Wednesday, October 29th, 2025

 

Dear NACDN Members,

 

Many of you have been with us for years.  You've been certified as CDNCs, you've attended our conferences in Harford County, and you've kept current with your continuing education.  You've done this because certification in this field matters. It matters to you personally, as a source of pride and achievement in this field, and it matters in your value to your employer.  It matters to the board members of NACDN, as well, which is why we are taking a bold next step.

 

The NACDN Board has voted unanimously to merge forces with IntNSA, the International Nurses Society on Addictions.  IntNSA has hundreds of members in the USA, and hundreds more in 25 countries around the globe.  As NACDN Members, you will automatically gain a one-year membership in IntNSA.  IntNSA is an internationally recognized professional nursing organization.  This membership allows you access to their Journal of Addictions Nursing and to discounted attendance at their annual conference, in Seattle, WA, April 13-18, 2026.  Not only does IntNSA have the resources to have a staffed office and a conference organizer presenting outstanding international speakers, but they also have the following partners:

 

Global Centre for Credentialing and Certification (GCCC)

International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM)

International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN)

International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Drug and Alcohol Nurses Australasia (DANA)

International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP)

International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR)

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

 

Most crucially, the merger will enhance the progress we've already made toward attaining specialty certification for LPNs within this field.  As NACDN, we have made significant progress toward offering nationally recognized certification to LPNs.  As members of IntNSA, we will have many more hands to put to work. 

 

We invite you to our upcoming board meeting to learn more.  Please mark your calendars for Monday, December 8th, 7 pm EST on Zoom.  Investigate what IntNSA offers.  We want you ALL to continue to be involved members of an organization which promotes nursing excellence and certifications in this specialty.  Now more than ever, we need to work to make the world a better place for our patients and their families.

 

~Joyce McMahon, RN, NACDN President

  Gloria Olivares, NP, NACDN Vice-President

  Susan Doyle, RN, NACDN Treasurer

  Corinne Borel, DNP, RN, NACDN Chair of Education Committee

  Tara Weinkam, RN, NACDN Chair of Membership Committee