Our Purpose
NCADD has been a leader in
gaining public and private support for recognizing alcoholism and other drug dependencies as public health problems, rather
than issues of morality or criminality. Understanding that addicted individuals have an illness, helps them to free themselves
of shame and denial, and leads them to appropriate treatment and recovery services. At the national level, NCADD
provides advocacy and develops initiatives in support of prevention and treatment, and serves as a clearing house of information
and publications in the ATOD field. It sponsors annual Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness campaigns and maintains
a highly acclaimed website: www.ncadd.org
Our Mission
NCADD-SD
collaborates with other community groups in advocating for policies and programs which foster a healthy environment and offer
humane and effective solutions to alcohol and drug problem issues in the San Diego community.
Our History
The foundation of the NCADD is its network
of local affiliates located throughout the country. The first San Diego Affiliate began in the early 1970's, and was
involved in developing some of the earliest programs of alcohol and other drug prevention and treatment in San Diego County.
With federal and local contracts, it developed the first employee assistance programs, and was instrumental in establishing
the County Department of Substance Abuse (now the Alcohol & Drug Services Department). During the 1980's, NCADD-SD
continued to sponsor efforts to educate the public about alcohol and other drug addiction. But as substance abuse funding
declined, the affiliate was forced to cease operations on several occasions. Then, in 1994, the local non-profit Nouveau
Vie Corporation obtained an affiliate designation from the national office, and in 1996,
the current organization was established. Today, NCADD-SD continues as an all-volunteer effort by a
group of treatment professionals, recovering people and other interested citizens.
The NCADD Advocate
NCADD-San
Diego publishes a monthly newsletter containing information about NCADD activities and some of the latest news about
substance abuse related research and happenings around the world.
