Alice Murphy

"Coalitions are an integral component to successful community capacity building! Collaboration results in easier, faster and more coherent access to services and benefits. Working together is not a substitute for adequate funding, although the synergistic efforts of the collaborating partners often result in creative ways to overcome obstacles. Our statewide coalitions, working together, have made a dramatic impact with positive outcomes. Coalitions are especially vital now, given the recent climate of reduction in available funding for non-profit organizations!" — Alice Murphy

Alice Murphy has been involved in the substance abuse and mental health field for more than 30 years and has served as President and CEO of the Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD (COSA-NCADD) since 1982. She was appointed by the Governor and serves as a Commissioner on the Alabama State Service Commission, which oversees the Governor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and AmeriCorps Vista Disaster Response. She served for six years on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). She provides technical assistance and serves as a professional liaison on numerous committees and boards nationally. In addition, she has served on the Advisory Council for the Southeast Center for the Application for Prevention Technologies (SECAPT). In 2005, she received the Advocate of the Year Award from CADCA at the National Leadership Forum XV.

Under Murphy’s leadership, statewide coalitions have been organized among the medical professionals, legal and law enforcement professionals and clergy, as well as the recovery community. She organized the Alabama Summit in 2001, in conjunction with the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, which has brought about many changes within the state of Alabama, including the implementation of a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. She graduated with honors with degrees from Auburn University and Troy State University in Montgomery, Alabama. Murphy is a Certified Prevention Manager (CPM) and Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) under the Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (AADAA), which is reciprocal throughout the U.S. under International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC)/ Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. (AODA). She also holds an International Prevention Specialist (IPS) designation through International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC)/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. (AODA).