 

at minimal cost to the participant. 

P.O. Box 1015

Springfield, MO 65801 

417-862-6969 

www.teenchallengeusa.com

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA), 4-H 

For a full description, refer to Schools/Youth under 

Federal Agencies. 

U-Turn of SAARA, Inc.

U-Turn is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged 

people, especially youth, to improve their lives, 

thus enabling them to improve their communities 

and ultimately society.

7969 Ashton Avenue

Manassas, VA 20109

703-792-5928

www.saara.org

RESOURCES

1

Single-State Agency (SSA) Directory

Each U.S. state and territory offers information and support regarding substance use disorders through the local 

government offices listed below. The following facilities are licensed, certified, or otherwise approved for inclusion 

by their state’s substance use treatment authority. Their role is to plan, carry out, and evaluate substance use disorder 

prevention and treatment services provided to individuals and families. During disasters, these offices can play a critical 

role in directing resources where they are most needed. Specifically, they oversee treatment centers and counselors in 

their respective states and, in many cases, supply funding to providers, track state trends, and ensure that residents 

receive the services to which they are entitled.

ALABAMA

J. Kent Hunt

Associate Commissioner for Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse Services Division

Alabama Department of Mental Health and

Mental Retardation

RSA Union Building

100 North Union Street

Montgomery, AL 36130-1410

TEL: 334-242-3953

FAX: 334-242-0759

Kent.Hunt@MH.alabama.gov

ALASKA

Melissa Witzler-Stone 

Director

Division of Behavioral Health 

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services 

3601 C Street, Suite 934

Anchorage, AK 99503

TEL: 907-269-3410

FAX: 907-465-5864

melissa_stone@health.state.ak.us

www.hss.state.ak.us/dbh/

ARIZONA

Rodgers M. Wilson, M.D.

Medical Director

Division of Behavioral Health Services 

Arizona Department of Health Services 

150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 200 

Phoenix, AZ 85007 

TEL: 602-364-1947

FAX: 602-542-1082

wilsonr@azdhs.gov

www.azdhs.gov/bhs/

ARKANSAS 

Joe M. Hill 

Director 

Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention 

Division of Behavioral Health Services 

Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services

4313 West Markham

Third Floor Administration

Little Rock, AR 72205 

TEL: 501-686-9871 

FAX: 501-686-9035 

Joe.Hill@arkansas.gov

www.arkansas.gov/dhhs/dmhs/

Single-state agency directory

1
2

RESOURCES

CALIFORNIA

Renee Zito, LMSU, CASAC 

Director

California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs 

1700 K Street, Fifth Floor 

Executive Office 

Sacramento, CA 95814-4037 

TEL: 916-445-1943 

FAX: 916-324-7338 

rzito@adp.ca.gov

www.adp.cahwnet.gov/

COLORADO

Janet Wood, M.B.A., M.Ed.

Director

Behavioral Health Services 

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division 

Colorado Department of Human Services 

4055 South Lowell Boulevard 

Denver, CO 80236-3120 

TEL: 303-866-7486 

FAX: 303-866-7428 

janet.wood@state.co.us

www.cdhs.state.co.us/adad/

CONNECTICUT

Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., Ph.D. 

Commissioner

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services 

P.O. Box 341431 

Hartford, CT 06134 

TEL: 860-418-6700 

FAX: 860-418-6691 

Overnight mail address:

410 Capitol Avenue, MS #14 COM 

Hartford, CT 06134 

thomas.kirk@po.state.ct.us

www.dmhas.state.ct.us/

DELAWARE

Renata Henry, M.Ed.

Director

Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Delaware Health and Social Services 

1901 North DuPont Highway, Main Building 

DHHS Campus, Room 192 

New Castle, DE 19720 

TEL: 302-255-9426 

FAX: 302-255-4428 

rehenry@state.de.us

www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsamh/index.html

FLORIDA

Stephenie W. Colston, M.A. 

