How to Become a Member

CPDD Membership Applications  Next Deadline is

September 30, 2023

Member-in-Training Applications are reviewed weekly.

Application for Membership in the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Inc.

The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) is an interdisciplinary research society whose members address problems of drug dependence in the broadest range of scientific disciplines, including chemistry, basic biology, pharmacology, neuroimmunology, behavioral science, psychiatry, clinical research, sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, epidemiology, and prevention.

1. General Guidelines for Membership
   1. There are four levels of membership (described in more detail below):
      • Member-In-Training
      • Associate
      • Regular
      • Fellow
   2. The Membership Committee reviews applications for membership and provides recommendations to the CPDD Board of Directors (BOD) regarding each applicant. Approval of Associate, Regular, and Fellow applications is by the BOD. Approval of Member-In-Training applications is by the Chair of the Membership Committee and occurs monthly. The Membership Committee uses the criteria provided below in assessing potential candidates for membership. In most cases the potential candidate will have attended, authored presentations at, or otherwise participated in, several recent annual meetings or other activities of the CPDD.
   3. The Membership Application is an on-line submission process that can be found on the Membership Benefits & Applications page of the CPDD website. All materials must be in English, or an English translation provided for relevant documents (for example, of abstracts for publications that have appeared in non-English language journals).
   4. Annual dues for CPDD are $200.00 for Regular, Associate, and Fellow members, and $50.00 for Members-In-Training. Applicants should NOT enclose a payment with their application. They will be billed if their application is accepted. Membership begins upon receipt of annual dues.
   5. Criteria for Membership and Other Information

      Membership Types

      Member-In-Training Membership

      Criteria for Member-In-Training membership: Requirements:

      1. Trainee status: Candidates must be post-baccalaureate graduate or medical students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, interns (or any other trainee) who are enrolled in a program of study leading to an advanced degree, certification, etc. in a field related to research or care specific to problems of drug dependence who have not yet met criteria for Associate Membership.
      2. Trainee status confirmation: Trainee status eligibility must be certified annually by a letter from the individual’s faculty advisor, mentor, or institution.
      3. Prior attendance at one CPDD conference is not a requirement for Member-In-Training membership.
      4. Additionally, any person who is engaged in formal training toward a baccalaureate, masters or doctoral degree or in post-doctoral training in research and/or an appropriate clinical or professional program, who is engaged in research in the broad area of Substance Use Disorder Research, and who exhibits an interest in supporting the goals of the College may continue as a Member-in-Training or apply for Member-in-Training level membership for up to three calendar years past their terminal degree or training. CPDD will also allow as much as a two-year extension (up to a total of five calendar years) at the request of the Member-in-Training. The Member-in Training will be asked to submit their CV when requesting these extensions.

      Application materials for Member-In-Training:

      1. The following documents should be submitted electronically via the CPDD Membership Application website:
         1. Curriculum Vitae
         2. Certification of trainee status by the applicant’s faculty advisor, mentor, or institution demonstrating current enrollment and status as a trainee
         3. Statement of commitment and area(s) of primary research expertise as relates to the study of problems of drug dependence (250 words or less)
      2. Upload only the correct documents, do not use placeholders to submit application.  Please contact the Executive Office with questions.  info@cpdd.org.

      Benefits associated with Member-In-Training membership level:

      1. 1. 1. Receipt of CPDD mailings,
            2. Access to CPDD electronic discussion lists,
            3. Can be first-author on an abstract submission for the annual scientific meeting,
            4. Can access an electronic copy of the College’s journal (Drug and Alcohol Dependence),
            5. Can be appointed to committees of the College, and
            6. Discounted registration for annual scientific meeting.

      Note: the Member-In-Training level of membership does not have voting privileges.

      Associate Membership

      Criteria for Associate membership levels: Requirements: 

      1. Significant contributions in a basic science, clinical research or other scholarly field relevant to problems of substance use
         1. 2 first-author publications in peer-reviewed basic science, clinical research or other scholarly journals that are related to problems of drug dependence OR
         2. Other mechanisms that indicate significant scientific contribution (e.g., efforts within the government, publication of reports, advocacy for addictions research)
      2. Prior attendance at a minimum of one CPDD annual meeting

      Suggested Criterion:

      1. Terminal degree appropriate to their discipline

      Guidelines and clarification for Associate Membership:  The Membership Committee shall exercise judgment regarding significant contribution to the field, recognizing that not all papers or books represent equal contributions, and that authorship is not the sole indicator of scholarship. This contribution can be made through research, clinical care, policy, etc. Meeting attendance is required for membership, though non-members interested in membership and planning to attend the following year’s CPDD annual meeting should reach out to info@cpdd.org for more information. Application materials for Associate membership:

      1. The following documents should be submitted electronically via the CPDD Membership Application website:
         1. Curriculum Vitae,
         2. A statement of commitment and areas(s) of primary research expertise as relates to the study of problems of drug dependence (250 words or less)
         3. Representative reprints (PDF's of peer reviewed publications; or the title page, Library of Congress number and a one-paragraph description of scholarly books of monographs).
         4. Upload only the correct documents, do not use placeholders to submit the application. Please contact the Executive Office with questions.  info@cpdd.org.

