The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse

What The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse does

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, now operating as Partnership to End Addiction, is a U.S. nonprofit founded in 1992 and headquartered in New York. It delivers a science-based, multidisciplinary program of family support, prevention, treatment, recovery, and policy advocacy targeting teen and young adult substance use. Its core offerings include a free, confidential national helpline (phone, text short code 55753, email), online support groups for parents and caregivers, an evidence-based prevention check-up assessment, drug information resources, original research and policy reports, and the Heart of the Matter podcast hosted by Elizabeth Vargas. A separate professional services portal (experts.drugfree.org) supplies training and consulting to clinicians, educators, prevention professionals, and government entities.

The business model is that of a donor-supported nonprofit: services to families and individuals are provided free of charge, while revenue is generated through donations, fundraising events (annual Celebration of Partnership gala, NYC Marathon endurance teams), corporate partnerships, and grants supporting professional training and consulting. The organization is governed by a board of directors (chaired by David Kessler) and is independently funded with no parent company or venture capital backing. Its distribution strategy is multi-channel, combining a self-serve website and digital content, direct human service via helpline and support groups, and B2B engagement with prevention and treatment professionals across the United States.

Name

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse

Legal name

Partnership to End Addiction

Website

https://centeronaddiction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Partnership to End Addiction (formerly The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse) is a U.S. nonprofit that provides free family support, prevention, treatment, and policy resources to help families and professionals address teen and young adult substance use.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Substance Abuse Prevention & Recovery Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs (BPAIAJAK)

Keywords

• Substance abuse prevention
• Addiction treatment resources
• Family support services
• Professional training programs
• Addiction policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Partnership to End Addiction (formerly The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse / CASA) is a US nonprofit that delivers free, confidential support services and evidence-based resources to families, professionals, and communities addressing teen and young adult substance use. Its core offerings span a national helpline (phone, text, email), online parent/caregiver support groups, a digital Substance Use Risk Assessment, prevention and treatment/recovery resource libraries, professional training for clinicians and youth-serving professionals, original addiction research, and federal/state policy advocacy. Services are delivered through the drugfree.org and experts.drugfree.org websites and a multimedia podcast, all funded by donations and grants rather than consumer fees.

Product overview

Partnership to End Addiction (formerly The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse) operates as a nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive suite of services for families, professionals, and communities to prevent and address substance use among teens and young adults. The offering consists of direct support services (helpline, text support, online groups), evidence-based prevention and treatment resources, professional training programs, research and policy advocacy, and digital content including assessments and a podcast. These services are delivered through their main website (drugfree.org) and professional services portal (experts.drugfree.org), functioning as an integrated support ecosystem rather than a singular software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heart of the Matter Podcast: Podcast hosted by journalist Elizabeth Vargas featuring personal stories and expert perspectives on addiction

Products and services

• Family Support Services (Helpline, Text, Online Groups) Free, confidential support for parents and caregivers dealing with a child's substance use, delivered through a national phone helpline (855-378-4373), text short code (55753), email with response within 24 hours, and virtual support groups.
• Prevention & Early Action Resources Evidence-based strategies and early intervention techniques to prevent drug misuse and address teen and young adult substance use, available to families, professionals, and communities.
• Treatment & Recovery Resources Effective treatment and recovery resources addressing substance use disorder and supporting wellness for individuals and families.
• Substance Use Risk Assessment (Prevention Check-Up) Free, confidential digital assessment tool that evaluates a child's substance use risk and provides parents with tailored guidance based on their responses.
• Online Support Groups Virtual support groups for parents and caregivers to connect, share experiences, and gain peer support in addressing a loved one's substance use.
• Professional Trainings Training programs for providers, clinicians, educators, and other youth-serving professionals, delivered in self-paced, live virtual, and in-person formats to build capacity in evidence-based prevention and intervention.
• Policy Work & Advocacy Policy advocacy using research and family insights to drive federal and state policies that improve treatment access and prevent addiction.
• Evidence-Based Research & Research Reports Original research and published reports that enhance prevention, treatment, and recovery methods and practices in the addiction field.
• Heart of the Matter Podcast with Elizabeth Vargas Podcast series hosted by journalist Elizabeth Vargas that explores personal stories and expert perspectives on addiction and recovery to inspire change.
• Drug Information & Facts Guide In-depth guide covering drug types, effects, risks, and safe practices for families and professionals.
• Business Services & Custom Solutions Custom consulting and implementation solutions delivered to organizations, prevention professionals, healthcare providers, and government entities through a dedicated business services team.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trauma-informed career coaching resulted in approximately 60% of participants reporting improvements in employment status and one-third reporting income increases

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Workit Health: Venture-backed virtual addiction and mental health treatment provider offering online therapy and medication-assisted treatment. Comparable as a competing channel for families and individuals seeking digital-first substance use support, though operating as a for-profit telehealth company.
• The Kennedy Forum: Nonprofit founded by Patrick J. Kennedy focused on advancing parity and quality in mental health and addiction policy. Comparable as a mission-aligned nonprofit using research and advocacy to drive systemic change in addiction care.

Direct peers

• Caron Treatment Centers: Nonprofit addiction treatment provider offering residential, outpatient, and family programs alongside research and prevention education. Comparable in combining direct family services, professional training, and thought leadership.
• Phoenix House: Nonprofit providing residential and outpatient addiction treatment, prevention education, and recovery support. Comparable as a nonprofit addressing substance use across prevention, treatment, and recovery with a family-support orientation.
• Shatterproof: National nonprofit focused on addiction treatment access, evidence-based practice, and family support. Highly comparable as a mission-aligned, donation-funded organization advocating for systemic change in how addiction is treated in the US.
• SMART Recovery: Nonprofit offering mutual-support groups and online tools for people with substance use disorders. Comparable as a nonprofit delivering free, digital-first peer support and self-empowered recovery programming.
• Addiction Policy Forum: National nonprofit dedicated to eliminating addiction through evidence-based policy, public education, and family support. Closely comparable mission across prevention, treatment access, and family-facing resources.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Major nonprofit addiction treatment provider combining residential care, recovery support, professional education, and research. Comparable in its integration of family services, professional training, and advocacy on behalf of people with substance use disorder.
• Faces & Voices of Recovery: National nonprofit recovery community organization focused on advocacy, peer support, and recovery-focused public policy. Directly comparable as a nonprofit mobilizing people in recovery and families to influence addiction policy.
• Partnership for Drug-Free Kids (Helpline): Legacy predecessor organization under the same Partnership to End Addiction brand. Operates the same helpline, text, and online support infrastructure for families — directly comparable as the parent entity in the company data.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/casaaddiction
• Facebookfacebook.com/centeronaddiction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/377963

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse