Leadership Column

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director Resiliency – becoming resilient – actions that evidence resiliency – these are the thoughts that occupied my mind in late summer as I prepared to speak at the Resiliency 2021: Empowering Voices That Build Resilience webinar on September 9, 2021. September also marked this year’s Recovery M... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Mita M. Johnson, EdD, LPC, LMFT, LAC, MAC, SAP, CTHP-II, NAADAC President Workforce recruitment and retention – those are words that have been tossed around in so many conversations because we have more people needing help than we have helpers. Our profession can be highly rewarding, and it has its share of challenges. Not everyone who needs help can afford it. Not everyone who nee... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director I am so excited to announce the launch of NAADAC’s new online community, where addiction professionals from across the globe can connect, engage, and learn with fellow peers and NAADAC leadership! The brand new NAADAC Online Community is a virtual platform that allows NAADAC Members to connect and engage ... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Mita M. Johnson, EdD, LPC, LMFT, LAC, MAC, SAP, CTHP-II, NAADAC President Join a committee – who has time for that? You do! Why? Because it is a win-win proposition for you and NAADAC. Every committee has a unique focus that is in alignment with the mission and vision of NAADAC, while also recognizing and developing the unique passions and talents of each committee member. N... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director NAADAC has a vision to re-establish and in some cases, establish and expand the addiction workforce. The thirteen months of struggle during the pandemic yielded loss or reduced client connection, infrastructure beguilement, and workforce deterioration while at the same time, the needs of addiction and co-o... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Mita M. Johnson, EdD, LPC, MAC, SAP, CTHP-II, NAADAC President I made it through two graduate programs without ever discussing advocacy in action. It never occurred to me that as a professional working in the helping professions, I would be required to draw attention to the work we do and the clients we serve. Uncomfortable with the idea of politics and government influencing my c... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director Have you noticed people seem less tolerant of each other in recent months? Do you notice you are less tolerant of others and that by the end of your workday, because you gave so much of yourself to others, you have less of yourself to give to your family and friends? Could this rise in intolerance be due to a l... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Mita M. Johnson, EdD, LPC, MAC, SAP, CTHP-II, NAADAC President When is the last time you attempted to “see” the person across from you? So many of our clients have ongoing experiences where they were not seen – where a provider looked right through them or around them as if they were not there. Excellence in the delivery of treatment and recovery support services requ... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director Approximately three million deaths per year are attributed to the harmful use of alcohol, and 31 million people have substance use disorder, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2018). NAADAC has long recognized the need for international relations to build awareness of global substance use disorders... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Mita M. Johnson, EdD, LPC, MAC, SAP, CTHP-II, NAADAC President As I begin my presidency, I am both excited and terrified! I have had the privilege of serving under several amazing NAADAC Presidents, including Don Osborn, Kirk Bowden, Bob Richards, Gerry Schmidt, and Diane Sevening. Diane is a truly gifted leader – she brought wisdom, clarity, passion, and humility to the position. ... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director The past months have placed the glaring inequities faced by people of color, particularly Black people, on display in a way that has not been seen in decades. Society is – for the moment, at least – finally paying attention to the wide range of racism that minority individuals face on a daily basis.... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Diane Sevening, EdD, LAC, MAC, NAADAC President As my Presidency comes to an end, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you! It has been the honor of my life to serve as the NAADAC President and work with such a dynamic and professional team. My experiences with the NAADAC officers, staff, and members are truly humbling and kept me inspired and motivated to keep moving forward i... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director COVID-19 is consuming the world’s attention. It is the lead topic on the news, the subject of our conversations, in our emails, and seemingly everywhere we turn. How to self-protect, self-quarantine, self-preserve and acquire our own stockpiles of food, water and toilet paper is consuming our thoughts. It... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Diane Sevening, EdD, LAC, MAC, NAADAC President First of all, I want to thank you all for the wonderous works you do in meeting the needs of those with substance use disorders and express my sincerest gratitude for your knowledge, experience, compassion, genuine caring, and selfless efforts. These are difficult times and you are all heroes right alongside the physical healthcare provid... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2020 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director A resolution recognizing addiction professionals was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Dave Joyce (R-OH-14 and NAADAC’s Legislator of the Year in 2018) and supported by Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) on June 4, 2019. The bipartisan resolution acknowledges the contributio... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2020 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Diane Sevening, EdD, LAC, MAC, NAADAC President Substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders (MHD), including co-occurring or co-morbidity disorders, are not only a concern in North America but are also a concern throughout the world. As many of you know, NAADAC co-sponsored a professional exchange with National Council for Behavioral Health and World Learning in Kosovo on... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director Advocacy is in the addiction professionals blood; as addiction professionals, we know that our clients are the most vulnerable, least protected, and most discriminated against due to their disease, and that many other community leaders, legislators and public do not want to recognize substance use disorders as a dis... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Diane Sevening, EdD, LAC, MAC, NAADAC President NAADAC’s governing body, the body that determine the direction of NAADAC and how NAADAC can best serve its constituents, is the NAADAC Board of Directors. The NAADAC Board of Directors is made up of the State Affiliate Presidents, the Executive Committee, and an Organizational Delegate. The State Affiliate Presidents are elected by ... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2019 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Diane Sevening, EdD, LAC, MAC, NAADAC President Charles Dickens stated it very well in A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...” For the addiction profession today, it truly is the best of times and the worst of times. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported that in 2016, synthetic opioids were involved in nearly 50% (19,413... Read More

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2019 issue of Advances in Addiction & Recovery. By Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, NCAC II, CDC III, SAP, NAADAC Executive Director Over the past year, NAADAC worked hard toward the vision set by its Board of Directors and recognized many accomplishments. I am excited to share the following highlights in the areas of advocacy and influence, education and professional development, certification, and membership and affiliates. For a full list... Read More