Frances M. Harding, a former New York state addiction official, has been named the new director of the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP).

Harding, previously the associate commissioner of the Division of Prevention and Recovery in the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, will take over as head of CSAP in July.

Terry Cline, Ph.D., head of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which includes CSAP, said that Harding "is recognized as one of the nation's leading experts in the field of drug and alcohol policy and brings the right mix of leadership and experience needed to help communities nationwide work together to change conditions within families, businesses, and schools to drive down the rates of alcohol and drug use by young people."

In the past, Harding also has served as president of the National Prevention Network and on the board of directors of the National Association of State Drug and Alcohol Directors. She also has served on advisory panels for the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention, and the Network Addressing Collegiate Alcohol and Other Drug Issues.