Reflecting on Our Achievements: A Parting Message from Outgoing CPDD President
Dear CPDD Members,
Having recently ended my term as President of CPDD, I wanted to take this opportunity to say what a privilege and pleasure it was to serve in this role for the College. The past year has been a significant one for CPDD as we celebrated our 95th birthday. I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to all of our CPDD committee members, the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and our Parthenon Management Group (PMG) team who worked tirelessly to ensure that the CPDD scientific community continues to thrive. CPDD now has over 1,000 members, and the membership numbers continue to grow.
In the months ahead, you will hear about programming changes that align with our mission, along with goals to achieve the strategic plan for CPDD. To achieve these goals, I encourage all members at all membership levels to participate in CPDD committees. You can play a big part in contributing to the vibrant culture and scientific environment that reflects our College. If you are not now a member of a CPDD committee but would like to join one, please click here to see a list of committees that are soliciting volunteers and email info@cpdd.org to let them know that you are interested!
In addition, in May, 2024, NIDA celebrated its 50th anniversary of advancing research and science on addiction! On May 14, 1974, an act of Congress established the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Since then, NIDA has led the world in funding and conducting research on drug use and addiction. It was great to be able to join in celebrating NIDA’s 50th anniversary together at the CPDD Annual Meeting.
Finally, many of you heard me emphasize the importance of advocacy for continued funding of scientific research and the training of junior scientists to conduct research on substance use and substance use disorders. Now more than ever, such advocacy is critically important. Once again, some circles in Washington, DC are resonating to the idea of making changes to NIH, including merging and collapsing of Institutes. We need to inform state and federal legislative bodies and the general public about the devastating medical, economic, and personal consequences of substance use disorders, and let legislators, clinicians and members of the general public know about the impactful work we are doing as substance use disorder researchers to address problems of drug use, misuse, and drug use disorders.
I believe the 2024 CPDD meeting was highly successful in terms of attendance and the excitement of the meeting. This is a tribute to all the attendees who presented and participated in the program, as well as in the numerous networking opportunities at the meeting. I look forward to seeing all of you at our next meeting in New Orleans!
Best regards,
Deborah Hasin, Ph.D.
Past President, CPDD