The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

NCADD News Release

For More Information, Contact: Jeffrey Hon, Director for Public Information

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release:

Leading Medical Authority and Four Members of Congress to Be Honored with 1999 Achievement Awards

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) will honor Sheila B. Blume, MD, a leading medical authority on women and addiction; and Senator Paul Wellstone and Representatives Jim Ramstad, Frank Wolf and Lucille Roybal-Allard, four members of Congress who have sponsored legislation that positively addresses addiction issues, at its annual awards dinner in Washington, DC on October 29. Sheila B. Blume, MD, will receive the Marty Mann Founder's Award for three decades of exemplary work in the field of alcoholism and other drug addictions. The award was established to honor individuals of national prominence in the field of alcoholism and other drug problems whose life work strongly reflects the energy, dedication and focus exemplified by NCADD's founder, Mrs. Marty Mann. It recognizes at least ten years of exceptional contributions to public and professional education about alcoholism and other drug problems as treatable and preventable conditions and as major public health concerns. "Dr. Blume has devoted her career to persuading the public, policy makers and the medical establishment that alcohol is a women's issue," said NCADD president Stacia Murphy in announcing the recipients of NCADD's 1999 achievement awards. "While greater numbers of men may become alcoholic, Dr. Blume has demonstrated in countless articles and lectures that drinking poses unique problems for women, particularly in the areas of stigma, sexuality and treatment." Dr. Blume, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, recently retired as medical director of the alcoholism, chemical dependency and compulsive gambling programs at South Oaks Hospital on Long Island, a position she had held since 1984. She directed the New York State Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse from 1979 to 1983, and has served on many state and federal task forces and commissions. Dr. Blume, a graduate of Harvard Medical School, is the author of more than 100 articles published in scientific journals and publications related to the addictions field. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Representative Jim Ramstad (R-MN) will receive the President's Award for their sponsorship of legislation that would prohibit private health insurers who offer addiction treatment coverage from imposing discriminatory limits on these benefits. Senator Wellstone and Representative Ramstad first introduced this legislation in 1998 and have worked tirelessly for its passage in both the 105th and 106th Congresses. Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) will receive the Humanitarian Award for an amendment they introduced last summer that would have allowed the Office of National Drug Control Policy to include underage drinking prevention messages in the federally funded national anti-drug youth media campaign. Though the amendment was defeated, its consideration provoked a fierce debate that significantly raised awareness on Capitol Hill of alcohol as America's number-one illegal drug problem among youth. 10/99

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

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