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1970s
National Families In Action founding board members Georgia State Senator Bud Stumbaugh and Georgia State Representative Cas Robinson authored and introduced the nation's first drug paraphernalia laws which the Georgia Legislature passed in 1978. On March 3, 1982, the United States Supreme Court unanimously upheld the rights of communities to pass such laws.

National Families In Action's executive director and co-founder Sue Rusche wrote How To Form a Families in Action Group in Your Community and sold more than 3,000 copies to parent groups that formed, using the model, throughout the country.

National Families In Action board members Valerie Love and Susan Barton founded and led the Atlanta and DeKalb Junior League GATE Programs (Gain Awareness Through Education).

National Families In Action board member Martha Blondheim established and led the DeKalb PTA Council Drug Awareness Program.

Beginning in 1979 and continuing today, the work of National Families In Action has been featured on The Phil Donahue Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show and countless other smaller media markets. NFIA is mentioned frequently in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and other large- and small-market newspapers.

1980s
National Families In Action's executive director and co-founder Sue Rusche testified in 1980 and 1988 before the U.S. Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control.

National Families In Action's executive director and co- founder Sue Rusche wrote a King Features' syndicated column called "Striking Back" (and later, "Straight Talk on Drugs") throughout the 1980s.

National Families In Action developed and categorized a collection of articles and documents related to all facets of drug abuse. The collection includes more than 1 million pieces in 2000.

National Families In Action organized the Alcohol Task Force which researched sales to minors in DeKalb County and the lack of sanctions and advocated strengthening laws and enforcing those on the books. The Task Force report was published in several area high-school newsletters. Members of the sitting Grand Jury read it and made strong recommendations about the findings which resulted in elimination of the "wheel system" of assigning cases to judges, and gave judges the authority to revoke licenses from stores cited for sales to minors.

National Families In Action's executive director and co-founder Sue Rusche testified in 1985 before the U.S. Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families.

1990s
National Families In Action's Inner-City Families in Action Project was named an Exemplary Program by the Department of Health and Human Services.

National Families In Action hosted the first American Cities Against Drugs conference which brought mayors from cities all over America together with prevention, education, treatment, law enforcement and research specialists. As a result, more than 400 mayors have signed the Atlanta Resolution in which the mayors reject all attempts at drug legalization.

Associate Director, Paula Kemp is a founding member and past chair of the RADAR Network (Regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resource) which connects prevention and resource centers throughout the United States.

2000
National Families in Action builds a collaboration with Wake Forest University School of Medicine to create the Addiction Studies Program for Journalists. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the program conducts semi-annual seminars for print and broadcast journalists to acquaint them with the latest information about the effects of drugs on the brain and body.

National Families in Action creates and maintains the following websites:
www.nationalfamilies.org/guide
www.addicitonstudies.org
www.parentingisprevention.org
www.studentsinaction.org