On history of drug abuse, addiction in U.S.
• Would recommend this class for all judges, legislators, prosecutors, and treatment providers.
• Very good. I learned a lot and am grateful for the information.
• This was very helpful and informative.

On the biology of addiction and public policy
• This too would be good for all judges, legislators, etc. (see previous).
• This was excellent info – no improvement.
• Great overview of the process that addiction has on the brain.

On the effectiveness of treatment
• No improvement needed. This was a great presentation – Great energy and knowledge from speaker.
• Personal story – powerful!
• Personal story helped to humanize the issue, although it might provide bias. Good argument for the use of treatment.

On the report from Oklahoma
• Good overview of their process with experience.
• Very good.

On facilitated discussions
• Good, relevant stimulation and opportunity for dialogue.
• Interesting connection between the age of consent and a drug with addiction.
• Very good information.
• Could Allison get any better? Wow! Good discussion – good progress.
• Bruce does a great job. Great presence and great leader.

On substance abuse and child welfare
• Great speaker – Passionate and gifted.
• Good overview of the collaborative process that will be used in the state.
• Wonderful.

On treatment for offenders
• Good, well-prepared presentation!
• Good stats and examples. Thank you for bringing in someone with relevant state info.
• Good speaker, excellent data and outcome information.

On economics
• Information and education using this data will assist in prioritizing what should be done.
• Good information and helpful.
• Tool kit for local use.

On Alabama Plan
• Kent is a pro.

On Texas Plan
• Very good.

Overall comments
• This was a wonderful program. Speakers were knowledgeable and very thoughtprovoking.
• Provided a good overview of addiction treatment. Provided arguments on the benefits of
treatment and connected the disease of addiction with other diseases.
• Excellent presentation of material and very well-informed speakers.
• This made us step back, look at what we need to accomplish. It also brought team members together who are not usually around the table.
• I think it helped focus our efforts.
• Team component was good in that it involved discussion among people that don’t often get to have extended discussions on these topics. Liked best about the program
• Interaction and discussion with interesting people.
• The opportunity to hear what other states were doing and the opportunity to work with our own state participants without the everyday job responsibilities.
• Combining the experts with group discussions. Allowing for the states to get together brought together a group that would not have gotten together.
• The presentations and their preparedness.
• The breadth of the presentations and quality of the speakers; great discussions among team members and other state team members.
• Opportunities to discuss state specific issues with a skilled facilitator!

Faculty and Staff

Faculty
David Friedman, PhD
Director
Addiction Studies Program
Professor, Department of Physiology
and Pharmacology, Wake Forest
University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Sue Rusche
Co-Director
Addiction Studies Program
President and CEO
National Families in Action Atlanta, Georgia

Deni Carise, PhD
Director
Treatment Systems Research
Treatment Research Institute
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bonnie Catone
Director of Communications
Treatment Research Institute
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Allison C. Colker, JD, Esq.
Partner
Addiction Studies Program
Program Director
National Conference of State
Legislatures
Washington, DC

Bruce Feustel
Senior Fellow
Legislative Management Program
National Conference of State
Legislatures
Denver, Colorado

Steven L. Buck
Deputy Commissioner for
Communication and Prevention
Oklahoma Department of Mental
Health and Substance Abuse
Services
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Rick Harwood, PhD
Research and Program
Applications Director
National Association of State
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
Washington, DC

Kevin Knight, PhD
Research Scientist
Institute of Behavioral Research
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas

Chris Ringwalt, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Pacific Institute for
Research and Evaluation
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Nancy Young, PhD
Director
Children and Family Futures
National Center on Substance
Abuse and Child Welfare
Irvine, California

Representative Fred Allen
Arkansas State Legislature
Little Rock, Arkansas

Nancy Young, PhD
Director, Children and Family Futures
National Center on Substance Abuse
and Child Welfare
Irvine, California

Staff
Eric Dickerson
Controller and Office Manager
National Families in Action
Matthew Gever
Policy Associate
National Conference of State Legislatures
Washington, DC

Matthew Gever
Policy Associate
National Conference of State
Legislatures
Washington, DC

Teika M. Holloway
Secretary III
Department of Physiology and
Pharmacology Wake Forest University
School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Diane Joyner
Administrative Assistant
Department of Physiology and
Pharmacology
Wake Forest University
School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina