Addiction-focused Educators and Practitioners Join Together to Recognize Excellence

For Immediate Release

Donovan Kuehn, 703.741.7686
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Beginning this summer, a new standard allows professionals to know if they are studying at educational programs that meet the requirements for addiction best practices.

NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals is joining with the International Coalition for Addiction Studies Education (INCASE) to provide a single standard for higher education addiction studies programs.

The new process will be specific to the addiction education programs and will focus on competent, knowledgeable and evidence-based practices, as laid out by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The newly formed National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC) is one of only two organizations that accredit addiction programs and the NASAC is the only one that represents addiction-focused educators and practitioners.

Don Osborn, MS, MAC, LCAC, President of NAADAC, stated, "The work of NAADAC and INCASE in establishing NASAC, brings national standards in higher education, provides a scope of practice and career ladder and makes addictions counseling a more recognized profession."

"The unified foundation long sought after by many in addictions is now a national reality."

With the implementation of this new standard, practitioners, educators and people looking to join the profession will now have a professional standard they can use to judge the efficacy and quality of their educational programs.

“NASAC brings together INCASE and NAADAC, the two primary groups that represent academic educators and counselors in the field of addiction," said INCASE President Kirk Bowden, PhD.  "The purpose of NASAC is to create a single higher education addiction studies accreditation.  The accreditation of academic programs has long been a symbol to the public of academic quality and rigor.  Accreditation is long overdue in addiction education.”

The accreditation process begins with seven educational programs approved under the new NASAC standard. In addition, three programs are seeking accreditation approval and twenty-two institutions fall under the NAADAC Approved Academic Provider status.

INCASE-accredited institutions as of July 23, 2011

Approved
Drexel University, Philadelphia, Penn.
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, S.D.
Metropolitan State University, Denver, Colo.
University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Ark.
Elgin Community College, Elgin, Ill.
Kingsborough Community College, CUNY, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Minot State University, Minot, N.D.

Pending
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Ariz.
Monmouth University, West Long Branch, N.J.
Rio Salado College, Tempe, Ariz.

NAADAC Approved Academic Providers
Bellevue Community College, Bellevue, Wash.
Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas
Chemeketa Community College, Yamhill Valley, Alaska
College at Brockport, SUNY, Brockport, N.Y.
Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Wash.
Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood, Wash.
Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies, Center City, Minn.
Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Ind.
Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas City, Kan.
Penn State University, University Park, Penn.
Peninsula Community College, Port Angeles, Wash.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, N.J.
Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon, Wash.
Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, Wash.
Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, Wash.
University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Calif.
University of Evansville, Evansville, Ind.
University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nev.
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore.
Westbrook University, Aztec, N.M.
Yakima Valley Community College, Yakima, Wash.