Public Policy Section

Public Policy Section Discussion Forum
Join a Public Policy Committee!

Richard N. Rosenthal, MD, Section Head

The Public Policy Section is comprised of two committees (the Public Policy Committee and the Public Information Committee) with the goals of coordinating and disseminating AAAP policy recommendations and disseminating knowledge of addictive disorders to the general public. The Public Policy Section works in close collaboration with the Research, Treatment and Education sections of AAAP to promote excellence of clinical practice in addiction psychiatry, to educate the public regarding addictive disease, to promote accessibility and quality of treatment for all patients and to support research in the field.

Public Policy Committee

Richard N. Rosenthal, MD, Chair

The main role of the Public Policy Committee is to develop public policy statements and positions that represent the most current, evidence-based views supported by the membership. These policy statements and positions provide information on a broad array of addiction topics that can be used as information for other organizations and may be used to influence public policy in the field. Working closely with the executive director, the committee submits drafts of public policy statements to the board for ratification. The Public Policy Committee is often called upon to speak out on policy issues, to testify before Congress or other agencies, to act as liaison with other organizations interested in public policy and to provide information to legislators and the executive branch of government regarding public policy issues.

Public Information Committee

Shelly F. Greenfield, MD, Chair

The main role of the Public Information Committee is to increase public awareness of addiction psychiatry and AAAP’s role as a professional organization promoting treatment and prevention for substance use disorders. The Public Information Committee not only responds to requests from members of the media, but also generates news releases and other content that is distributed to various media outlets around the United States. Other major activities of the committee include developing and maintaining a list of members available to respond to press inquiries, creating public information materials on addiction and its treatment, and helping to publicize National Alcohol Screening Day to AAAP members as well as the general community. The committee also supervises the production of the AAAP News, the official newsletter of AAAP.