Equity and Education are Critical Issues for Addiction Services Professionals

For Immediate Release - Washington, DC

Donovan Kuehn
703-741-7686, ext. 125
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Addiction services from around the country will be converging on Capitol Hill from March 4-6, 2007, to speak up on behalf of the 22 million Americans who suffer from addictive disorders.

NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, will be hosting its 20th anniversary Advocacy Action Day to focus on legislative issues affecting addiction services professionals. The advocacy efforts include education, mentoring, outreach and educational efforts with legislators.

"Advocacy Action Day is an excellent opportunity for addiction professionals from across the United States to come to Washington, DC, and meet with their national representatives. In a concerted effort, these professionals come together and learn about key issues facing the addiction treatment profession today," said Gerard J. Schmidt, MA, LPC, MAC, chair of the NAADAC Public Policy Committee.

The sessions in Washington, DC, are geared to new and returning participants with an introduction to advocacy issues, tips on how to communicate effectively with lawmakers and mentoring sessions for those new to the legislative process.

NAADAC members, and NAADAC's partners in addiction health services, plan to discuss the federal government's workforce development agenda, parity for addiction and other health related insurance, adequate and consistent funding for addiction health services and strategies to ensure that addiction prevention, intervention and treatment are considered as a part of the nation's agenda.

"For many treatment professionals this is their first encounter with their lawmakers. The excitement for most professionals is that they are at the heart of the legislative process, can see events unfold in front of them and become an active participant in the process," said Schmidt.

To see the full agenda for the NAADAC Advocacy Action Day please visit www.naadac.org.