MONTGOMERY --The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (DMH/MR) serves people with mental illness, mental retardation, and people with substance abuse addiction. As part of the department’s increased emphasis on substance abuse problems in the state, the DMH/MR is co-sponsoring the 29th annual Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies conference. The conference will be held in Tuscaloosa at the Bryant Center on March 23-26. Workshops and general sessions of the conference feature experts in the field of substance abuse such as internationally recognized consultant Cardwell Nuckols, PhD, Delbert Boone, and Merril Norton, Director of the Talbott Recovery Campus in Atlanta.

The opening speaker for the conference is Ms. Donna M. Cotter. Ms. Cotter is the National Treatment Plan Coordinator for CSAT, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment out of Washington, D.C. She is currently responsible for coordinating the development of the SAMSHA Partners for Recovery Initiative, which is a program to build resilience and facilitate recovery nationwide. Her presentation will provide a Federal perspective of the evolutionary process that began with the development of a National Treatment Plan to improve the delivery of treatment for persons suffering from substance use disorders.

A sampling of other topics that will be discussed in the four-day series of workshops include:

The Hijacking of the Brain – “The Neurobiology and Pharmacology of Dependence”
Working with Women Survivors of Trauma
Understanding Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse
Bio-terrorism: Psychological Effects, Interventions & Preparations
Criminal and Addictive Thinking
Families in Recovery

In its needs assessment survey the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation estimates that there are over 234,000 people in Alabama with serious substance abuse issues. Currently, 20,000 persons per year are served in treatment programs certified by the department. This leaves a gap of over 200,000 Alabamians who are not in treatment. Mental Health Commissioner Kathy Sawyer is making “the enhancement of substance abuse services” a major focus of her FY 04-05 administration.

More than 500 people have registered for the Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies conference. Professionals from numerous fields ranging from certified counselors to probation parole officers have registered. The conference is, in essence, relevant to anyone who has an acute interest in substance abuse treatment and prevention. For more information about registration or the subject matter of the conference, visit www.alabamaschool.org or contact Kathy Seifried with the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation at (334) 242-3967. News reporters should contact the Public Information Office at (334) 242-3417.