New Government Data on the Problem of Inhalant Abuse to be released this Thursday, March 17, 2011. Get the scoop right before the press conference!
The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will kick off National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week at a press conference on March 17theyll be discussing disturbing new government data about the public health problem of inhalant abuse by adults.
Let’s all join our voices to promote awareness of this issue and encourage others that there is hope, and that help is available.
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on Americas communities
H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., CAS, FASAM
Director
Dr. H. Westley Clark, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leads the agency’s national effort to provide effective and accessible treatment to all Americans with addictive disorders.
Dr. Clark was the former Chief of the Associated Substance Abuse Programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco (DVAMC-SF) and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, UCSF. In addition to his duties at the DVAMC-SF, Dr. Clark served as a Senior Program consultant to the Robert Wood Johnson Substance Abuse Policy Program, as well as a co-investigator on various National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded research grants in conjunction with the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Clark’s areas of expertise include substance abuse treatment, methadone maintenance, pain management, co-occurring disorders, psychopharmacology, anger management, and medical and legal issues.
Dr. Clark is a noted published author in the field of substance abuse and medical and legal issues. He has written chapters in New Treatments for Chemical Addictions, Promoting Cultural Competence in Children’s Mental Health Service, Principles of Addiction Medicine, Review of General Psychiatry, Treating Coexisting Psychiatric and Addictive Disorders, and Occupational and Environmental Reproductive Hazards: A Guide for Clinicians. Dr. Clark has also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Journal of Substance Abuse Review and Treatment, Journal of Mental Health Administration, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Valparaiso University Law Review, and other journals.
Dr. Clark has received numerous awards for his contribution to the field of substance abuse treatment, including the President of the United States of America the rank of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service for his sustained superior accomplishments in management of programs of the United States Government and for noteworthy achievement of quality and efficiency in the public service, 2003; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service for his leadership in spearheading a new anti-addiction treatment enabling thousands of Americans to recover from heroin addiction, along with reducing the transmission if infectious diseases, 2003; Clifford R. Gross Award for Federal Public Service from the Maryland Chapter, American Society for Public Administration, 2002; Leadership Award for exceptional leadership in advancing the addiction treatment services for substance abusing individuals in the Adult and Juvenile Criminal Justice System from the National Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities, 2001; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service for far exceeding Departmental standards of achievement exhibiting outstanding teamwork and timeliness on the complex task of completing the Methadone Final Rule which required coordination among several Federal agencies, 2001; Vernelle Fox Award from the California Society of Addiction Medicine for excellence in Addiction Medicine, Education and Public Service, 2000.
Dr. Clark is a Fellow and former member of the Board of Directors, American Society of Addiction Medicine and a member of the College on the Problems of Drug Dependence. He also served on the boards of the California Society of Addiction Medicine, and the California Advocates for Pregnant Women. Dr. Clark was a trustee and board member at Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. He is also a former member of the National Medical Association, the American Psychiatry Association, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s National Advisory Council.
Dr. Clark received a B.A. in Chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan; he holds a Medical Degree and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; where he completed a Psychiatric Residency at University Hospital, Neuropsychiatric Institute. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Harvard University Law School and completed a two-year Substance Abuse Fellowship at the DVAMC-SF. Dr. Clark received his board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry and sub-specialty certifications in both Addiction and Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Clark is licensed to practice medicine in California, Maryland, Massachusetts and Michigan. He is also a member of the Washington, D.C., Bar Association.
