The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors, Inc. (NASADAD) is a private, not-for-profit educational, scientific, and informational organization. The Association was originally incorporated in 1971 to serve State Drug Agency Directors, and then in 1978 the membership was expanded to include State Alcoholism Agency Directors.

NASADAD’s basic purpose is to foster and support the development of effective alcohol and other drug use prevention and treatment programs throughout every State. The Board of Directors is composed of a President, First Vice President, Vice President for Treatment, Vice President for Internal Affairs, Vice President for Prevention, Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as 10 regional representatives elected by the Association members in the region. The Washington, DC, office is headed by an Executive Director and includes divisions concerned with Research and Program Applications, Prevention Services, and Public Policy.

NASADAD Activities

NASADAD is authorized by the Board of Directors to engage in any or all of the following activities:

• To represent member States on Association policies and issues before Congress, Executive Branch, governmental, and allied organizations as directed by the Board of Directors;
• To promote, plan, develop, expand, and utilize educational materials and scientific activities within the fields;
• To coordinate and facilitate timely information exchange to the States concerning policies of various constituencies with the alcohol, other drug use, and related field;
• To respond to appropriate requests for contracts, grants and other funding opportunities that will facilitate the Association carrying out its goals of serving States; and
• To establish and secure adequate resources to accomplish all goals and objectives outlined in the annual program of work or otherwise directed by the Board of Directors.

NASADAD Objectives

As stated in its bylaws, NASADAD’s objectives are:

• To facilitate the translation of research and knowledge into practice and identifies problems and issues that merit further study and research;
• To foster communication and collaboration with other organizations and national associations that interface with issues of substance use;
• To promote training within the field of substance use prevention and treatment as well as cross-training in other systems;
• To provide technical assistance to its membership;
• To promote the establishment of national standards for quality assurance, outcomes, and performance;
• To shape public policy positions that advance the provision of effective prevention and treatment services and increase funding for same; and
• To maintain a stable base of funding to ensure continued long-term financial viability.

NASADAD Collaborations

NASADAD serves as a focal point for the examination of alcohol and other drug related issues of common interest to both other national organizations and federal agencies. Federal agencies and organizations with which NASADAD has worked include:

• Army National Guard
• Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
• Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)
• Center for Prevention Methodology and Implementation
• International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)
• National Association for State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
• National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Technical Assistance Center
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
• Social Security Administration (SSA)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and its Centers on Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention (CSAT and CSAP), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Society for Prevention Research (SPR)
• U.S. Department of Education (ED)
• U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

 

NASADAD is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and does not engage in lobbying or electoral political activities.

 

NASADAD Strategic Framework