Our hard work and the commitment of our membership keep us at the forefront of substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery advocacy.

Some of our 2007 successes include:

• Development of a media and legislative campaign to educate policy makers and the general public about the dangers of underage drinking, the youth-oriented marketing of alcopops by the liquor industry, and the liquor industry’s deceptive labeling of alcoholic energy drinks. We successfully developed and unanimously passed legislation banning the advertising of alcopops to youth. The Governor signed Senate Bill 1625 into law in September 2007.


• Implementation of more than 12 community forums/town hall meetings held in communities around Illinois. The community forums afforded parents, youth, business leaders, local and state policy makers, IADDA members and many others the opportunity to come together in an open dialogue about the dangers of alcohol and drug use by youth and the need for increased resources in our communities.


• Development of an unprecedented media and legislative campaign to educate policy makers and the public about the dangers of underage drinking, the youth-oriented marketing of alcopops by the liquor industry, and the liquor industry’s deceptive labeling of alcoholic energy drinks. The campaign raised widespread awareness about the issues as well as the need to increase resources to meet the demands of individuals seeking treatment, and the need for more funding to bolster prevention programming. As a part of the media campaign, IADDA hosted several press conferences that garnered significant media response from television, radio, and print outlets across the state. IADDA members also targeted editorial boards of major newspapers, an effort that resulted in several editors, including the Chicago Sun-Times editor, writing Op-Eds in support of the campaign. The Sun-Times ran a supportive Op-Ed in all 77 of its affiliated Chicago suburban daily and weekly newspapers.


• As a result, the Association unanimously passed legislation banning the advertising of alcopops to youth. The Governor signed Senate Bill 1625 into law in September 2007.


• As a part of the media campaign, IADDA hosted several press conferences that garnered significant media response from television, radio and print outlets across the state. IADDA members also targeted advocacy efforts towards editorial boards of major newspapers resulting in several newspaper editors, including the Chicago Sun-Times editor, writing Op-Eds in support of the Alcopops campaign. The Sun-Times ran a supportive Op-Ed in all 77 of its affiliated Chicago suburban daily and weekly newspapers.


• Commission of a statewide waiting list survey through the University of Illinois - Chicago, Survey Research Lab identifying the number of people on waiting lists for treatment services. The survey found that in March of 2007, almost 6,500 people in need of treatment were waiting for available treatment slots. A second survey in December 2007 found the number had increased to more than 7,500 people on waiting lists, a 15 percent jump in just nine months.


• Successful advocacy campaign that resulted in a three percent cost of doing business increase for substance abuse treatment, totaling $6.6 million, in the FY 08 budget approved by the Illinois General Assembly. However, the Governor vetoed the CODB, along with several other human services budget increases. The Association continues to advocate for a cost of doing business increase for providers of substance use disorder services.