As a retired judge, Arthur Louis Burnett, Sr., J.D.  has devoted the past 20 years to solving the problems of substance misuse, healthcare deficiencies, fairness and justice in our juvenile and criminal justice systems and also in our family law field dealing with foster care and welfare. Before retiring and becoming heavily involved in the nonprofit field dealing with the above issues, he served as a Justice Department attorney, a prosecutor, legal advisor to the D.C Police Department, legal advisor to the Executive Branch of the United States Government, and as a judge for over 31 years. From meager beginnings in a segregated school in Virginia, he was urged to become a Baptist minister by his parents and mentors. With the nickname the “Preaching Judge,” he decided to follow aspirations to become a lawyer.  Attending college brought personal threats, protection from the Attorney General of the United States, and two US Marshals. Despite such intensity, he excelled at the New York University School of Law, making Law Review, and graduated in the top ten percent of his class.

Arthur Burnett has committed his life to achieving true equality for every person as an individual based on his or her inner person and values as a human being. NACoA is grateful for his decades of service, contribution as a board member, and commitment to children impacted by the disease of addiction.

Increase in Alcohol-Related Deaths During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“’The fact that alcohol-related deaths continued to climb in 2021 is truly concerning,’ said Aaron White, Ph.D., Senior Scientific Advisor to the NIAAA Director.” And many of them are parents. Such a life-lasting impact of parental addiction, especially for children who are convinced that the addiction is their fault, and its their responsibility to save their parent(s). Read more, provided in the article in the Winter 2023 issue of NIAAA Sepctrum.

Pregnant People With Substance Use Disorders Need Treatment, Not Criminalization

Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA Director: “Pregnant people with substance use disorders should be encouraged to get the care and support they need — and be able to access it — without fear of going to jail or losing their children. Anything short of that is harmful to individuals living with these disorders and to the health of their future babies. It is also detrimental to their families and communities, and contributes to the high rates of deaths from drug overdose in our country.” Read the February 15th NIH blog>>

New JCOIN Course: Fetanyl Facts and Overdose Risk

This free, evidence-based online course, Fentanyl Facts and Overdose Risk, developed in partnership with the Addiction Policy Forum and the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).  The course will discuss facts about fentanyl in the U.S., increasing overdose risk, and resources for communities. Presentations from leading researchers and practitioners include Dr. Wilson Compton, Deputy Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse and Sean Fearns, Chief of Community Outreach, Drug Enforcement Administration  The course takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

To Learn More>>

REGISTER for the course here >> 

You’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one, then register for the course. Creating the account and registration is free.

Compassion & Care: Supporting Women with Substance Use Disorders and their Newborns 

Learn how to support women with substance use disorders – and their newborns. This FREE trauma-informed video supports the Eat, Sleep, Console model of care, and emphasizes the impact of strengths-based practices. Parent-Child Relationship Programs, with Dr. Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon, developed this video to promote compassionate, quality care for mothers with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and their newborn infants with NOWS (Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome). Learn more and screen the video here>>

Friday March 17th – Celebrating Irish heritage with Family and Friends Instead of Alcohol

Learn more about this holiday and its historic link with alcohol. It doesn’t have to stay this way. Choose to take part in this growing trend and embrace the family-friendly Irish fun! Sober St. Patrick’s Day reclaims the true spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by changing the perception and experience from an occasion for binge drinking and other misuse of alcohol to a celebration of the richness of Irish culture and the legacy of St. Patrick. Read a blog written by NACoA co-founder Patricia O’Gorman, Ph.D.:  Create A Sober St. Patrick’s Day.

Learn more about the event and what you can do here>>