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Responsibility.org names new executive director
Not-for-profit organisation Responsibility.org, which works to tackle drunk driving and underage drinking, has appointed substance abuse expert Dr Benjamin Nordstrom as its new executive director.
Responsibility.org has appointed Dr Benjamin Nordstrom a its new executive director
Dr Nordstrom succeeds Ralph Blackman, who has retired after 22 years in the position.
The new executive director comes to responsibility.org from Phoenix House, a US drug and alcohol rehabilitation organisation, where he worked as president and CEO. His expertise lies in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry and criminology.
Responsibility.org is funded by leading distillers.
Chris Swonger, Distilled Spirits Council president and CEO, said: “As a board-certified addiction psychiatrist, Dr Nordstrom has had a long and distinguished career fighting substance abuse. He understands the critical importance of prevention and education.
“Dr Nordstrom is well positioned to build on the positive impact of Responsibility.org. Since its inception in 1991, drunk driving fatalities have decreased 31%, while underage drinking has decreased 46% and underage binge drinking has decreased 57%.”
Dr Nordstrom’s past experience also includes serving on the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s expert consensus panel on the use of medications in the treatment of opioid use disorders.
Furthermore, he serves as a psychiatrist with the US Army Reserve, where he provides clinical care to our service members at home and abroad.
He received his MD from the Geisel School of Medicine in Dartmouth, and also holds an MA and PhD in criminology from the University of Pennsylvania.
He said: “It is an exciting time to be joining the Responsibility.org team as its leader. Their impact over the past 27 years is impressive and I look forward to growing and expanding upon their work.
“I am honoured to continue to contribute to the declines of both drunk driving and underage drinking in my new role and with a strong foundation already in place, I am sure I will hit the ground running.”