The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Juneau Affiliate (NCADDJ, offers tobacco education and prevention services through two programs, both of which are aimed at changing tobacco policy. Alaska Tobacco Prevention and Control ProgramThe tobacco control policy program works with changing tobacco policy both locally and regionally. Policy changes include clean indoor air in all public places, advocating for smoke-free behavioral health and education campuses, raising local tobacco taxes to reduce tobacco consumption and to help prevent minors from using tobacco, modifying the point-of-sale environment to reduce youth exposure to tobacco advertising and advocating for smoke-free outdoor public places. Tobacco prevention and control is also targeting emerging nicotine delivery devices and "smoke-free" tobacco products. The State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention and Control ( TPC) Program has achieved success by implementing an evidence-based comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program, including a tobacco quit line, counter-marketing media and grants to promote tobacco-free...

Behavioral Health Services, Inc. (BHS)'s soon-to-open BHS Family Health Center has been officially designated a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) by the Health Resources and Services Administration. This award to serve as a New Access Point for low-income residents of Hawthorne, California and the surrounding area is one of 71 new medical clinics awarded in 2015 to serve an additional 454,728 new patients across the United States through the Affordable Care Act. Michael Ballue, currently BHS' Chief Strategy Officer, will oversee the new program as Director of Family Health Services. Michael serves on the NCADD Board of Directors. "This award is fantastic news for BHS, and in furtherance of our mission to provide fully integrated behavioral health and medical care to one of the most underserved regions within Los Angeles County," says Shirley Summers, President and Chief Executive Officer of BHS. "Having ready access to primary medical care within their own...

The following Op Ed piece, by Howard Weissman, Executive Director of National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse — St. Louis Area, appeared in print and online versions of the August 5, 2015 St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It was written in response to a recent editorial calling for the decriminalization of all drugs. The Myth of Portugal's Drug Policy A recent Post-Dispatch editorial ("Sentencing reform is fine. Decriminalizing drugs would be better," July 24) advocated the broad decriminalization of drugs in America, including heroin and cocaine. It emphasized the experience of Portugal, where a shift to decriminalization that began in 2001 appears to have been positive. The editorial noted that "... public policy based on myths doesn't work," which is clearly true. But reporting the "success" of Portugal is a bit of myth, too. For example, the paper quoted misleading references in a 2009 report on Portugal by the libertarian Cato Institute....

Partners in Prevention, the NCADD affiliate for Hudson County, NJ, provides a wide range of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention services and programs to their community. Recently, Partners in Prevention added the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute (LMTI) to their youth prevention services. The mission of LMTI is to guide young people to realize their leadership potential and become empowered to create positive changes in themselves, their schools, and their communities. LMTI participants utilize the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and learn about both environmental and individual prevention strategies in order to implement local prevention strategies that make a true impact. Through various experiential trainings, LMTI works with hundreds of middle school, high school, and college age students throughout New Jersey each year. Teen Institutes began in Ohio in 1965, and the National Association of Teen Institutes (NATI) was formed in 1985 with the goal of actively involving youth in the planning...

Burke Recovery (formerly the Burke Council on Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency, Inc.), NCADD's Morganton, NC Affiliate, has a program to train clergy and lay leaders on how to screen for substance abuse issues and make quality referrals for services.

Mountain View Prevention Services, Inc., NCADD's Lowville, NY Affiliate, offers several alcohol/other drug prevention programs for school-age children and youth.

One of the programs is its "Youth Advocacy Program."

Focus on Community, the NCADD Affiliate in Racine, Wisconsin, was a recipient of the 2015 NCADD Prevention & Education Meritorious Award for its "Teen Peer Educator's Program."

The Chautauqua Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Council (CASAC), NCADD's Jamestown, NY Affiliate, has received funding from the New York Council on Problem Gambling to carry-out the YOU(th) Decide Project in Chautauqua County.

PRO-ACT offers two new services: the Family Education Program and the Mentor Plus Program.

The National Council on Alcoholism and other Drug Addictions – Bay Area (NCA-BA), offers a youth program entitled Project Connect, a mentor-style program designed to help youth become agents of change in their own communities.