Susan Foster is the vice president and director of policy
research and analysis at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia
University. Foster is responsible for research
and policy analysis on the impact of substance abuse on America’s systems and
populations, and developing policy strategies to achieve better results for those affected
by substance abuse and those who bear the costs. She
is responsible for the production of CASA’s first book, Women under the Influence, published by The Johns
Hopkins University Press (February, 2006). Other
projects under her direction include an examination of America's substance abuse treatment
system, the diversion and abuse of controlled prescription drugs, the impact of early
nicotine exposure, the commercial value of underage and pathological drinking to the
alcohol industry, and studies of the links between substance abuse, government spending
and other health and social problems.
Susan has an MSW in Social
Policy from Rutgers University and has authored publications on a broad range of public
policy issues. Prior to coming to CASA, Foster
was a partner in the firm of Brizius & Foster, providing consultation to state and
local governmental officials, private agencies, foundations and corporations on issues of
public policy, management and budgeting. Prior
to her consulting practice, she held a variety of positions in county and state government
and served as deputy under secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the U.S. Department
of Health, Education and Welfare in the Carter Administration. |
