CASAC Association News and Blog
Helping Clients Strengthen the Decision-Making Process in Substance Use Treatment
Every day, your clients make decisions that shape their recovery trajectory. Call their sponsor or isolate. Attend the group or skip it. Be honest about a craving or minimize it. Stay in treatment or walk away. Small decisions accumulate. They build patterns. Those...
Harm Reduction Access Is Not Optional: What Substance Use Counselors Must Stop Ignoring
You can run groups all day and still lose people if services stay out of reach. Expand access. Drop stigma. Train like lives depend on it. You already know the moment. A client says they want to cut back. Then they pause. Their eyes drift. Their voice drops. “I do not...
New York State Mental Health Hearing
Testimony Introducing the CASAC Credential New York State Mental Health Hearing Good afternoon, Chair, Senators, and members of the assembly. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is A. Maria Mendez, CASAC Adv. BS, Founder/CEO of the NYS Association of...
Overdose Trends in New York
Overdose Trends in New York: What the Latest Data Means to SUD Treatment Let’s talk about what’s actually happening on the streets, not just what people tweet about. According to multiple state reports, New York’s overdose landscape has shifted. After years of grim...
Internet Gaming Disorder in Young Adults Is Not a Side Quest. It Is a Clinical Issue.
You have probably heard gaming problems framed as a teen thing. Then you meet a 28-year-old who is “tired all the time,” missing work, fighting with a partner, and quietly gaming until 3:00 a.m. most nights. No arrests. No dirty tox. No obvious crisis. Just a...
Act Now: Protect Health Coverage and Addiction Services Funding
Act Now: Protect Health Coverage and Addiction Services Funding You do not need another health coverage or policy headline. You need a fast, clear action that protects real people. Health coverage is more than insurance. It is access to addiction treatment, mental...
The Year in Drugs 2025
In The Year in Drugs 2025, researchers highlight 2025 as a pivotal year in the U.S. drug landscape, marked by significant shifts in overdose trends and substance use patterns. After years of rising deaths driven by synthetic opioids, provisional CDC data show a...
Breaking News: OASAS Updates Mandated Reporter Training Requirements for CASACs
Breaking News: OASAS Updates Mandated Reporter Training Requirements for CASACs If you’re a CASAC, CPP, or CPS in New York State, this update is for you. Please read it carefully. OASAS and OCFS have officially changed the Mandated Reporter Training requirement, and...
Clinical Supervision in Substance Use Counseling: Implementing and Maintaining Evidence-Based Practices
In substance use counseling, the significance of clinical supervision cannot be overstated. It serves as the backbone for ensuring that evidence-based practices are not only implemented but also maintained effectively. This article delves into the multifaceted...
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Stay Informed. Stay Connected.
Subscribe to the NYS Association of CASAC Professionals Newsletter and never miss critical updates that shape your work and your future. Get the latest on training opportunities, statewide advocacy, workforce developments, and member spotlights — delivered right to your inbox.
Join a growing network of CASAC professionals committed to elevating the field, strengthening our voice, and advancing behavioral health across New York.
Subscribe today and be the first to know about upcoming events, exclusive resources, and opportunities to make an impact.
