The Addiction Treatment Workforce: Where We Are, Why We’re Here, and Where We Need to Be

Description:
Invited Panelists: Dr. H. Westley Clark, Director, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, Executive Director, The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC); Martin Waukazoo, Executive Director, Native American Health Center; Dr. Michael Flaherty, Clinical Psychologist, Executive Director, North East Addiction Technology Transfer Center

Program Abstract: Many, if not most, of the people who enter the addiction treatment field do so with a passion to help. Sometimes that passion is fueled by their own experience with alcohol or drugs and their desire to spare others the agony of addiction that they knew. A new report conducted by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, with support from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finds that most of the Association’s members are satisfied with the nature of the tasks they perform and their work environments, while they expressed dissatisfaction with salary and workload. And only half see opportunities for career advancement. This show will examine what the addiction treatment field is doing to encourage more people to enter the field and help those already there to preserve the flame of their passion. The program also will explore how new research and innovations are shaping the workforce.

Host:
Ivette Torres, Associate Director for Consumer Affairs, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)