ICAADA was  first formed In 1973 by a group of very dedicated and  forward-looking alcohol & drug counselors.  Our  association started as that; an  association of alcohol & drug abuse counselors and persons interested in the  field.  It was very quickly decided there needed to be a process designed to "certify" or establish a  "credential" which could be used to identify a counselor as a "professional" in the field of addictions. 

ICAADA has been in the  certification business for a very  long time.  In 1976, with the cooperation of what was then the Department of  Mental Health, Division of Addictions  Services, ICAADA began the process of certification with the first credential being the Certified Alcohol Counselor (CAC).  In 1977 a second credential was established; the  Certified Drug Counselor (CDC).  And  i n 1978, we established the Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor (CADAC) credential.  

In 1979, a meeting was held in Merrillville, Indiana between representives of ICAADA and the credentialing boards of Michigan and Wisconsin.  A reciprocity agreement was reached which became the foundation of what is now the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).  IC&RC was incorporated in 1981.  (See the September 2006 press release announcing the 25 year anniversary celebration.)  ICAADA along with the two other boards laid the groundwork for what is now an internationally recognized organization that has 73 member credentialing boards worldwide, representing over 35,000 certified addiction professionals from 41 states, Canada,  Germany, Sweden, Puerto  Rico, as a well as several  branches of the armed  forces and Indiana nations. 

For more than 30 years, ICAADA has been committed to public protection through the establishment of quality, competency-based certification programs for professionals engaged in the prevention and treatment of addictions and related problems.   ICAADA continues to be  a viable organization on the state, national and  international levels.  Current estimates are that ICAADA has nearly three times the number of members of any other organization respresenting alcohol and drug counselors in the State of Indiana.