About The Dartmouth Center On Addiction, Recovery And Education

Advisory Council
September 2004

Since its founding in 2002, the Dartmouth Center on Addiction, Recovery and Education (DCARE), has openly confronted the issue of substance abuse in the Dartmouth and Upper Valley communities, connecting hundreds of people who want to work towards developing long-term, viable solutions to the staggering problems of addiction and its consequences. Through pilot research programs, curriculum development, and ongoing work with the Dartmouth Medical School and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, DCARE has helped inspire discussion and action within a broad cross-section of the community, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, clinicians, and local and state officials among others.

We associated with the Center hope to continue to advance our efforts in education and training, implement and scientifically evaluate prevention and treatment programs, provide services to individuals and to the community, and help foster the talent and passion of Dartmouth students from across the institution who are interested in taking on the challenge of confronting the nation's number one public health problem.

DCARE was launched with a 5-point mission developed specifically to target alcohol, tobacco and other drug concerns:

• Address all aspects of alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related issues.
• Develop model educational and prevention programs at Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth College.
• Help develop a community culture rich in its support of healthy, addiction-free lifestyles.
• Facilitate the development of leaders in the field.
• Serve as a Dartmouth, community and national resource and network portal, helping to strengthen the relationship between Dartmouth and regional and global communities.

We have made significant strides in each of these areas, entirely by virtue of the service and contributions of a diverse group of individuals, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and members of the community.

The Center is organized by a Planning Council, which consists of fifty volunteer members from a cross-section of the Dartmouth and Upper Valley communities. The Planning Council is co-chaired by C. Everett Koop, MD, and Joseph O'Donnell, MD. Members of the Planning Council, in addition to other persons interested in specific areas, serve on DCARE taskforces. Taskforces are focused on specific projects, are action oriented, and aim for "deliverable" contributions or services. The taskforces are: Alumni, College, College Curriculum Committee, Community,  Funding & Development,  Medical School & Physician Training, Multi-Cultural Affairs, Public Affairs & Media, Tobacco, and Website & Educational Materials.  DCARE employs a core staff: two part-time faculty, and one full-time administrative assistant.