February 3, 2017  | 

Organization Highlight: The National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse

Ending addiction changes everything.

This is a theme at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, a national nonprofit research and policy organization with a mission to improve the lives of people impacted by substance use and addiction. The organization is making strides to address substance use and addiction through the intersection of science, policy, and practice.

Founded in 1992 by former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Joseph A. Califano, Jr., its team of interdisciplinary experts collaborates to address the following areas:

Current behavioral health research projects include evaluating:

1. screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment in hospital emergency rooms and primary care
2. a home visiting program to support pregnant women and new mothers
3. family-focused treatments for teen substance abuse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
4. health homes for severely impaired patients; 5) tobacco product use on college campuses

Policy resources include a recently launched policy guide and an interactive map on state spending that shows the amount of money spent on prevention and treatment and the amount of money required to pay for the consequences of substance use that was not prevented or treated. This site offers comprehensive resources for multiple audiences including people impacted by addiction, healthcare providers, and policymakers.

Visit The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse on their website, Facebook, and Twitter for more information.