NAADAC’s 2022 Advocacy in Action Conference and Virtual Hill Day was our biggest advocacy event ever! Over 900 NAADAC members and other addiction professionals from across the country and around the globe gathered virtually on April 19-21, 2022, to attend briefings on legislation, learn about important advocacy issues, and receive robust trainings on effective advocacy in preparation for virtual meetings on Capitol Hill.
The Advocacy in Action Conference featured speakers from government agencies and private organizations such as the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW), and even former and current members of Congress!
On Virtual Hill Day, over 300 advocates from 45 states spoke directly with lawmakers on Capitol Hill about the issues that affect the addiction profession and those it serves. In these meetings, advocates brought attention to the issues that concern addiction professionals, such as the need for national credentialing standards, investment in the addiction workforce, greater enforcement of parity laws, the Minority Fellowship Program, and support for the decriminalization of cannabis.
NAADAC was proud to present the 2021 Harold Hughes Award to The Honorable Katherine Clark for the incredible work she has done for the addiction profession and the 2021 Advocate of the Year to NAADAC Member Susan Campion, LADC, LMFT, for her years of dedication in supporting the addiction workforce in the state of Connecticut.
The awardees were acknowledged during the virtual 2022 NAADAC Advocacy in Action Conference on April 19, 2022, and spoke about their dedication to advocating for those experiencing addiction.
NAADAC would like to thank our impressive lineup of featured speakers and panelists during the conference, including Israil Ali, MPA, The Honorable Katherine Clark, Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, Michael Kemp, NCAC I, ICS, CSAC, CSW, Sherri Layton, LCDC, CCS, Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, Robert Morrison, Julie Shroyer, MSW, The Honorable Alan Wheat, James Fleischmann, JD, Kathryn Burgum, Darryl Inaba, PharmD, CATC-V, CADC III, Rommel Johnson, PhD, LPC, NCC, CAADC, John Lisy, LICDC-CS, OCPC, LISW-S, LPCC-S, Kenneth J. Martz, PsyD, CAS, Andrew Swanson, Chuck Ingoglia, Melanie Whitter, and Marvin Ventrell, JD!
NAADAC would also like to extend gratitude to our Platinum sponsors, BreakThrough! and Institute for Rapid Resolution Therapy, our Silver sponsor, University of Western States, and our Bronze sponsors, National Institute of Whole Health and ClinicTracker, for their generous support!