Director

Substance Abuse Program Office 

Department of Children and Families 

1317 Winewood Boulevard 

Building Six, Room 300 

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700 

TEL: 850-921-2495

FAX: 850-487-2627 

stephenie_colston@dcf.state.fl.us

www.dcf.state.fl.us/mentalhealth/sa/
3

GEORGIA

Onaje M. Salim, LPC, MAC, CCS 

Director

Office of Addictive Diseases

Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities 

and Addictive Diseases 

Georgia Department of Human Resources

2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 22-293

Atlanta, GA 30303-3171 

TEL: 404-657-2331

FAX: 404-657-2256 

omsalim@dhr.ga.gov

http://mhddad.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/

DHR-MHDDAD/

HAWAII

Keith Y. Yamamoto 

Chief

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division

Behavioral Health Administration

Hawaii State Department of Health 

Kakuhihewa Building

601 Kamokila Boulevard, Room 360 

Kapolei, HI 96707 

TEL: 808-692-7506 

FAX: 808-692-7521 

keith.yamamoto@doh.hawaii.gov

www.hawaii.gov/health/substance-abuse/

IDAHO

Bethany Gadzinski 

Substance Abuse Program Manager

Division of Behavioral Health 

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare 

450 West State Street, Fifth Floor 

P.O. Box 83720 

Boise, ID 83720

TEL: 208-334-5756 

FAX: 208-332-7305

gadzinsb@idhw.state.id.us

www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/

ILLINOIS

Theodora Binion-Taylor, Th.D., M.Div., CADC

Associate Director

Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse 

Illinois Department of Human Services

James R. Thompson Center 

100 West Randolph Street, Suite 5-600 

Chicago, IL 60601 

TEL: 312-814-2300 

FAX: 312-814-2419 

DHSASA4@dhs.state.il.us

www.dhs.state.il.us/oasa/

INDIANA

John Viernes 

Deputy Director

Office of Addiction and Emergency Preparedness 

Division of Mental Health and Addiction 

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration 

402 West Washington Street 

Indiana Government Building, Room W353 

Indianapolis, IN 46204 

TEL: 317-232-7913 

FAX: 317-233-3472 

jviernes@fssa.state.in.us

www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/index.htm
4

RESOURCES

IOWA

Kathy Stone, M.B.A., LMSW 

Director

Division of Behavioral Health and Professional Licensure 

Iowa Department of Public Health 

321 East 12th Street 

Lucas State Office Building, Fourth Floor 

Des Moines, IA 50319-0075 

TEL: 515-281-8021 

FAX: 515-281-4417 

kstone@idph.state.ia.us

www.idph.state.us/bh/default.asp

KANSAS

David A. Dickinson, M.A. 

Director

Addiction and Prevention Services 

Divison of Health Care Policy 

Kansas Department of Social and 

Rehabilitation Services

Docking State Office Building 

Ninth Floor SE

915 SW Harrison Street 

Topeka, KS 66612-1570

TEL: 785-368-6245 

FAX: 785-296-5507 

ddickinson@srs.ks.gov

www.srskansas.org/

KENTUCKY

Donna Hillman 

Director

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse 

Kentucky Department of Mental Health

and Mental Retardation 

100 Fair Oaks Lane, 4E-D 

Frankfort, KY 40601-0001 

TEL: 502-564-4456 

FAX: 502-564-9010 

donna.hillman@ky.gov

http://mhmr.ky.gov/mhsas/default.asp?sub2/ sub90

LOUISIANA

Michael Duffy, B.S.N., RN, CD

Assistant Secretary

Office for Addictive Disorders

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

The Bienville Building

P.O. Box 2790, Bin #18 

Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2790 

TEL: 225-342-6717 

FAX: 225-342-3875 

Overnight mail address:

628 North Fourth Street, Fourth Floor 

Baton Rouge, LA 70802 

mduffy@dhh.la.gov

www.dhh.state.la.us/offices/?ID=23
5

MAINE

Guy Cousins 

Acting Director

Office of Substance Abuse 

Maine Department of Health and Human Services

AMHI Complex 

Marquardt Building, Third Floor 

11 State House Station 

Augusta, ME 04333-0111 

TEL: 207-287-2595/6330

FAX: 207-287-4334

guy.cousins@maine.gov

www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/

MARYLAND

Peter F. Luongo, Ph.D.

