On November 3rd, the IC&RC held its 30th anniversary meeting. The world leader in addiction-related credentialing had Pamela J. Hyde, the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as its keynote speaker. Hyde has been the leader of the agency since November 2009 and is an attorney with more than 30 years of experience in management and consulting for public healthcare and human services agencies. She has also been a state mental health director, state human services director, city housing and human services director, and CEO of a private non-profit managed behavioral healthcare firm.

Hyde had many discussion points, such as that the misunderstanding of substance use disorders (SUD) is a social, not health problem and that this leads to under treatment. A key fact is that only 11% of people with SUD are treated compared to 84% of those with diabetes, although they affect similar numbers of the population. She also discussed federal concerns about disparities in disease rates in the workforce. SAMHSA is working to address the needs of minorities because they make up 30% of the population but only 20% of counselors.

Hyde also discussed SAMHSA’s focus on recovery and shared their working definition, “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to achieve their full potential.” There is also a new technical assistance center for recovery called (BRSS TACS) that will be funded by a block grant for Recovery Support Services in health reform.

She also encouraged the IC&RC to gather people working in the area of peer recovery and later that day the IC&RC Board of Directors voted to approve two levels of Peer Recovery Support credentials including standards. Next, they will develop a Job Task Analysis and then an examination that is fully referenced. Hyde also stressed cross-training in mental health and substance use to diversify clinical flexibility. She also added that there is a need for widespread education about mental health and substance abuse.

Two new boards were welcomed into the organization as well. The first is the Associacion Centro de Especialidades en Adicciones (Nicaragua)-Alcohol and Drug Counselor. The second is the Hong Kong Association of Professionals Specializing in Addiction Counseling Limited (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and China)- Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Clinical Specialist. The Board of Directors also approved new credentials for existing boards during this meeting. Utah adopted the Prevention Specialist and California will offer the Co-Occurring Disorders Professional Diplomat credential.

The IC&RC President, Rhonda Messamore, presented the Presidential Leadership Award to Julie Stevens, Chair of the Prevention Committee. This was in recognition of her outstanding contributions and support given to the IC&RC and the substance abuse and prevention field. She has 25 years in the prevention field and is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and an Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist. She currently works as a Training Specialist for the University of Oklahoma’s Southwest Prevention Center.

IC&RC also welcomed new delegates from member boards. They are David Barnes from Maryland and Pamela Gillen and Ailala Kay from Colorado Prevention. A special guest joined the meeting, Julie Hogan, Co-Director of the National Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) who is also an inaugural member of the IC&RC Advisory Council.

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