      Benefits associated with Associate membership level:

      1. Discounted registration for annual scientific meeting.
      2. Can Attend and vote at the annual business meeting of the College.
      3. Can be appointed to committees and run for all offices within the College.
      4. Receive an electronic subscription to the College’s journal (Drug and Alcohol Dependence)
      5. Can access the Members Only section of the CPDD website.
      6. Can nominate CPDD members for offices and leadership positions (through the nominating committee).
      7. Receive CPDD mailings.
      8. Have access to CPDD electronic discussion

      Regular Membership

      Criteria for Regular membership level: Requirements:

      1. Meritorious record of publication and significant contributions to the field of substance use.
         1. 10 first-author or senior publications in peer-reviewed journals OR
         2. Other mechanisms that indicate significant scientific contribution (e.g., efforts within the government, publication of reports, advocacy for addictions research)

      Suggested Criterion:

      1. Terminal degree appropriate to their discipline.

      Guidelines and clarification for Regular membership: Determination of scientific contribution will be applied with reasonable judgment by the Membership Committee, recognizing that not all papers or books represent equal contributions, and that authorship is not the sole indicator of scholarship. Either more or fewer publications may be required to meet this criterion. In special circumstances the Membership Committee may consider potential candidates who do not work in basic science, clinical research, or related scholarly fields. Examples would be those who have made clearly compelling commitments and contributions to research, education, or public service in problems of drug dependence, or persons whose community leadership or philanthropy contributed in an important way to alleviating problems of drug dependence. In most cases, candidates will hold a terminal degree appropriate to his/her academic discipline, although unusually qualified persons who do not hold the terminal degree may be considered for this level of membership. Application materials for Regular membership:

      1. The following documents should be submitted electronically via the CPDD Membership Application website:
         1. Curriculum Vitae,
         2. A statement of commitment and area(s) of primary research expertise as relates to the study of problems of drug dependence (250 words or less).
         3. Representative reprints (PFD"s of peer reviewed publications; or the title page, Library of Congress number and a one-paragraph description of scholarly books or monographs).
         4. Upload only the correct documents, do not use placeholders to submit the application.  Please contact the Executive Office with questions.  info@cpdd.org.

      Benefits associated with Regular membership level:

      1. Discounted registration for annual scientific meeting
      2. Can attend and vote at the annual business meeting of the College.
      3. Can nominate CPDD members for offices and leadership positions (through the nominating committee).
      4. Receive an electronic subscription to the College’s journal (Drug and Alcohol Dependence)
      5. Can be appointed to committees and run for all offices within the College
      6. Can access the Members Only section of the CPDD website.
      7. Receive CPDD mailings.
      8. Access to CPDD electronic discussion lists.
      9. Can nominate a CPDD member for Fellow Membership.

      Fellow Membership

      Criteria for Fellow membership level:

      1. The Membership Committee shall judge suitability for fellow status based upon the following:
         1. Outstanding service to the College
         2. Exceptional scientific achievement in the drug abuse field, and/or
         3. Special and unique other accomplishments in some other aspect of drug abuse research or a related activity.
         4. It should be recognized that this membership category is reserved for only those persons who are clearly highly distinguished in their contributions to the field and to the College.

      Application process for Fellow membership:

      1. Any Regular member or Fellow of CPDD can nominate a member of CPDD for Fellow status, and current members of CPDD can apply directly for Fellow status.
      2. Any Regular member or Fellow of CPDD can nominate a nonmember of CPDD for Fellow status, and a person who is not a member of the College can apply directly to become a Fellow of the College.
      3. In the case of a non-member applying or being nominated for Fellow status, the person will complete a membership application form.
         1. Applicants should submit the following documents via the CPDD Membership Application website:
            1. Letter of interest in becoming a Fellow of the College
            2. Curriculum Vitae
            3. Letters of Nomination from four sponsors who are current members in good standing of the College with at least 2 from Fellows of the College. (see General Guidelines above for content of letters and procedure for submitting).
            4. A statement of commitment and area(s) of primary research expertise as relates to the study of problems of drug dependence (250 words or less).

      Benefits associated with Fellow membership level are the same as those listed above for Regular members can sponsor the member’s own abstract for the annual scientific meeting.

      Emeritus Membership

      Process for Emeritus Membership: We encourage Emeritus Membership for any CPDD member who has retired. Upon retirement, any Associate Member, Regular Member or Fellow of the CPDD may apply for Emeritus status. The member requesting such status should address this request to the CPDD Program Manager (info@cpdd.org, jhoward@parthenonmgmt.com), and indicate the reason for the request. After receiving the request, the CPDD Executive Office will forward this request and recommendation to the Chair of the Membership committee. If the Chair of the Membership Committee approves the request, no further action is necessary. Additional discussion and consideration may be needed from the Membership Committee and/or Board of Directors. If Emeritus status is approved, the member will remain in the same membership category and maintain the same privileges and duties as before Emeritus status was awarded. Members with Emeritus status will not be assessed annual dues.

      Changing Current Membership

      • Change from Associate to Regular Membership: The criteria used to determine the appropriateness of a request for a change from the Associate category to the Regular membership level shall be the same as the above criteria for a new application to Regular membership. Letters of support are not required for this upgrade. Dues must be paid in full through the current calendar year. The applicant must submit their updated CV to the CPDD info box at info@cpdd.org for review by the Executive Office.
      • Change from Member-In-Training to Associate or Regular Membership: The applicant must submit a complete application for Associate or Regular membership (through the CPDD website at the link below). Membership dues must be paid in full through the current calendar year.

For further information or guidance contact: