(Lisle, IL) – September 29, 2009. White House special advisor Dr. Kevin Sabet participated in a policy panel discussion in Lisle on Tuesday to address the challenges and opportunities that face the field of substance abuse prevention and treatment.

Sabet, 30, a special advisor for policy and strategic planning at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, joined two other panelists to discuss the “State of Addiction Healthcare” in Illinois and the U.S.

The panel presentation was hosted by the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA) as part of its annual conference.

“We are pleased that the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy recognizes our work and that someone of Dr. Kevin Sabet’s stature joined our conference,” said Sara Howe, CEO of IADDA.

Sabet, who joined President Barack Obama’s Administration in August, previously worked on policy and speechwriting at White House drug control office from 2003-2004 and 2000 in both the George W. Bush and Bill Clinton Administrations, making him one of the youngest people to have served in the last three Administrations as a political appointee.

In addition to Sabet, the other panelists included Paul Samuels, Director and President, Legal Action Center and Lonnetta Albright, Director, Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center.

Established in 1967, IADDA, the only statewide advocacy organization in Illinois focusing solely on substance use disorder issues, represents more than 50 prevention, treatment, and recovery organizations across the state.

Visit IADDA at http://www.iadda.org.