Equal treatment, Methamphetamine Critical Issues for Addiction Services Professionals

For Immediate Release - Washington, DC

Donovan Kuehn
703-741-7686, ext. 125
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NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals will be working with legislators and their staffs on March 22-23, 2006 to ensure that addiction prevention, intervention and treatment are considered in the nation's agenda. NAADAC's Advocacy Action Day focused on legislative issues affecting the addiction professional. NAADAC members, and NAADAC's partners in the addiction health services, plan to discuss the federal government's workforce development agenda, parity for addiction and other health related insurance, plans to secure adequate and consistent funding, changes to the Medicaid program and the methamphetamine epidemic.

NAADAC's members will be hearing from top officials and experts on making an impact on the national legislative process. Speakers will Andrew McKechnie, staff member for Representative Jim Ramstad, William D. McColl, Political Director of the AIDS Action Network, Rob Morrison Director of Public Policy for the National Association of State Alcohol/Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), Gerard Schmidt, NAADAC's Public Policy Committee Chair and Carol McDaid, a Principal with Capitol Decisions, Inc.

"This year, NAADAC's members will address several critical issues, including workforce development, the growing epidemic of methamphetamine addiction and substance abuse treatment parity," said Andrew Kessler, NAADAC Director of Government Relations. "by meeting one on one with national decision makers, we can make a real difference in people's lives."

NAADAC members will also host a breakfast on Capitol Hill on March 23.

To see the full agenda for the NAADAC Advocacy Action Day, and for information on the NAADAC Workforce Development Summit (March 24-25), please visit www.naadac.org.