OASAS Announces Members Appointed to First Nursing Advisory Panel

In honor of National Nurses Week, State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today announced the members of the new OASAS Nursing Advisory Panel which will provide expertise on nursing issues and their impact on addictions and public policy.

To celebrate the contributions of those working in the nursing profession, Governor David A. Paterson designated May 6-12 as Nurses Week in New York. During this week, the OASAS Nurse Advisory Panel will meet for the first time on May 12 in New York City.

"We are very fortunate in New York to have nurses in behavioral health services as an integral part of our patient care system," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "These dedicated professionals play a vital role in our addiction system through their commitment to providing high-quality care to the nearly 1.8 million New Yorkers who suffer from substance abuse or addiction."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly 2.6 million registered nurses in the United States and approximately 170,000 of them are employed in New York state.

"The Nursing Advisory Panel is a prime opportunity to help create beneficial outcomes for individuals and families across our state while also promoting New York state nurses as leaders in the field of chemical dependency," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "Working collaboratively with the Nursing Advisory Panel will help OASAS to prioritize what is important to nurses, provide leadership opportunities and support their overall professional needs."

National Nurses Week is sponsored by the American Nurses Association. The goal of the campaign is to encourage nurses to continue in their careers, inspire young men and women to consider a career in nursing, as well as to help bring awareness to the many ways in which registered nurses are working to improve healthcare while meeting the needs of American society. The 2009 theme is "Nurses: Building A Healthy America."

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems dedicated to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, with more than 1,550 programs serving over 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day. Through efforts such as the Your Story Matters campaign at www.iamrecovery.com, the agency hopes to foster a movement of recovery, one that sheds the stigma and promotes a life of health and wellness.

Addiction is a chronic disease and New Yorkers need to know that help and hope is available. Individuals can get help by calling the toll-free, 24-hour 7 days a week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY. For more information, visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

The following list comprises members appointed to the panel by Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo, including the length in years of their expected terms.