Director

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration 

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

55 Wade Avenue 

Catonsville, MD 21228 

TEL: 410-402-8610 

FAX: 410-402-8601 

pluongo@dhmh.state.md.us

http://maryland-adaa.org/

MASSACHUSETTS

Michael Botticelli 

Assistant Commissioner

Bureau of Substance Abuse Services 

Massachusetts Department of Public Health 

250 Washington Street, Third Floor 

Boston, MA 02108 

TEL: 617-624-5151 

FAX: 617-624-5185 

michael.botticelli@state.ma.us

www.mass.gov/dph/bsas/bsas.htm

MICHIGAN

Donald L. Allen, Jr., J.D. 

Director

Office of Drug Control Policy

Michigan Department of Community Health 

Lewis Cass Building, Fifth Floor 

Lansing, MI 48913

TEL: 517-373-4700/4724 

FAX: 517-241-2199 

Overnight mail address:

320 South Walnut Street 

Lansing, MI 48933 

AllenDon@michigan.gov

www.michigan.gov/odcp

MINNESOTA

Carol Falkowski

Director

Chemical Health Division 

Minnesota Department of Human Services 

P.O. Box 94977 

St. Paul, MN 55164-0977 

TEL: 651-431-2457 

FAX: 651-431-7449 

Overnight mail address:

444 Lafayette Road North 

St. Paul, MN 55155-3823 

carol.falkowski@state.mn.us

www.dhs.state.mn.us
6

RESOURCES

MISSISSIPPI

Herbert L. Loving 

Director

Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Mississippi Department of Mental Health 

1101 Robert E. Lee Building 

239 North Lamar Street 

Jackson, MS 39201 

TEL: 601-359-6220 

FAX: 601-359-6295 

herb.loving@dmh.state.ms.us

www.dmh.state.ms.us/

MISSOURI

Mark G. Stringer 

Director

Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse 

Missouri Department of Mental Health 

1706 East Elm Street

P.O. Box 687 

Jefferson City, MO 65102

TEL: 573-751-4942

FAX: 573-751-7814

mark.stringer@dmh.mo.gov

www.dmh.missouri.gov/ada/adaindex.htm

MONTANA

Joan Cassidy 

Chief

Chemical Dependency Bureau 

Addictive and Mental Disorders Division 

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

P.O. Box 202905 

Helena, MT 59620-2905 

TEL: 406-444-6981 

FAX: 406-444-4435 

Overnight mail address:

555 Fuller Avenue 

Helena, MT 59601 

jcassidy@mt.gov

www.dphhs.mt.gov/amdd/

NEBRASKA

Scot Adams, Ph.D. 

Director

Division of Behavioral Health

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

P.O. Box 98925 

Nebraska State Office Building

301 Centennial Mall 

Lincoln, NE 68509-8925

TEL: 402-471-8553 

FAX: 402-471-9449 

scot.adams@dhhs.ne.gov

www.hhss.ne.gov/sua/suaindex.htm

NEVADA

Deborah A. McBride, M.B.A.

Agency Director

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency

Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services 

4126 Technology Way, Second Floor 

Carson City, NV 89706 

TEL: 775-684-4190 

FAX: 775-684-4185 

dmcbride@sapta.nv.gov

http://health2k.state.nv.us/

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Joseph Harding 

Director

Office of Alcohol and Drug Policy 

New Hampshire Department of Health and 

Human Services 

Main Building 

105 Pleasant Street, Third Floor North

Concord, NH 03301 

TEL: 603-271-6105/6100 

FAX: 603-271-6116 

jharding@dhhs.state.nh.us

www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/ATOD/default.htm
7

NEW JERSEY 

Raquel Mazon-Jeffers, M.Ph. 

Director

Division of Addiction Services 

New Jersey Department of Human Services 

P.O. Box 362 

Trenton, NJ 08625 

TEL: 609-292-5760 

FAX: 609-292-3816 

Overnight mail address:

120 South Stockton Street, Third Floor

Trenton, NJ 08611

raquel.jeffers@dhs.state.nj.us

www.state.nj.us/humanservices/das/about%20DAS.htm

NEW MEXICO

Linda Roebuck, M.S.S.W.

Chief Executive Officer

Behavioral Health Collaborative 

New Mexico Human Services Department 

2055 South Pacheco, Suite 500 

Santa Fe, NM 87504

TEL: 505-476-7108 

FAX: 505-476-7183 

linda.roebuck@state.nm.us

www.bhd.state.nm.us/

NEW YORK

Karen Carpenter-Palumbo 

Commissioner

New York State Office of Alcoholism 

and Substance Abuse Services 

1450 Western Avenue 

Albany, NY 12203-3526 

TEL: 518-457-1758 

FAX: 518-457-5474 

commissioner@oasas.state.ny.us

www.oasas.state.ny.us/index.cfm

NORTH CAROLINA

Flo Stein, M.P.H. 

