Public and private policies are often major impediments to progress in preventing or reducing alcohol and drug problems. Join Together creates panels of distinguished national and local leaders to study the research on particularly important issues, hold hearings to get input from people throughout the country, and recommend new policies that will be more effective. Learn more about how to conduct a policy panel in your community.

Blueprint for the States 
Members of a 2006 national policy panel, chaired by former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, developed recommendations for how states should organize their alcohol and drug agencies and policies.

Past Policy Panels

Rewarding Results: Improving the Quality of Treatment for People with Alcohol and Drug Problems
In December 2002, Join Together convened a national, non-partisan panel of experts and asked them to develop specific recommendations to improve the treatment of substance use disorders.

Ending Discrimination Against People with Alcohol and Drug Problems
Members of a 2002 national policy panel developed two principles and ten recommendations to help address discrimination against people with alcohol and drug problems.

Treatment for Addiction: Advancing the Common Good
This policy panel report discusses six recommendations from a 1998 Join Together panel on treatment and recovery.

Fixing a Failing System
This report discusses the six recommendations of a 1995 policy panel focusing on how the criminal justice system could better aid communities in overcoming alcohol and drug abuse.