SAMHSA Appoints New Members to National Advisory Council
SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W., has announced the appointment
of three new members to the Agency's National Advisory Council.
The appointees are James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr., Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor;
Columba Bush, First Lady of Florida; and Kenneth D. Stark, Director of Alcohol and
Substance Abuse for the State of Washington's Department of Social and Health Services.
"Each new member brings a valuable perspective, critical expertise, and new
energy to the SAMHSA National Advisory Council," said Mr. Curie, after he introduced
them at the 35th National Advisory Council Meeting in Washington, DC. "I look
forward to working with each of them on advancing SAMHSA's vision and mission."
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Columba Bush
Columba Bush |
Florida's First Lady is involved with a variety of substance abuse issues, including
prevention among young people, in her state. She is a spokesperson and member of Informed
Families of Florida, a non-profit organization involved in educating families on the
dangers of drug abuse. Mrs. Bush is also a member of the Governors' Spouses Leadership
Forum, an organization focused on reducing youth alcohol abuse.
At the national level, Mrs. Bush is a board member of Columbia University's Center
on Addiction and Substance Abuse, a resource institution on prevention of substance
abuse. Mrs. Bush also serves as the national Madrina for SAMHSA, empowering
young Latina women to avoid drugs and alcohol (see SAMHSA
News, Vol. X, Number 4). In addition, she serves on the Leadership Initiative to Keep Children
Alcohol Free, targeting alcohol abuse by children age 9 to 15, founded by the National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which SAMHSA also funds.
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James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr.
Duke Aiona, Jr. |
A former member of the Corrections Population Management Commission, Hawaii's current
Lieutenant Governor was appointed Administrative Judge of the newly created Hawaii
Drug Court in 1996. As a judge, he became concerned about the link between substance
abuse and crime, and the detrimental effect that illicit drug use can have on families,
especially Native Hawaiian families.
After his election as Lieutenant Governor in 2002, he focused on addressing public
safety issues, including substance abuse, health, and education. Part of Mr. Aiona's
strategy to combat the state's substance abuse problem includes protecting young children
from becoming involved with drugs and increasing treatment services for those who have
become addicted to illegal drugs.
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Kenneth D. Stark
Kenneth D. Stark |
As a counselor and manager, Mr. Stark has worked in various areas of the alcohol
and drug field since 1971. He has operated residential and outpatient treatment programs,
and served as a consultant and educator on alcohol and drug issues.
Since 1988, Mr. Stark has managed the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse within
the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, which is responsible
for funding and regulating alcohol and drug prevention and treatment programs throughout
the state.
Mr. Stark is currently Research Committee Chair and Region X Director for the National
Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) and has served as the
NASADAD Treasurer. He has also served on SAMHSA's National Committee for Women's Services. 
| SAMHSA's National Advisory Council advises, consults, and makes
recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to the SAMHSA
Administrator concerning activities carried out by and through the Agency. The
Council meets twice a year. Transcripts and additional information from past meetings
are available on the SAMHSA Web site at www.samhsa.gov. |
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