Chief

Community Policy Management 

Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities 

and Substance Abuse

North Carolina Department of Health and 

Human Services

3007 Mail Service Center 

Raleigh, NC 27699-3007 

TEL: 919-733-4670 

FAX: 919-733-9455 

flo.stein@ncmail.net

www.ncdhhs.gov/mhddsas/

NORTH DAKOTA

Joanne Hoesel 

Division of Mental Health 

and Substance Abuse Services

North Dakota Department of Human Services

1237 West Divide Avenue, Suite 1C

Bismarck, ND 58501-1208 

TEL: 701-328-8924 

FAX: 701-328-8969 

sohoej@state.nd.us

www.nd.gov/dhs/services/mentalhealth/

OHIO

Angela Correliu, M.S.W.

Director

Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug 

Addiction Services 

280 North High Street 

Two Nationwide Plaza, 12th Floor 

Columbus, OH 43215-2537 

TEL: 614-752-8359 or 466-3445

FAX: 614-752-8645

cornelius@ada.ohio.gov

www.odadas.state.oh.us
8

RESOURCES

OKLAHOMA

Terri White, M.S.W.

Commissioner

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health 

and Substance Abuse Services

1200 NE 13th Street

P.O. Box 53277 

Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3277 

TEL: 405-522-3877 

FAX: 405-522-0637 

Overnight mail address:

1200 NE 13th Street 

Oklahoma City, OK 73117 

tlwhite@odmhsas.org

www.odmhsas.org/

OREGON

Robert E. Nikkel, M.S.W. 

Assistant Director

Addiction and Mental Health Division 

Oregon Department of Human Services

500 Summer Street NE, E-86 

Salem, OR 97301-1118 

TEL: 503-945-5763 

FAX: 503-378-8467 

robert.e.nikkel@state.or.us

www.oregon.gov/DHS/addiction/index.shtml

PENNSYLVANIA

Robin L. Rothermel

Acting Director

Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs 

Pennsylvania Department of Health 

02 Klein Plaza, Suite B 

Harrisburg, PA 17104 

TEL: 717-787-2712

FAX: 717-787-6285 

rrothermel@state.pa.us

www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/site/default.asp

RHODE ISLAND

Charles Williams 

Acting Director

Division of Behavioral Healthcare Services

Department of Mental Health, Retardation 

and Hospitals

14 Harrington Road, Barry Hall 

Cranston, RI 02920 

TEL: 401-462-0759 

FAX: 401-462-6078 

cwilliams@mhrh.ri.gov

www.mhrh.state.ri.us/SA/

SOUTH CAROLINA 

W. Lee Catoe, M.Ed.

Director

South Carolina Department of Alcohol

and Other Drug Abuse Services

101 Executive Center Drive, Suite 215 

Columbia, SC 29210 

TEL: 803-896-5555 

FAX: 803-896-5557 

leecatoe@daodas.state.sc.us

www.daodas.state.sc.us/
9

SOUTH DAKOTA

Gilbert Sudbeck, M.S.W. 

Director

Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse 

South Dakota Department of Human Services 

E Highway 34, Hillsview Properties Plaza 

c/o 500 East Capitol Avenue 

Pierre, SD 57501-5070 

TEL: 605-773-3123/5990 

FAX: 605-773-7076 

gib.sudbeck@state.sd.us

http://dhs.sd.gov/ada/

TENNESSEE

Virginia Trotter Betts, MSN, JD, RN, FAAN

Commissioner

Tennessee Department of Mental Health

and Developmental Disabilities 

425 Fifth Avenue North, First Floor 

Cordell Hull Building

Nashville, TN 37243 

TEL: 615-741-1921 

FAX: 615-532-2419 

virginiatrotter.betts@state.tn.us

www.state.tn.us/mental/index.html

TEXAS

Joe Vesowate 

Assistant Commissioner

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services 

Texas Department of State Health Services 

909 West 45th Street, MC: 2053 

Austin, TX 78751 

TEL: 512-206-5797 

FAX: 512-206-5718 

joe.vesowate@dshs.state.tx.us

www.dshs.state.tx.us/sa/default.shtm

UTAH

Mark I. Payne, L.C.S.W. 

Director

Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Utah Department of Human Services 

120 North 200 West, Room 209 

Salt Lake City, UT 84103 

TEL: 801-538-3939 

FAX: 801-538-9892 

mpayne@utah.gov

www.dsamh.utah.gov/

VERMONT

Barbara Cimaglio 

Deputy Commissioner

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs

Vermont Department of Health 

P.O. Box 70 

Burlington, VT 05402-0070 

TEL: 802-951-1258 

FAX: 802-951-1275 

bcimagl@vdh.state.vt.us

http://healthvermont.gov/adap/adap.aspx

VIRGINIA

Kenneth Batten 

Director

Office of Substance Abuse Services 

Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental 

Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services

1220 Bank Street, Eighth Floor

P.O. Box 1797

Richmond, VA 23219-1797

TEL: 804-786-3906 

FAX: 804-371-6638 

ken.batten@co.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov

www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov/ 
10

RESOURCES

WASHINGTON

Doug Allen 

Director

Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse 

Washington Department of Social 

and Health Services 

P.O. Box 45330 

Olympia, WA 98504-5330 

TEL: 360-725-3700 

FAX: 360-438-8078 

Overnight mail address:

612 Woodland Square Loop SE, Building C 

Lacey, WA 98503 

AllenDE@dshs.wa.gov

www1.dshs.wa.gov/dasa/ 

WEST VIRGINIA

Steve Mason 

Director

Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse 

Office of Behavioral Health Services 

Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities 

West Virginia Department of Health and 

Human Services

350 Capitol Street, Room 350 

Charleston, WV 25301-3702 

TEL: 304-558-2276 

FAX: 304-558-1008 

stevemason@wvdhhr.org

www.wvdhhr.org/bhhf/ada.asp

WISCONSIN

John Easterday, Ph.D. 

Director

Associate Administrator for Mental Health and 

Substance Abuse Services

Division of Disability and Elder Services

Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services 

1 West Wilson Street

P.O. Box 7850 

Madison, WI 53708-7850 

TEL: 608-267-9391 

FAX: 608-266-1533 

EasteJT@dhfs.state.wi.us

http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/substabuse/index.htm

WYOMING

Roger McDaniel, J.D., M.Div. 

Deputy Director

Division of Mental Health and Substance 

Abuse Services

Wyoming Department of Health

6101 Yellowstone Road, Suite 220 

Cheyenne, WY 82002 

TEL: 307-777-6494 

FAX: 307-777-5849 

rmcdan@state.wy.us

http://wdh.state.wy.us/sad/index.asp

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Tori Fernandez Whitney

Senior Deputy Director

Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration 

District of Columbia Department of Health

1300 First Street NE, Suite 319

Washington, D.C. 20002-3314 

TEL: 202-727-8941 

FAX: 202-727-0092 

tori.whitney@dc.gov

http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh
11

PUERTO RICO 

Jose Galarza-Arbona, M.D., M.P.H. 

Administrator

Puerto Rico Mental Health and Anti-Addiction 

Services Administration 

P.O. Box 21414 

San Juan, PR 00928-1414 

TEL: 787-764-3795 

FAX: 787-274-7604 

Overnight mail address:

Avenida Barbosa #414 

Hato Rey, PR 00918 

jgalarza@assmca.gobierno.pr

VIRGIN ISLANDS

Ray Fonesca

Acting Director

Division of Mental Health, Alcoholism & Drug 

Dependency Services

Virgin Islands Department of Health 

3500 Estate Richmond 

Christiansted, St. Croix, VI 00820 

TEL: 340-774-0117

FAX: 340-777-4001

ray.fonesca@usv-doh.org

RED LAKE BAND OF THE CHIPPEWA

Floyd P. Jourdain, Jr. 

Chairperson, Tribal Council

Red Lake Band of the Chippewa Indians

P.O. Box 574 

Red Lake, MN 56671 

TEL: 218-679-3341 

FAX: 218-679-3378 

Overnight mail address:

Highway #1 East 

Tribal Government Center 

Red Lake, MN 56671 

floydjourdain2@hotmail.com

AMERICAN SAMOA 

I’aulualo Faafetai Talia 

Director

Department of Human and Social Services 

P.O. Box 997534 

997534 Utulei Street 

Pago Pago, AS 96799 

TEL: 684-633-7506 

FAX: 684-633-7449 

talia@samoatelco.com

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA

Vita A. Skilling

Secretary

Department of Health, Education 

and Social Affairs 

Federated States of Micronesia 

P.O. Box PS 70 

Palikir, Pohnpei Micronesia 96941 

TEL: 691-320-2619 

FAX: 691-320-5263 

Vskilling@fsmhealth.fm

GUAM

Andrea M. Leitheiser, Ph.D. 

Acting Director

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse 

Government of Guam 

790 Governor Carlos G. Camacho Road 

Tamuning, GU 96913 

TEL: 671-647-5330 

FAX: 671-649-6948 

directors.office@mail.dmhsa.guam.gov
12

RESOURCES

COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN 

MARIANA ISLANDS

Joseph Kevin Villagomez, M.A.

Secretary of Health

Department of Public Health 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

P.O. Box 500409 CK 

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 96950 

TEL: 670-236-8201 

FAX: 670-234-8930 

jkvsaipan@aol.com

REPUBLIC OF PALAU

Vincent M. Yano, M.D. 

Minister of Health

Ministry of Health 

P.O. Box 6027, Koror 

Palau, PW 96940 

TEL: 680-488-2813 

FAX: 680-488-1211 

moh@palau-health.net

REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

Jefferson B. Barton, M.A. 

Ministry of Finance

Office of the SSA Director 

Republic of the Marshall Islands 

Box D 

Second Floor Capital Building, Amata

Kabua Avenue (overnight)

Majuro, MH 96960 

TEL: 011-692-625-8311/8320 

FAX: 011-692-625-3607 

secfin@ntamar.net
RESOURCES

1

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month 

Customer Satisfaction Form

We would like to know about your National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) efforts 

this September and how useful you found this toolkit for planning your activities. This information will be used in the 

development of future outreach materials distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. 

Your response is voluntary, but your input is essential so that the Recovery Month materials we provide in future years 

will continue to meet your needs. Please complete this form and return it by mail or fax to the address provided on the 

next page by October 31, 2008. We encourage you to include photographs and/or samples of supporting materials 

from your Recovery Month activities.

Customer satisfaction form

1

Name:

Title:

Organization name & mailing address: Phone & fax numbers:

Organization Web site address: E-mail address:

Please provide a brief description of your event or major activities. (Please attach additional sheets, if necessary.)

Did you receive media coverage? If yes, who covered your event? (Please attach a brief summary or copies of articles.)
2

RESOURCES

Please tell us which kit materials listed below you used and provide suggestions for improving them.

Used It? (Y/N) How Useful Was It? Comments/Suggestions

Building Community Coalitions

Planning Partners List

Recovery Month Resources

Single-State Agency Directory

Promotional Event Ideas and Publicity Tips

Media Tips

Media Advisory

Press Release

Op-Ed

Official Proclamations

Live-Read Radio Public Service 

Announcement Scripts

Letterhead

Logo Sheet

An Overview: Real People, Real Recovery

Commonly Misused Substances

A Guide to Treatment: How to Help People 

With Substance Use Disorders

Join the Voices for Recovery

Treatment Providers and the Recovery 

Community: People Who Change Lives

Families: The Unsung Heroes of Recovery

Faith-Based Organizations: How Faith Leaders 

Can Help People on a Path of Recovery

Employers: How the Workforce Can Foster 

a Recovery Environment

Civil Service Workers: How Local and State 

Government and Justice Personnel Can Make 

a Difference

 

Please send your response to:

 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs

1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor

Rockville, MD 20857

Fax: 240-276-2710 (Attn: Michele Monroe)

Thank you for sharing your Recovery Month story with us.

NOTE: Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response. Send comments regarding this 

burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: SAMHSA Reports 

Clearance Officer, Paperwork Reduction Project (0930-0197); Room 5-1039, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Second Floor, Rockville, MD 20857. An 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently 

valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this project is 0930-0197 and the expiration date is 1/31/2011.